Yoshimura, Kokuto Umeshu, 720ml
Plum Liqueur Deepened with Okinawan Black Sugar
Take a well-made umeshu and sweeten it not with plain sugar but with Okinawan kokuto, the island's unrefined black sugar, and you get this. Yoshimura's Kokuto Umeshu layers the deep molasses and caramel notes of black sugar over ripe plum, for a velvety, richly sweet liqueur balanced by soft acidity and a savoury, umami edge. Presented in an elegant gift box, it is a luxurious after-dinner umeshu, beautiful over ice, poured over vanilla ice cream, or alongside dark chocolate and blue cheese.
Why You'll Reach For It
- Okinawan black sugar: sweetened with kokuto for deep molasses and caramel depth over the plum
- Velvety and rich: full, indulgent and rounded, with a soft acidity and savoury umami edge
- Gift-boxed: presented in an elegant box, an easy premium present
- A specialist maker: Yoshimura Hideo Shoten has crafted plum liqueurs in Wakayama since 1923
How to Serve
- Over ice: the classic serve, the ice softening the richness as it melts
- Neat, chilled: as a digestif, slow-sipped after dinner
- Over dessert: poured over vanilla ice cream, the molasses depth shining
- With strong flavours: alongside dark chocolate or blue cheese
黒糖梅酒 — Kokuto umeshu, where plum meets black sugar
Umeshu (梅酒) is Japanese plum liqueur, made by steeping ume in spirit and sugar. The choice of sugar matters: where most umeshu uses refined white sugar or rock sugar, this one uses kokuto (黒糖), the unrefined black sugar of Okinawa that keeps all the molasses and minerals of the whole sugarcane. That gives the finished liqueur a much deeper, darker, more complex sweetness, caramel and molasses notes layered under the ripe-plum fruit. It is the same black sugar behind our kuromitsu syrup, here used to enrich a premium plum liqueur. Yoshimura Hideo Shoten in Wakayama has specialised in plum liqueurs since 1923.
What does kokuto umeshu taste like?
Deeper and darker than a standard umeshu. The ripe-plum sweetness is still there, but underneath sits the molasses, caramel and faint liquorice of Okinawan black sugar, giving a richer, more rounded, almost treacly character with a savoury umami edge. The ume's natural acidity keeps it from being heavy or cloying. At around 13% it has gentle warmth and a luxurious, full body, which is why it works so well as a dessert pour or a digestif, and why it stands up to strong partners like dark chocolate and blue cheese.
Product Details
| Type | 黒糖梅酒 — Kokuto umeshu (black-sugar plum liqueur) |
| Brand | Yoshimura Hideo Shoten (founded 1923) |
| Sweetened With | Okinawan kokuto (black sugar) |
| ABV | Around 13% |
| Volume | 720ml (gift-boxed) |
| Best Served | Over ice, chilled neat, or over dessert |
| Origin | Wakayama, Japan |
| Also From Yoshimura | Nigori Umeshu (cloudy, unfiltered) |
What is kokuto?
Kokuto (黒糖) is the traditional unrefined black sugar of Okinawa, made by boiling down whole sugarcane juice without refining, so it keeps all the molasses and minerals of the cane. That gives it a dark colour and a deep, caramel-and-molasses flavour far more complex than refined sugar. Used to sweeten this umeshu, it adds a rich, rounded depth you do not get from an ordinary plum liqueur.
What should I pair it with?
Its rich, molasses-deep sweetness suits strong, indulgent partners. Pour it over vanilla ice cream, serve it alongside dark chocolate, or pair it with a salty blue cheese, where the sweet-savoury contrast works beautifully. As a digestif it rounds off a meal on its own. Serve it cool, over ice or chilled neat, to keep it refreshing rather than heavy.
How should I store it?
Keep it in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight. With its sugar and alcohol content umeshu is stable and keeps well even after opening, so there is no rush to finish it; refrigeration simply keeps it crisp for serving over ice. Stand the bottle upright and re-seal firmly between pours.
