Shochu that goes with ume (japanese plum)
Orchard and stone fruit
These are bottles to mix ume (japanese plum) into. Some of them taste of it too, and where that is the reason a bottle is here, its line says so.
Umeboshi (salt-pickled), ume syrup, or the fruit's own liqueur. Sour, salty and savory at once.
Best bottles for ume (japanese plum)
The strongest matches in the catalogue, across every style. Everything below is the same ranking opened out by what the shochu is made from.
Salt-plum and imo shochu in hot water is a Kagoshima winter
sweet potato, umami, smooth
sweet potato, smooth, clean, aged
sweet potato, smooth, soft, clean
sweet potato, smooth, nutty, umami
sweet potato, melon, banana, sweet
sweet potato, citrus, fruity, mint
Umeboshi brings salt and sourness together, which is a different job from the lemon and lands on rice shochu better
barley, rice, umami
Barley shochu with an umeboshi dropped in is a real izakaya order
barley, citrus, melon, banana
sweet potato, crisp, bitter
Grouped by what the shochu is made from, because that is the level the reasoning works at: what this does to an imo shochu is a fact about imo shochu rather than about one bottle. Within each style the strongest matches come first, and bottles we pour are marked rather than promoted. The scores are the same engine that recommends a mixer from a bottle, run the other way round, but the labels are not: a bottle page badges at most twelve strong matches and at most three per family, so that the twelve describe that bottle rather than the same citrus and soda every time. Here there is no cap, so a pairing badged strong on this page can read as a good match on the bottle's own.
Imo shochu
Salt-plum and imo shochu in hot water is a Kagoshima winter
sweet potato, umami, smooth
sweet potato, smooth, clean, aged
sweet potato, smooth, soft, clean
sweet potato, smooth, nutty, umami
sweet potato, melon, banana, sweet
Show the other 154 ume (japanese plum) matches
sweet potato, citrus, fruity, mint
sweet potato, crisp, bitter
sweet potato, fruity, soft, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, soft, light-bodied
sweet potato, berry, soft, sweet
sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, roasted grain
sweet potato, sweet, soft
sweet potato, light-bodied, clean, sweet
sweet potato, shiso, smooth, tea
sweet potato, funky
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, rich, clean
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, roasted grain, sweet
sweet potato, vanilla, creamy texture, bright
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, sweet, vanilla
sweet potato, rich, crisp, soft
sweet potato, tea, vanilla, mushroom
sweet potato, rich, soft, aged
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, crisp, sweet
sweet potato, full-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, soft, smooth, aged
sweet potato, smooth
sweet potato, vanilla, toast, spice
sweet potato, tropical fruit, spice, light-bodied
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, sweet, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, umami, silky
sweet potato, pineapple, tropical fruit, fruity
sweet potato, lychee, white peach, tropical fruit
sweet potato, umami, rich, sweet
sweet potato, umami, rich, sweet
sweet potato, umami, sweet, rich
sweet potato, sweet, clean, rich
sweet potato, pear, grassy, rich
sweet potato, purple sweet potato, berry, yogurt
sweet potato, white peach, grape, berry
vanilla, cask, rich, crisp
sweet potato, sweet, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, earthy
sweet potato, coffee, earthy, pepper
sweet potato, fruity, earthy, mineral
sweet potato, earthy, crisp, aged
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, clean, soft
sweet potato, pineapple, maple, mineral
sweet potato, soft, crisp, clean
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, rich, clean, sweet
sweet potato, rich, sweet
sweet potato, fruity, silky, smooth
sweet potato, sweet, sherry-like, cask
sweet potato, apple, soft, rich
sweet potato, soft, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, rich, light-bodied
sweet potato, spice, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, rich, sweet
sweet potato, soft, light-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, clean, fruity
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, smooth, aged
sweet potato, yogurt, creamy texture
sweet potato, soft, light-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, soft, rich
sweet potato, smooth, sweet, long finish
sweet potato, chocolate, sherry-like, cask
sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, tropical fruit, pepper, sweet
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, rich, smooth, umami
sweet potato, smooth, umami, light-bodied
sweet potato, umami, soft, full-bodied
sweet potato, umami, rich
sweet potato, umami, rich, aged
sweet potato, umami, soft, clean
sweet potato, fruity, umami, rich
sweet potato, umami, rich, aged
lychee, grape, jasmine, rich
citrus, pear, sweet potato, clean
sweet potato, lychee, grape, muscat
Umeboshi's salt flattens delicate perfume
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, smooth
sweet potato, floral, fruity, umami
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, banana, vanilla, clean
sweet potato, soft, tea
sweet potato, light-bodied, long finish
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, tropical fruit, bright, aged
sweet potato, soft, dry, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, aged
sweet potato, fruity, soft
sweet potato, soft, dry, sweet
sweet potato, tea, rich
sweet potato, milky, soft, aged
sweet potato, smooth, toast
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, spice, clean, sharp
sweet potato, whisky-like, cask
sweet potato, light-bodied, dry, aged
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, rich
sweet potato, fruity
sweet potato, smooth, fruity, bright
sweet potato, pear, grassy, light-bodied
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, rich, purple sweet potato
sweet potato, whisky-like, aged
sweet potato, crisp
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, clean, aged
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, smooth
sweet potato, light-bodied, clean, dry
sweet potato, lychee, chocolate, bright
sweet potato, soft, smooth, rich
sweet potato, smoky, rich, long finish
sweet potato, citrus, floral, sweet
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, caramel
sweet potato, citrus, floral, caramel
sweet potato, floral, soft, maple
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, caramel
muscat, citrus, floral, sweet potato
sweet potato, lychee, floral, fruity
Mugi shochu
Barley's light sweetness reads as orchard fruit already, so apple and pear extend the bottle rather than decorate it.
