This is the Toyo no Aki Yuzushu & Umeshu Set from Yoneda Sake Brewery in Shimane Prefecture.
Yutaka no Aki Yuzushu. This is a blend of yuzu juice (20%) produced in Shimane Prefecture, and Toyo no Aki junmai sake (80%) produced from Shimane-grown rice. It contained 7% alcohol.
The liqueur was an opaque yellow with yuzu particles suspended throughout and a fresh yuzu aroma. Served chilled, the liqueur had a syrupy, viscous mouthfeel. Bright notes of yuzu came through with a floral tartness and balanced sweetness before a subtle bitterness emerged in the body as the sake notes came to the fore ahead of the yuzu notes returning for a refreshing finish and lingering long on the palate with its crisp scent.
Unshu Ume Sake. This is a blend of nanko ume juice produced in Shimane Prefecture and Toyo no Aki junmai sake produced from Shimane-grown rice. It contained 11% alcohol.
The liqueur was a semi-opaque deep orange-red colour with ume particles suspended throughout and a sweet apricot fragrance. Served chilled, the umeshu also had a syrupy, soft, viscous mouthfeel that accompanied the ume notes that burst forth with a clear sweetness that recalled a ripe apricot. A balancing stonefruit sourness emerged in the body before the notes of sake came to the fore towards the finish. The bitterness that came with the strength of the alcohol was well balanced by the vibrant notes of ume.
Both the yuzushu and umeshu were well-rounded and enjoyable served straight, on the rocks, or with soda.
This Yoneda Sake Brewery Toyo no Aki Yuzushu and Umeshu Set contained 2 x 100 mL bottles. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2022.