Original: $64.35
-65%$64.35
$22.52Yoshimura, Kokuto Umeshu, 720ml
Plum Liqueur Deepened with Okinawan Black Sugar
Take a well-made umeshu and sweeten it not with plain sugar but with Okinawan kokuto, the island's unrefined black sugar, and you get this. Yoshimura's Kokuto Umeshu layers the deep molasses and caramel notes of black sugar over ripe plum, for a velvety, richly sweet liqueur balanced by soft acidity and a savoury, umami edge. Presented in an elegant gift box, it is a luxurious after-dinner umeshu, beautiful over ice, poured over vanilla ice cream, or alongside dark chocolate and blue cheese.
Why You'll Reach For It
- Okinawan black sugar: sweetened with kokuto for deep molasses and caramel depth over the plum
- Velvety and rich: full, indulgent and rounded, with a soft acidity and savoury umami edge
- Gift-boxed: presented in an elegant box, an easy premium present
- A specialist maker: Yoshimura Hideo Shoten has crafted plum liqueurs in Wakayama since 1923
How to Serve
- Over ice: the classic serve, the ice softening the richness as it melts
- Neat, chilled: as a digestif, slow-sipped after dinner
- Over dessert: poured over vanilla ice cream, the molasses depth shining
- With strong flavours: alongside dark chocolate or blue cheese
黒糖梅酒 — Kokuto umeshu, where plum meets black sugar
Umeshu (梅酒) is Japanese plum liqueur, made by steeping ume in spirit and sugar. The choice of sugar matters: where most umeshu uses refined white sugar or rock sugar, this one uses kokuto (黒糖), the unrefined black sugar of Okinawa that keeps all the molasses and minerals of the whole sugarcane. That gives the finished liqueur a much deeper, darker, more complex sweetness, caramel and molasses notes layered under the ripe-plum fruit. It is the same black sugar behind our kuromitsu syrup, here used to enrich a premium plum liqueur. Yoshimura Hideo Shoten in Wakayama has specialised in plum liqueurs since 1923.
What does kokuto umeshu taste like?
Deeper and darker than a standard umeshu. The ripe-plum sweetness is still there, but underneath sits the molasses, caramel and faint liquorice of Okinawan black sugar, giving a richer, more rounded, almost treacly character with a savoury umami edge. The ume's natural acidity keeps it from being heavy or cloying. At around 13% it has gentle warmth and a luxurious, full body, which is why it works so well as a dessert pour or a digestif, and why it stands up to strong partners like dark chocolate and blue cheese.
Product Details
| Type | 黒糖梅酒 — Kokuto umeshu (black-sugar plum liqueur) |
| Brand | Yoshimura Hideo Shoten (founded 1923) |
| Sweetened With | Okinawan kokuto (black sugar) |
| ABV | Around 13% |
| Volume | 720ml (gift-boxed) |
| Best Served | Over ice, chilled neat, or over dessert |
| Origin | Wakayama, Japan |
| Also From Yoshimura | Nigori Umeshu (cloudy, unfiltered) |
What is kokuto?
Kokuto (黒糖) is the traditional unrefined black sugar of Okinawa, made by boiling down whole sugarcane juice without refining, so it keeps all the molasses and minerals of the cane. That gives it a dark colour and a deep, caramel-and-molasses flavour far more complex than refined sugar. Used to sweeten this umeshu, it adds a rich, rounded depth you do not get from an ordinary plum liqueur.
What should I pair it with?
Its rich, molasses-deep sweetness suits strong, indulgent partners. Pour it over vanilla ice cream, serve it alongside dark chocolate, or pair it with a salty blue cheese, where the sweet-savoury contrast works beautifully. As a digestif it rounds off a meal on its own. Serve it cool, over ice or chilled neat, to keep it refreshing rather than heavy.
How should I store it?
Keep it in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight. With its sugar and alcohol content umeshu is stable and keeps well even after opening, so there is no rush to finish it; refrigeration simply keeps it crisp for serving over ice. Stand the bottle upright and re-seal firmly between pours.