Umeboshi brings salt and sourness together, which is a different job from the lemon and lands on rice shochu better
barley, rice, umami
Barley shochu with an umeboshi dropped in is a real izakaya order
barley, citrus, melon, banana
barley, caramel, rich, sweet
barley, chocolate, umami, smooth
Show the other 94 ume (japanese plum) matches
barley, umami, rich, sweet
barley, umami, rich, aged
barley, umami, rich, sharp
barley, umami, savory, clean
barley, umami, aged
barley, umami, light-bodied
barley, clean, off-dry, smooth
barley, bright, clean, light-bodied
barley, earthy, mineral, pepper
barley, sesame, caramel, chocolate
barley, crisp, clean, aged
barley, smooth, crisp, aged
barley, crisp, clean
barley, chocolate, earthy, smooth
barley, tropical fruit, light-bodied
barley, soft, light-bodied, clean
barley, smooth, rich, light-bodied
barley, pear, soft, spice
barley, smooth, long finish, aged
barley, rich, crisp
barley, soft, clean
barley, smooth, light-bodied, clean
barley, smoky, soft, cask
barley, smooth
barley, rich, clean
barley, smooth, rich, aged
barley, soft, sweet
barley, smooth, rich, aged
barley, smooth, rich, whisky-like
barley, chocolate, rich, full-bodied
barley, rich, full-bodied, cask
barley, light-bodied
barley, apple, pineapple, creamy texture
barley, vanilla, spice, cask
barley, fruity, soft
barley, earthy, clean, bright
barley, honey, chocolate, spice
barley, roasted grain
barley, sesame, grassy, chocolate
barley, smooth, mint, caramel
barley, vanilla, chocolate, nutty
barley, toast, savory, rich
barley, toast, rich, light-bodied
barley, smooth, crisp, cask
barley, toast, spice, rich
barley, banana, white peach, tea
barley, chocolate, coffee, rich
barley, smooth, dry
barley, white peach, cherry, soft
barley, soft, bright
barley, soft, chocolate, toast
barley, banana, toast
barley, pear, banana, bread
barley, caramel, chocolate, smoky
barley, cask, aged
barley, jasmine, honey, vanilla
barley, vanilla, cask
barley, toast, light-bodied, sweet
barley, soft, silky, smooth
barley, soft, cask, aged
barley, smooth, crisp, aged
barley, rich, cask, aged
barley, crisp, light-bodied, fruity
barley, toast, cereal, rich
barley, fruity, light-bodied
barley, sweet, clean
barley, silky, smooth
barley, clean, sharp
barley, vanilla, nutty, toast
barley, cask, aged
barley, banana, berry, bread
barley, dry, cask, aged
Umeboshi's salt flattens delicate perfume
Kome shochu
Rice shochu distilled with ginjo yeast carries apple and melon esters already, so orchard fruit is amplification.
