You may have tried many kinds of umeshu, but Tete Aromatics is a true boundary-breaker—it completely redefines the possibilities of plum liqueur. Tete is a unique blend of eleven pure Japanese ingredients, including white peach, grape, floral tea, shochu, vanilla, and more. The resulting liqueur is elegantly colored and comes in a stunning blue box—more reminiscent of a luxury perfume than a typical plum cocktail.

As for the taste, it opens with an alluring, candy-like aroma of white peach. The first sip brings ripe peach sweetness, which swiftly gives way to the refined notes of floral tea and the sweet-and-sour tang of white grape. But that’s just the beginning—if you pay close attention, you’ll discover fresh lemon, fragrant apple, bittersweet papaya, and hints of herbal thyme, all unfolding layer by layer. Despite its complexity, the flavors never feel overwhelming; instead, they create a harmonious, well-orchestrated progression, culminating in the mellow finish of umeshu.

Tete Aromatics is crafted by Munemasa Shuzo, a small distillery with just 35 years of history, primarily known for shochu and sake. The original inspiration for Tete Aromatics was to pay homage to the classic Bellini cocktail from Venice, but to the distillery’s surprise, this creation went on to win awards year after year in Japan’s prestigious umeshu blend competitions—quickly becoming one of Munemasa’s bestsellers.

The name “tête-à-tête” means “face-to-face conversation” or “heart-to-heart talk.” With its comfortable 12% ABV and rich, layered flavor, this is the perfect bottle to share among close friends.