Product Information
Product Information
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Description
Plum Liqueur Deepened with Okinawan Black Sugar
Take a well-made umeshu and sweeten it not with plain sugar but with Okinawan kokuto, the island's unrefined black sugar, and you get this. Yoshimura's Kokuto Umeshu layers the deep molasses and caramel notes of black sugar over ripe plum, for a velvety, richly sweet liqueur balanced by soft acidity and a savoury, umami edge. Presented in an elegant gift box, it is a luxurious after-dinner umeshu, beautiful over ice, poured over vanilla ice cream, or alongside dark chocolate and blue cheese.
Why You'll Reach For It
- Okinawan black sugar: sweetened with kokuto for deep molasses and caramel depth over the plum
- Velvety and rich: full, indulgent and rounded, with a soft acidity and savoury umami edge
- Gift-boxed: presented in an elegant box, an easy premium present
- A specialist maker: Yoshimura Hideo Shoten has crafted plum liqueurs in Wakayama since 1923
How to Serve
- Over ice: the classic serve, the ice softening the richness as it melts
- Neat, chilled: as a digestif, slow-sipped after dinner
- Over dessert: poured over vanilla ice cream, the molasses depth shining
- With strong flavours: alongside dark chocolate or blue cheese
黒糖梅酒 — Kokuto umeshu, where plum meets black sugar
Umeshu (梅酒) is Japanese plum liqueur, made by steeping ume in spirit and sugar. The choice of sugar matters: where most umeshu uses refined white sugar or rock sugar, this one uses kokuto (黒糖), the unrefined black sugar of Okinawa that keeps all the molasses and minerals of the whole sugarcane. That gives the finished liqueur a much deeper, darker, more complex sweetness, caramel and molasses notes layered under the ripe-plum fruit. It is the same black sugar behind our kuromitsu syrup, here used to enrich a premium plum liqueur. Yoshimura Hideo Shoten in Wakayama has specialised in plum liqueurs since 1923.
What does kokuto umeshu taste like?
Deeper and darker than a standard umeshu. The ripe-plum sweetness is still there, but underneath sits the molasses, caramel and faint liquorice of Okinawan black sugar, giving a richer, more rounded, almost treacly character with a savoury umami edge. The ume's natural acidity keeps it from being heavy or cloying. At around 13% it has gentle warmth and a luxurious, full body, which is why it works so well as a dessert pour or a digestif, and why it stands up to strong partners like dark chocolate and blue cheese.
Product Details
| Type | 黒糖梅酒 — Kokuto umeshu (black-sugar plum liqueur) |
| Brand | Yoshimura Hideo Shoten (founded 1923) |
| Sweetened With | Okinawan kokuto (black sugar) |
| ABV | Around 13% |
| Volume | 720ml (gift-boxed) |
| Best Served | Over ice, chilled neat, or over dessert |
| Origin | Wakayama, Japan |
| Also From Yoshimura | Nigori Umeshu (cloudy, unfiltered) |
What is kokuto?
Kokuto (黒糖) is the traditional unrefined black sugar of Okinawa, made by boiling down whole sugarcane juice without refining, so it keeps all the molasses and minerals of the cane. That gives it a dark colour and a deep, caramel-and-molasses flavour far more complex than refined sugar. Used to sweeten this umeshu, it adds a rich, rounded depth you do not get from an ordinary plum liqueur.
What should I pair it with?
Its rich, molasses-deep sweetness suits strong, indulgent partners. Pour it over vanilla ice cream, serve it alongside dark chocolate, or pair it with a salty blue cheese, where the sweet-savoury contrast works beautifully. As a digestif it rounds off a meal on its own. Serve it cool, over ice or chilled neat, to keep it refreshing rather than heavy.
How should I store it?
Keep it in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight. With its sugar and alcohol content umeshu is stable and keeps well even after opening, so there is no rush to finish it; refrigeration simply keeps it crisp for serving over ice. Stand the bottle upright and re-seal firmly between pours.
