Umenoyado Aragoshi Umeshu: June’s Top Seller for a Reason

Umeshu—Japan’s beloved plum liqueur—has long been treasured for its gentle sweetness and delicate tang. But at Umenoyado Brewery, a legacy that began in 1893, a quiet challenge stirred behind the scenes: what to do with the rich, steeped plums left behind after each umeshu batch?

The Hidden Potential of Leftover Fruit

Each production left them with beautifully saturated plums, still brimming with flavor and aroma. Discarding them felt not only wasteful, but deeply wrong. For a brewery that respects every ingredient, this presented both a problem and an opportunity.

What if these plums could live on—not as waste, but as the centerpiece of something entirely new?

Reimagining Umeshu: The Birth of Aragoshi

This simple yet powerful question sparked a creative shift. The idea was not to create another umeshu, but a richer, fuller expression of the fruit itself. The result? Aragoshi, which translates to "roughly filtered"—a fitting name for a drink that celebrates texture, flavor, and the natural imperfections of real fruit.

Rather than refining the liqueur to a crystal-clear finish, Umenoyado embraced the essence of the plum, in all its pulp and glory.

Innovation Rooted in Tradition

Starting with the finest varieties—Shirokaga and Oushuku plums, known for their perfect umeshu balance—the brewers developed a meticulous method. Once steeped, the plums were transformed into a thick, velvety purée, then reintroduced into the final blend.

This wasn’t about shortcuts. The base remained pure: just premium sake, distilled alcohol, plums, and sugar. No brandy, no honey—just the natural character of the fruit, elevated.

Drinking Aragoshi: An Experience Like No Other

The moment you pour Aragoshi Umeshu, you see the difference. The liquid is lush and opaque, filled with real fruit particles that drift and cling to the glass. The scent is pure orchard—bright, juicy, unmistakably plum.

Take a sip, and you’re greeted by a smooth, almost nectar-like mouthfeel. Each taste delivers a layered explosion of flavor: mellow sweetness, crisp tartness, and a whisper of astringency—all held together by that indulgent texture.