A few months ago, Sakurao Distillery in Hiroshima launched their “Rocks” series of fruit liqueurs. What makes this series unique is the use of fruit peels in the production process. In addition to the fruit’s sweetness and tartness, this method imparts a subtle, refined bitterness from the peel, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer drinks that aren’t too sweet.

While most fruit liqueurs are made by soaking whole fruits in alcohol to extract their flavors, the Rocks series soaks only the peels. The peels are steeped separately in alcohol and pure water, then distilled. The alcohol infusion becomes the fruit liqueur, while the water infusion is turned into aromatic essential oils. These are then blended, and fresh fruit juice is added to balance sweetness, acidity, and the peel’s gentle bitterness.

All three products in this series have an alcohol content of 16%, which is relatively high for fruit liqueurs, but the alcohol is cleverly masked by the flavors of the peel. Even those who aren’t heavy drinkers will find it easy to enjoy. The higher ABV also means the flavor remains rich whether served on the rocks or mixed with soda water.

Lemon Rocks uses Japanese Setouchi lemons, with each bottle containing 100ml of fresh lemon juice—equivalent to the juice of three whole lemons. The aroma is vibrant and fresh, and the flavor is not only tart like lemon juice but finishes with a pleasant zestiness from the peel.