Volume：720ml
ABV：13%

“Winner of the Top Award!”—these bold words are nearly the only information on the luxurious packaging of this bottle. Why so confident? Simply put, this is the first umeshu in Japan to be inducted into the National Umeshu Competition Hall of Fame. It took home the gold medal for three consecutive years (2016, 2017, 2018). Its dominance was so overwhelming that the organizers permanently retired it from the competition, to give other umeshu a chance—no wonder it’s so highly regarded!

The most distinctive feature of this umeshu is that it is aged for a long time in oak barrels that previously fermented and stored Champagne. This imparts a uniquely rounded texture and subtle barrel aroma. Owing to this French connection, the brewery named the product “Nemurihime a la Francaise” (“Sleeping Princess, French style”).

Let’s taste it! The aroma offers a blend of tart plum and sweet fruit, creating a rounded and pleasant nose. On the palate, the texture is rich and full-bodied, with the plum’s tartness complemented by a honey-like sweetness. The finish brings in gentle notes of oak barrel, never overpowering. The overall impression is dense and sweet, with a core of delicious plum flavor.

Nemurihime is made by Munemasa Shuzo in Saga Prefecture. Founded in 1985, the brewery originally specialized in barley shochu, but recent successes with “Nemurihime a la Francaise” and “Tete Aromatics” have greatly enhanced its reputation in Japan and abroad.

If you enjoy a full-bodied, sweet, richly flavored umeshu, “Nemurihime a la Francaise” is an absolute must-try.