An Aroma and Acidity of Paradise
The characteristics of the golden plum are its rich, fruity aroma reminiscent of apricots and peaches. Until now, this variety hadn't been widely distributed; it's a plum only some farmers knew about. After harvesting them, caring for the plums is essential to maintain their rarity and taste. Each plum has to be stored in a suitable temperature range. The plums are carefully preserved in their natural state without any processing and eventually become the ingredients used in different foods and drinks.
The base alcohol is a shochu, made by reusing sake kasu (lees), a byproduct of sake making. A gorgeous merge of ginjo sake and golden plums brings out the sweetness and refreshing acidity of ESHIKOTO UMESHU. The UMESHU, contained in a bottle designed by Taku Satoh, is at 25 degrees. It can be served on the rocks or with soda water, and because it has a strong acidity, it can be enjoyed not only after a meal but also during it.
ESHIKOTO UMESHU is a sake that carries the lingering taste of the area around the shinheidayu plum groves during harvest season, abundant with a sweet aroma right out of paradise.
On the Design of ESHIKOTO UMESHU by Taku Satoh
ESHIKOTO UMESHU is a special umeshu made from only the best "golden plums," shinheidayu, a plum variety born in Fukui prefecture which fully ripens on the tree and falls naturally during a short period when its aroma is at its peak. Shinheidayu plums, cultivated on hills, roll down after falling from the trees. Ripe plums are soft and easily damaged, so they're harvested with the utmost care and sorted out by hand. Bottles and package designs reflect what's on the inside, so it was only fitting for this carefully made top-class umeshu to be placed inside a special bottle and package that exists nowhere else.
So, we first made glass bottles molded by blowing air into each one. Rather than having the usual cylinder shape, this has a unique shape where one side sticks out. Echizen washi paper made in Fukui is pasted around the bottle and then joined at the end, which sticks out as though the shape of the bottle guides it. The edges aren't trimmed and instead are left fuzzy, leaving the texture of washi paper as it is. A foil-stamped ESHIKOTO logo in the shape of a Möbius strip to signify eternity is on the label.
We wanted the bottle, wrapped in a delicate label, to appear out of the box in its original state, so we created a unique package that carefully contained the inside. The trapezoidal shape of the box naturally reflects the shape of the bottle inside. After removing the bottle, the box can be tipped over and put on its side so the top becomes a slope. I hope you'll enjoy this one-of-a-kind umeshu while picturing the sight of plums rolling down there.
"Umeshu 13"
"Umeshu 13"is a refined plum wine crafted to a smooth and drinkable 13% alcohol by volume. The product label and decorative box feature a beautiful illustration of plum blossoms by the esteemed Japanese artist Rieko Morita.
Biography of Rieko Morita
Born in Kobe and based in Kyoto, Ms. Rieko Morita is a celebrated Nihonga (Japanese-style) painter. Her works vividly capture the flowers that adorn Japan’s four seasons, as well as contemporary portrayals of women, expressed through vibrant colors and masterful detail. Her lush, life-filled artworks have been showcased at the Kyoto State Guest House, welcoming esteemed guests, and her art can be found adorning the sliding doors and ceilings of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji). Ms. Morita is a leading figure in the contemporary Japanese art world, holding numerous exhibitions both in Japan and internationally.
