The Ingredients: 
A puckering, refreshing and easy sweetness that could only come from a mixture of Japanese Ume (plum) and juice of the Dekopon fruit infused into rice shochu.  Dekopon is a Japanese premium orange with an intense sweetness balanced by refreshing acidity and is sometimes called “Sumo Mandarin” because of its distinctive topknot shape. A trademarked name by Kumamoto prefecture, only fruit meeting strict quality standards (a sugar level above 13 degrees Brix and citric acid below 1.1%) may be sold with the name Dekopon.  Sugar is added to this spirit to make it just a little sweet.

The Spirit:
Ingredients: Honkaku Shochu, Plum, Dekopon Juice, Sugar, Citric Acid.  10% ABV.  Made with Single-distillation in a stainless steel tank and aged for one year on the fruit.

Serving Suggestions:
Umepon is a new type of liqueur that can be comfortably enjoyed even by casual drinkers. Just pour over ice or mix it with sparkling water and enjoy!

The Distillery:
Takahashi Shuzo, established in Meiji 33 (1900) does not make your run-of-the-mill Kome Shochu. They believe their Shochu carries the tradition and flavors of 400 years, and they are recognized as the standard of all Kumamoto Shochu, which is the center of Japan for Kome Shochu. Using only the most carefully selected rice, clean Kumamoto water, and their own capable hands and traditions, they work to create the best Kome Shochu possible.

◉ Takahashi-Shuzo’s Website
◉ Other shochu from Hakutake at E-Corp