Plum liqueur matured in Yamazaki's smoky casks goes on limited sale

Suntory, one of Japan’s major drinks makers, has released “Suntory Umeshu (Yamazaki Distillery Cask-Aged Plum Liqueur) Rich Amber Smoky 2026” in limited quantities. Umeshu is a sweet-and-sour liqueur made by steeping green ume fruit (a Japanese fruit close to the apricot) in spirit and sugar. This bottle takes that umeshu, matures it in whisky casks and then blends in whisky itself. It is an unusual bottle that bridges the worlds of fruit liqueur and malt whisky.

Plum liqueur matured where Japanese whisky began

Yamazaki Distillery, on the border between Osaka and Kyoto, is Suntory’s first whisky distillery and is known as the starting point of Japanese whisky. Suntory has applied the skills it built up making Western-style spirits to umeshu too, and has developed the “Yamazaki Distillery Cask-Aged Plum Liqueur” series, in which umeshu is stored in used casks that have finished maturing whisky. The fragrant aroma and deep richness imparted by the cask are regarded as the hallmarks of the series.

The 2026 edition puts smokiness front and centre

This limited release was selected from umeshu stored in casks that previously matured a smoky style of malt whisky, and aims for a taste in which a smoke-like aroma is clearly perceptible. It is further blended with grain whisky and malt whisky that have been finished in umeshu casks. According to Suntory, the smoky aroma layers over the rich sweet-and-sour character of the umeshu, giving deep richness and a long finish. The bottle holds 750 ml, the alcohol content is 18%, and the recommended retail price in Japan is 7,000 yen before tax. Under Japanese liquor tax law it is classified as a liqueur.

A bottle clad in peat soot

The theme of smoke runs through the packaging as well. The background uses a pattern inspired by the soot of peat, burned to dry the malt used for whisky, overlaid with a logo in reddish foil stamping. The design conveys the amber colour and smoky character of the contents through its appearance too.

How to enjoy it in Europe

This release is a limited quantity for the Japanese domestic market, and no official sales in Europe have been announced. If you want to get hold of a bottle, the realistic approach is to watch for stock announcements from specialist shops and importers that handle limited Japanese releases. If you do come across one, start with a small measure neat or over a single large ice cube, and see how the smoke rises from behind the sweet-and-sour plum. If you enjoy peated whiskies such as those from Islay, tasting them side by side in the same glass makes the influence of the cask easy to see. The pairing of sweetness and smoke also looks likely to suit blue cheese and dark chocolate. The idea of maturing umeshu in whisky casks is worth remembering as an example of how far Japanese liqueurs can stretch.

References and sources

nomooo, “[Limited edition with a smoky aroma!] New release: ‘Suntory Umeshu (Yamazaki Distillery Cask-Aged Plum Liqueur) Rich Amber Smoky 2026’” (13 September 2026)