Hand-crafted Plum Liqueur 'Hanayo' Debuts as Hitachiomiya City Tax Return Gift

'Hanayo Plum Liqueur' has debuted as a new hometown tax return gift in Hitachiomiya City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Produced by Nemoto Shuzo, a historic brewery established around the same time as the Edo Shogunate, this premium liqueur utilizes ripe Nanko plums from Wakayama Prefecture and the clear subsoil water of the Kuji River. Each 700ml bottle lavishly uses about 15 ripe plums. After the steeping process, the seeds are manually removed, and the flesh is processed into a paste. This results in a coarsely strained, rich liqueur with a melting, fruity texture that retains the delicate, complex flavor of ripe plums. Unlike typical plum wines, Hanayo boasts a higher alcohol content of 25%. This provides a robust drinking experience that perfectly balances the rich sweetness and fresh acidity of the plums. It can be enjoyed on the rocks, with soda, hot or cold water, or in cocktails, as the plum aroma remains strong even when diluted. LR Inc. supports the distribution of this 10,000-yen tax return gift to promote the region's charm and revitalize Hitachiomiya City. The initiative is part of Nemoto Shuzo's efforts to revive the historic brewery under its new president.