Choya's premium umeshu: two wins Double Gold at SFWSC 2026
Two premium umeshu from Osaka-based Choya have won Double Gold at the US-based SFWSC 2026, and a third has taken Gold.
Two bottles chosen from more than 4,000 entries across over 70 countries
Choya Umeshu Co., Ltd., based in Habikino, Osaka Prefecture, has announced its results at the US spirits competition the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) 2026. “The CHOYA AGED 3YEARS EXTRA FRUIT” and “The CHOYA Shigoku no Ume” (English name GOLDEN UME FRUIT) were awarded Double Gold, while “The CHOYA FRENCH OAK” won Gold. The SFWSC began in 2000 and is now in its 26th year. This year it received more than 4,000 entries from over 70 countries, judged in blind tastings, with the brands concealed, by more than 60 experts. Double Gold is awarded only to products that every judge rates highly enough to merit a Gold.
A third consecutive year for “EXTRA FRUIT”, and a first win for “Shigoku no Ume”
Umeshu is a liqueur made by steeping ume fruit in sugar and alcohol. Ume is a very tart fruit that is close to the apricot. All three of these products use the Nanko-ume variety, grown in the Kishu region of Wakayama Prefecture. EXTRA FRUIT combines umeshu matured in tanks for at least three years with a puree made from whole, fully ripe Nanko-ume that have been sieved. It is characterised by the mellowness that comes from maturation and a smooth mouthfeel. It also won Best in Show, the top prize in the liqueur category, at SFWSC 2024, and this is its third consecutive year of Double Gold. Shigoku no Ume is a fruit-filled umeshu made by steeping thick-fleshed Nanko-ume in nothing but sugar and alcohol and maturing it for at least one year. Its strengths are a rich aroma and a firm acidity, and this is its first Double Gold.
“FRENCH OAK”, matured further in casks, also takes Gold
The Gold-winning FRENCH OAK is a limited-quantity product. The base spirit, matured for three years in tanks reserved for umeshu, is transferred to charred French oak casks and aged for at least another two years, giving a total maturation of five years or more. It is deep in colour and carries the aroma of the cask, yet is said to have a gentle acidity and a well-balanced taste. All three products are 15% ABV.
Choya also ships to Europe, the US and South-East Asia. For overseas markets and duty-free shops, it has sold EXTRA FRUIT since 2019 and FRENCH OAK since 2024. In Europe, look for the “The CHOYA” series name at Japanese food shops, specialist drinks retailers and airport duty-free stores. All three are made from the same Nanko-ume, and it is the differences in method, whether maturation, puree or cask, that give each its own character.
Sources
This article was written by The Sake Wire editorial team, summarising the public sources listed above. Images are our own.
Try Akita sake in the EU — from €6
180 ml tasting bottles and full-size sake, wine, beer and gin, shipped from Amsterdam within the EU.
