How it is made

Layering black sesame over sesame shochu

Its character comes from the way the main ingredient meets the base spirit. Two choices are central to the result.

Starting with sesame shochu

A distilled spirit already carrying sesame character provides the structure.

Infusing black sesame

A second layer of sesame deepens both the roasted aroma and concentration.

The result

Sesame character that survives dilution

At 18% ABV, it keeps its black-sesame identity alongside milk or coffee.

Listen

The story behind this bottle

Before the taste notes, hear the story of nearly five decades of sesame distilling at Beniotome Shuzo. Runs about 7 minutes.

Taste profile

Black sesame, roast and rich sweetness

Roasted black sesame leads into rounded sweetness and a full palate, with the toasted character lingering.

Food affinities

Four directions guided by roasted black sesame and rounded sweetness

CROP & CROP Black Sesame carries the aroma of roasted black sesame with rounded sweetness, a full palate weight, and a roasted character that lingers. The combinations below are not official pairings presented by the producer, but readings drawn from the recorded taste characteristics.

Grilled and charcoal dishes that meet the roasted characterRoasted vegetables, grilled aubergine (yaki nasu), and Thai charcoal-grilled pork skewers (moo ping) are dishes where black sesame’s roasted aroma meets the char of grilled food.

Root vegetable dishes met by the rounded sweetnessCarrot cake, mango sticky rice, and candied sweet potato (satsumaimo no kanroni) are dishes where sesame’s sweet aroma is said to align with root vegetable sweetness.

Aubergine and legume dishes supported by the full weightHummus (chickpea and sesame paste), massaman curry, and grilled aubergine with miso glaze (nasu no dengaku) are dishes where sesame’s weight harmonises with the creamy texture of aubergine and legumes.

Roasted noodle and grain dishes met by the lingering characterSesame bread, khao soi, and chilled udon with sesame sauce are dishes where the persistence of roasted aroma meets the finish of roasted noodle and grain dishes.

Roasted sesame’s aroma shifts toward nut, roast and caramel compounds, said to align readily with carrot, root vegetables, aubergine and legumes. The roasted aroma and rounded sweetness of CROP & CROP Black Sesame draw on that alignment, giving it a base that meets grilled dishes, root vegetables, aubergine and legumes, and noodle and grain dishes alike.

Pairing guide — Umeshu

The producer

Beniotome Shuzo in Kurume, Fukuoka

Beniotome Shuzo is based in Kurume, Fukuoka. For this liqueur, it brings ingredient selection and established production craft together in a distinctly Japanese expression.

Official producer website

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