Yii: The World’s First Craft Plum Gin from Minabe, a Special Umeshu District

Minabe became a Special District for Kishu Minabe Umeshu in 2008. There are numerous small-scale plum liqueur manufacturers in the area. Typically, to obtain an alcoholic beverage manufacturing license, you must produce at least 6,000 liters of alcoholic beverage per year. However, in Minabe, you can obtain a license to produce a minimum of 1,000 liters per year if you make plum liqueur in town from locally grown plums.

The region has seen an increase in the number of plum liqueur producers, which has led to the creation of unique spirits. Plum liqueur is a well-liked fruit spirit that is both sweet and easy to enjoy. Yii has transformed the idea of plum liqueur. This craft spirit is crafted by a plum farmer in Minabe, Wakayama Prefecture, which is responsible for around 25% of all Nanko plums grown in Japan.

Ryo Takada, the producer and distributor of Yii, discovered Minabe’s plum liqueur about six years ago. A native of Minabe, Takada has grandparents who have been plum farmers for 60 years. Since he was a child, Takada had been sent out to help harvest plums every June, so he was very familiar with plum-based products. However, he grew to prefer wines and whiskeys and had little interest in plum liqueurs until he had an encounter that transformed his life.

Takada remembers, “I found a plum liqueur made by a local farmer at the town’s plum festival and decided to try it. It was incredibly fragrant and flavorful—unlike the ones found in stores—so it really impressed me. However, I thought it was unfortunate that such a fantastic product had poor branding.”

Takada’s turning point occurred when his grandparents retired. His mother took over the orchard, and Takada decided to launch a plum liqueur brand.

Takada wanted to create a plum liqueur that would showcase both the creator and the local character. Previously, Takada had branded several plum liqueurs produced in town as Minabe Craft Umeshu. After that, he decided to create an original plum liqueur, choosing gin as the base spirit, which had never been used before.

“I love gin, and I discovered that no one had ever made a gin-based plum liqueur before. Having decided to take on the challenge, I created dozens of plum liqueurs using approximately 20 different types of gin from Japan and other countries, as well as various types of sugars, such as muscovado and honey. Because it takes half a year for the ingredients to steep in one type of gin, it took me about two and a half years to make one that I liked.”

Takada ultimately chose Sakaki Gin, which, coincidentally, is also produced in Wakayama Prefecture. This gin contains plum in the botanicals, with prominent woody notes of juniper berries. The sugar used is naturally sweet sugar made from sugar beet, and the amount is adjusted to about one-third that of ordinary plum liqueur. The product name “Yii” is an acronym for “Yes, it is!” The intended meaning is to convey: “Yes, it’s a craft plum liqueur!”

“It is a privilege for a plum farmer to have an abundance of Nanko plums. Because tree-ripened plums about to fall from the trees have the best aroma, my mother and I handpick the ones that we use for Yii one at a time. This bottle represents my first step toward making craft plum liqueur. I hope it becomes a true icon.”

It is best enjoyed neat at room temperature. Since it is not very sweet, there is no need to chill it, and the mellow aroma spreads better at room temperature. It also pairs well with meat dishes, making it an excellent accompaniment to food. When you drink it, you will notice the elegant fruitiness of the plum and the balanced spicy botanicals, making you want to savor it.

Takada also offers a set of five mini bottles, including Yii, which is recommended for those who want to enjoy different flavors.

Takada has taken his time nurturing the brand since Yii’s launch in 2021. He attends events and tastings at restaurants and bars and is dedicated to communicating with customers directly. Careful craftsmanship and storytelling paid off at the ICC SAKE AWARD in September 2024, as Yii advanced from the first qualifying round to finish fourth in the final. For the first time in the history of the awards, Yii won in four categories: “Taste”,“Craftsmanship”,“Branding”,“Creator’s Story”. In the future, Takada plans to expand its business overseas as well.

“People who typically don’t drink plum liqueurs purchase mine by the bottle at events, so I feel that the appeal of craft plum liqueur is reaching people.”

“In the future, I hope to expand the customer base by introducing Yii-infused cocktails. I aim to establish the brand as an iconic figure in a new category known as craft plum liqueur.”

Takada hopes to start selling his products overseas in the future and spread the appeal of Minabe’s Nanko plum worldwide. This new type of craft plum liqueur, which had never existed before, would make an intriguing gift for anyone who enjoys their drink.