Umeboshi brings salt and sourness together, which is a different job from the lemon and lands on rice shochu better
rice, soft, umami, rich
rice, umami, crisp, sweet
rice, soft, umami, rich
rice, umami, rich, aged
Show the other 64 ume (japanese plum) matches
rice, citrus, apple, pineapple
rice, aged, cask, smooth
rice, vanilla, smooth, cask
rice, vanilla, smooth, sweet
rice, rich, aged
rice, soft, rich, aged
rice, smooth, aged
rice, rich, clean, bright
rice, soft, light-bodied, aged
rice, light-bodied, cask
rice, smooth, full-bodied, cask
rice, light-bodied, dry, aged
rice, vanilla, smooth, fruity
rice, banana, vanilla, chocolate
rice, citrus, silky, light-bodied
rice, vanilla, cask, aged
rice, melon, vanilla, toast
rice, sweet, clean, smooth
rice, chocolate, sweet
rice, steamed rice, citrus, pineapple
rice, smooth, aged, cask
rice, smooth, crisp, aged
rice, rich, bright
rice, pear, jasmine, light-bodied
rice, cask, aged
rice, smooth, rich
rice, smooth, aged
rice, smooth, light-bodied, sweet
rice, soft, smoky, creamy texture
rice, light-bodied, clean
Umeboshi's salt flattens delicate perfume
rice, ginjo-like, floral, aged
rice, citrus, dried fruit, floral
rice, floral, aged
rice, floral, smooth, soft
rice, floral, fruity, smooth
Soba shochu
Umeboshi brings salt and sourness together, which is a different job from the lemon and lands on rice shochu better
Ume's salt and sourness pull umami forward
An earthy, heavy spirit flattens out without acid. This is the ingredient doing structural work, not decoration.
buckwheat, smooth, aged
buckwheat, smooth
Show the other 3 ume (japanese plum) matches
Awamori
Ume's salt and sourness pull umami forward
rich, full-bodied, aged, umami
umami, rich, full-bodied, cask
Umeboshi brings salt and sourness together, which is a different job from the lemon and lands on rice shochu better
rice, nutty, dry, aged
rice, umami, clean, light-bodied
Show the other 97 ume (japanese plum) matches
rice, smooth, maple, umami
rice, smooth, soft, clean
rice, clean, smooth, aged
rice, pear, caramel, rich
rice, cask, aged
rice, whisky-like, cask, aged
rice, smooth, savory, aged
rice, smooth, cereal, sweet
rice, cherry, vanilla, chocolate
rice, toast, sweet
rice, bright, aged
rice, clean, bright, aged
rice, citrus, cereal, aged
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, soft, rich, sweet
rice, soft, smooth, rich
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, smooth, aged
rice, soft, rich, sweet
rice, clean, sweet
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, clean, smooth
rice, soft, aged
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, light-bodied, sweet
rice, caramel, chocolate, crisp
rice, sweet, smooth, rich
rice, smooth, soft, aged
rice, soft, clean, aged
rice, sweet, crisp, smooth
rice, roasted grain, aged
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, citrus, roasted grain, sweet
rice, sherry-like, aged
rice, aged
rice, soft, smooth
rice, citrus, vanilla, chocolate
rice, steamed rice, soft, caramel
rice, sweet, soft, smooth
rice, smooth, sweet, aged
rice, smooth, aged
rice, smooth, crisp, aged
rice, smooth, sweet, oily
rice, chocolate, sweet, aged
rice, smooth, sweet, aged
rice, sweet, rich, full-bodied
rice, cherry, vanilla, caramel
rice, clean, sharp, aged
rice, vanilla, funky, creamy texture
rice, citrus, tropical fruit, vanilla
Kasutori, chestnut and other bases
Barley shochu with an umeboshi dropped in is a real izakaya order
Plum is in this bottle, not just on its nose, so this doubles it rather than introducing it.
citrus, plum, sweet, yuzu
Show the other 7 ume (japanese plum) matches
plum, sweet, citrus
Ume's salt and sourness pull umami forward
ginger, dry, crisp, citrus
roasted grain, umami, smooth
Salt-plum and imo shochu in hot water is a Kagoshima winter
chestnut, barley, fruity, rich
Kokuto shochu
Ume's salt and sourness pull umami forward
kokuto, soft, light-bodied, sweet
The sweetness here is aroma rather than sugar, because sugar does not come over a still. Acid is what keeps the impression from turning cloying.
kokuto, sweet, clean, rich
kokuto, chocolate, nutty, sweet
Show the other 2 ume (japanese plum) matches
Shiso, sesame, yuzu and other flavoured shochu
There is real sugar in this bottle already, and acid is what keeps it from reading as syrup.
Red shiso and ume are processed together: the colour in an umeboshi comes from this leaf
Barley shochu with an umeboshi dropped in is a real izakaya order
Umeboshi brings salt and sourness together, which is a different job from the lemon and lands on rice shochu better
Korui, the continuous-still shochu
Salt-plum and imo shochu in hot water is a Kagoshima winter
Umeboshi brings salt and sourness together, which is a different job from the lemon and lands on rice shochu better
Barley shochu with an umeboshi dropped in is a real izakaya order