A few months ago, Sakurao Distillery in Hiroshima launched their “Rocks” series of fruit liqueurs. What sets this series apart is the use of fruit peels in the production process, adding not only fruit sweetness and acidity but also a subtle, sophisticated bitterness from the peel. This makes it a perfect choice for those who aren’t fans of overly sweet drinks.

While most fruit liqueurs are made by infusing whole fruit in alcohol to extract flavor, the Rocks series infuses the peels instead. The peels are soaked separately in alcohol and pure water, then distilled. The alcohol infusion becomes the base liqueur, while the water infusion is transformed into aromatic essential oils. These are then blended together, and fresh juice is added to balance sweetness, acidity, and that gentle bitterness from the peel.

All three products in this series have an alcohol content of 16%, relatively high for fruit liqueurs, but the alcohol is cleverly masked by the peel flavors, making it approachable even for light drinkers. And because of the higher ABV, the flavor holds up whether served on the rocks or with soda water—never getting watered down.

Hassaku is a type of citrus native to Hiroshima, similar to an orange. In this liqueur, 70% of the blend is freshly squeezed Hassaku juice, giving it an aroma and flavor reminiscent of a deeper, richer orange juice. Among the three, this one stands out for its prominent peel character—truly unique!