Hoshiko Umeshu Plum Liqueur

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 20% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Hoshiko is made by steeping selected Japanese ume fruit in vodka. Sugar, herbs and spices complete the recipe. Fruit from each year's harvest is used, with the liqueur prepared once a year and released in limited quantities. No additives are used in production, and the liqueur undergoes simple filtration.

Rich plum fruit combines with a delicate spicy note and a balanced interplay of sweetness and acidity. The liqueur has an amber colour in the glass. The green glass bottle, with its understated label, comes in gift packaging. This bottling contains 0.7 litres at 20% alcohol.

Hoshiko can be served over ice or lengthened with soda water or tonic to make a highball. Its fruit and spice also make it suitable for use in cocktails.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Fruity plum notes lead on the nose. Marzipan and a light touch of cinnamon complement the aroma.
• Palate: On the palate, intense plum fruit meets sweetness and balancing acidity. Hints of apple pie and spices add further flavours.
• Finish: The long finish remains slightly tart, with notes of plums and rhubarb.

Distillery/Bottler:

Hoshiko was conceived by Japanese bartender Danny Aikawa of Starchild Inc. In 1979, he began developing a distinctive Japanese liqueur. After many years of refining the recipe, Hoshiko was launched in 2005.

Hoshiko is produced by Plum Shokuhin Inc. in Wakayama Prefecture, an important Japanese ume-growing region. The company specialises in products made from this fruit. For Hoshiko, the sweetness and spice blend are adjusted to the aroma and acidity of each harvest. Only Danny Aikawa and a small number of technicians from Plum Shokuhin Inc. take part in this process. Production thus takes account of natural differences between harvest years rather than relying solely on an unchanging flavour recipe.

Facts: