Gold Award-Winning Whiskey Barrel-Aged Umeboshi to Go on Sale in Mito in Limited Quantities from July 3

Nemoto Tsukemono Co., Ltd., a manufacturer and seller of umeboshi and pickles, has launched "Takakura CASK Umeboshi," a special limited-edition product aged for one year in whiskey barrels used at the Takakura Distillery of Meiri Shurui Co., Ltd., a comprehensive liquor manufacturer in Mito. The product went on sale on July 1, 2026.

Sales will be available at the Mito Excel store and the company's e-commerce site. Only 100 units will be sold at a price of 1,944 yen (tax included).

The barrels used for this product were employed in aging Meiri Shurui's Takakura series of whiskies. This product won a gold medal at the Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition 2025.

Barrels that nurtured plum wine then nurtured whiskey, and after fulfilling their role, they are now used to age Nemoto Tsukemono's umeboshi. This limited-edition umeboshi was born from the circulation of plum aromas and time within Mito.

It was released on July 1, 2026, at the newly renovated Mito Excel store and the company's e-commerce site.

Background of Product Development

Nemoto Tsukemono has been making umeboshi since its founding in 1935. While sweet-flavored umeboshi have become widespread, the company has continued to preserve umeboshi made with an emphasis on salt, plums, and time.

Meanwhile, how umeboshi are eaten and chosen has changed with the times. In response, Nemoto Tsukemono has been working on product development that proposes new ways to enjoy umeboshi while retaining their traditional core, through innovative aging methods and aromatic expressions.

Takakura CASK Umeboshi is one such product. It was realized through the combined expertise and time of Meiri Shurui, which continues to produce sake in Mito, and Nemoto Tsukemono, which has been making umeboshi in Mito for just as long.

HP about Takakura Distillery

Meiri Shurui's Brewery

Aroma

By carefully aging in barrels for one year, the umeboshi have absorbed the mellow aroma of the whiskey barrels.

Even before tasting, one can perceive a rich aroma that is slightly different from regular umeboshi. The plum's natural acidity is layered with the depth unique to barrel aging, creating an aroma that can be enjoyed not only as a side dish but also with alcoholic beverages.

Taste

While retaining the characteristic saltiness and sourness of umeboshi that Nemoto Tsukemono cherishes, we have added umami and a lingering finish from barrel aging.

Instead of making it easy to eat with sweetness, the flavor emphasizes the distinct character of salt and plums. The salty and sour taste of umeboshi comes through first, followed by the mellowness and aroma from aging.

It is an excellent accompaniment to rice, and by savoring a small amount as a snack, you can further appreciate the changes in aroma.

Recommended Enjoyment Methods

First, please enjoy it as is, one piece at a time. You will be able to notice the difference in aroma compared to regular umeboshi and the lingering aftertaste.

Additionally, by pairing it with a highball of Takakura whiskey, you can enjoy a pairing of umeboshi and whiskey that share the memory of the same barrel. This is recommended before or after meals, or for a slightly special drinking time.

Comment from Kasuna Nemoto, Fourth-Generation Heir of Nemoto Tsukemono

Umeboshi are very simple foods. That is precisely why their taste changes not by what is added, but by how time is layered.

This Takakura CASK Umeboshi is a product that adds a new perspective of aging in whiskey barrels to Nemoto Tsukemono's umeboshi-making process, which values salt and plums.

Plum wine born in Mito, whiskey nurtured in its barrels, and umeboshi pickled in those barrels. I find meaning in being able to deliver something passed down within the local community, once again as umeboshi.

We aim not only to preserve traditional umeboshi but also to propose them in a form that can be enjoyed in the current era. I hope this product will serve as a catalyst for that.

Product Overview

Product Name

Takakura CASK Umeboshi Net Content: 100g Price: 1,944 yen (tax included) / 1,800 yen (tax excluded)

Sales Quantity: Limited to 100 units (First batch)

Release Date: July 3, 2026 Sales Channels: Mito Excel store / Company e-commerce site https://www.nemotuke.com/

Ingredients

Plums, Salt

Aging Period

1 year of pickling and aging in barrels

Collaboration: Meiri Shurui Co., Ltd. (Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture)

Also Announced

Mito Excel Store Reopens

Nemoto Tsukemono's Mito Excel store (directly connected to JR Mito Station, within Mito Excel) was renovated and reopened on July 1, 2026. You can purchase Nemoto Tsukemono's standard and limited-edition products, including "Takakura CASK Umeboshi," in the new retail space. We deliver a plum-filled lifestyle at the gateway to Mito.

"Cola Flavor" Now Available for Plum Syrup

A new flavor, "Cola," has joined Nemoto Tsukemono's popular plum syrup. It has a surprisingly addictive taste, combining the tartness of plums with the aroma of cola. When mixed with carbonated water, it becomes a new staple for this summer. The price is 1,490 yen (tax included), and it is available for sale at the Mito Excel store and the company's e-commerce site.

About Nemoto Tsukemono

We manufacture and sell umeboshi, tsukemono (pickles), and asazuke (lightly pickled vegetables), and have been a part of local dining tables for many years. In recent years, while cherishing traditional umeboshi making, we have also been working on new ways to enjoy plums, such as pickling in wooden tubs and developing limited-edition products in collaboration with local companies.

Location: 1800 Watari-cho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture

Founded: 1935 (Showa 10)

Business Activities: Manufacturing and sales of umeboshi and pickles

Website: https://www.nemotuke.com

Inquiries Regarding This Matter

Media Contact Person: Kasuna Nemoto

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 080-3387-0215

We accept inquiries for interviews and sample provision.