Bacchus
LINE
SAKE VERMOUTH

Original bottle illustration — Bacchus Global
JAPANESE SAKE VERMOUTH · Tsutsumi Shuzo · Hitoyoshi Basin, Kumamoto · EST. 1878

SAKE VERMOUTH

Junmai sake is infused with yuzu, grapefruit, sansho and other botanicals, then fortified with honkaku rice shochu—a Japanese vermouth grounded in rice savouriness.

Fortified sake vermouth

CategoryFortified sake vermouth
OriginHitoyoshi Basin, Kumamoto
BaseJunmai sake · Rice shochu
SignatureYuzu · Sansho · Botanicals
ABV18%
Volume720 ml

How it is made

Turning junmai sake into vermouth with citrus and herbs

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

01

Infusing botanicals into junmai sake

Yuzu, grapefruit and sansho are layered over the savoury depth of rice.

02

Fortifying with honkaku rice shochu

A rice-derived spirit strengthens the frame without breaking the flavour line.

The result

Rice savouriness, citrus and sansho lift

Soft junmai sweetness forms the bass note, brightened by yuzu and grapefruit before sansho tightens the finish.

Taste profile

Yuzu, grapefruit, sansho and rice

Yuzu, grapefruit, sansho and rice

Citrus meets young koji and yeast notes; rice sweetness and savouriness broaden the palate before sansho lingers.

Food affinities

Four directions guided by rice umami, citrus and sansho botanicals

Japanese Sake Vermouth is built on the soft, savoury umami of junmai sake, layered with bright yuzu and grapefruit and the spice of sansho pepper, which lingers into the finish. The combinations below are not official pairings presented by the producer, but readings drawn from the recorded taste characteristics.

Spiced dishes that echo the sansho and citrusRice with sansho-simmered whitebait (chirimen-jako gohan), a Thai winged-bean salad with dried shrimp (yam thua phu), and citrus-cured salmon gravlax are dishes whose sansho-and-citrus combination is said to align with the vermouth’s own layered aroma.
Rice- and grain-based dishes that meet the sake’s rice umamiTai meshi (sea bream rice), Thai shrimp fried rice (khao pad goong), and risotto alla Milanese are dishes whose rice-derived umami is said to align with the sake’s own base.
Fermented foods that echo the young koji and yeast notesRice-bran pickles (nukazuke), northern-Thai fermented pork (naem), and fresh cheese with a yogurt sauce are dishes whose fermented aroma is said to align with the koji and yeast character.
Citrus-forward dishes that meet the grapefruit’s bright top notePomelo dressed in tofu sauce (bunt shira-ae), a Thai mandarin-orange salad (yam som khiew wan), and a grapefruit and fennel salad are dishes where citrus within the same family is said to align.

Dishes combining sansho and citrus are said to align with the vermouth’s own layered aroma, and koji- and yeast-derived notes are noted to align with fermented food. Infusing junmai sake with citrus and botanicals, then fortifying it with rice shochu, this vermouth-style liqueur draws on both mechanisms, meeting spiced dishes as well as fermented food.

Pairing guide — Shochu & Selected Spirits

The producer

Tsutsumi Shuzo in Hitoyoshi Basin, Kumamoto

Tsutsumi Shuzo is based in Hitoyoshi Basin, Kumamoto. For this liqueur, it brings ingredient selection and established production craft together in a distinctly Japanese expression.

Official producer website

Related products

Related products

Only directly relevant products and Bacchus Global stories are shown.

For restaurants and retailers

Contact Bacchus Global for product documentation and trade information.

Make a trade enquiry

Age Verification

This website contains information about alcoholic beverages and is intended for audiences aged 20 and above. Please confirm your age to continue.