Shidaizumi "Rasta Cat" Umeshu Cup (140ml)

Umeshu / Plum Sake

Size 140ml

Seimaibuai 55%

Rice Yamada Nishiki

Alcohol 12%

Yeast Shizuoka NO-2

Ideal Storage 28F-70F

TASTE
 
Not your typical sweet Ume-shu, instead aiming to maximize fresh aroma and sourness of the fruit, and to achieve a bright rosé color. The plums are freshly picked local green Shirakaga plums, not the usual Nanko-bai. Quickly after harvest, they are brought to the brewery and the stems are removed one by one by craftsmen. The plums are then rinsed with a large amount of Fuji water and soaked in Shidaizumi Junmai made with Fujieda grown Yamada Nishiki at a low temperature to extract their aroma and acidity.  From the rice to the plums, everything is locally produced. Only 140ml of umeshu in here because the plums take up room. Enjoy them too! Rasta is an Ume-shu that can be used as a food sake. It goes especially well with cheese. For example, cheese pasta with asparagus or a vegetable and cheese platter.

BREWERY

Founded in 1882, “Shida(志太) Izumi(泉)” references the hope sake that gushes forth(志) like a thick(太) spring(泉). Post war, they were an early pioneer of Ginjo sake, winning three consecutive gold medals at the National New Sake Competition. Shidaizumi's greatest asset is its soft water. Shidaizumi's founder,Kyusaku Mochizuki, chose the brewery location because of the water. A combination of mountain springs which eventually feed the Seto River. Shidaizumi's brewing water is actually used at the hand-rubbed tea ceremony held at Rengeji Temple. Shizuoka is renowned for the best green tea in the world. 

WHY CAT CUPS?

Shidaizumi hasn't made cups for a long time because cups are typically low quality futsu-shu. However, they saw high quality Junmai Ginjo cups as a gateway for new sake drinkers. The first cup was the famous “One-cup Ozeki”. In Japanese, “One” is pronounced the same as the sound of a dog's woof (wan=one). So to differentiate themselves, Shidaizumi uses a cat, which makes the Nyan (Meow in Japanese) sound. Cats also guard the rice used to make sake from rats, a task that has been important to sake breweries for centuries. So this cup honors our noble friend the cat. 

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