When I visit Japan in Epcot, I’m often found partaking in a large Kirin beer. Almost every trip I find myself in Mitsukoshi, perusing the Hello Kitty goods and making my way back to the snacks. On occasion, I’ll buy a bottle of sake or two to bring home. It’s time I start reviewing them on here! Our first review is for Choya Umeshu plum wine. Umeshu is a Japanese plum liqueur made from Japanese plums (sometimes referred to as apricots), sugar, and alcohol.
The fruit is added to the mixture while unripe, adding tartness to the beverage. You can find varieties with the fruit left in or removed prior to bottling. This version leaves the fruit in. Because it’s a liqueur, it has a higher alcohol content than many wines, and has a very slight thickness to it. Although you can taste the alcohol, the sweetness from the sugar helps reign it in. There is a sour kick, but it’s balanced with the sweet.
Some may find the plum off-putting based on the way it looks in the bottle.
It’s not much more photogenic out of the glass, either.
Below, I’ve separated the fruit from the pit. Fruit is on the left, pit on the right.
The fruit retains much of the flavor of the “wine” in which it is soaked. It has a consistency similar to a prune, but has less natural sweetness found in the fruit.
While this particular drink was from the individual serving size, they also come in a larger bottle with several of the fruits within. Those fruits, from last I saw, aren’t wrinkled like the ones in the smaller jars are. Regardless, I enjoyed it enough that I may have to bring home the larger bottle next time!
When visiting Mitsukoshi, do you ever pick up a bottle of sake to bring home (or back to your hotel), or do you enjoy it at the sake bar?
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