Plum Syndicate: Our New Summer Bourbon Cocktail With Umeshu, Yuzu, and Red Shiso

Bourbon is not usually the first thing people reach for in the middle of summer.

But that was exactly the point.

With Plum Syndicate, we wanted to make a bourbon cocktail that still feels like a proper whiskey drink, but lighter, brighter, and built for warm weather.

The result is one of our new favorite summer cocktails at Izakaya Juraku: Syndicate Hudson Region 845 bourbon, five-year-aged Mito no Kairakuen umeshu, yuzu, and Mishima Yukari red shiso concentrate.

It is smooth, tart, lightly fruity, and refreshing without losing the depth that makes bourbon worth drinking in the first place.

A Bourbon Cocktail Built for Summer

Most summer cocktails go light: gin, vodka, citrus, bubbles, tropical fruit.

Nothing wrong with that.

But sometimes you still want bourbon, just not something heavy enough to make you regret it when New York feels like a sauna.

Plum Syndicate starts with Syndicate Hudson Region 845 bourbon, a 90 proof New York straight bourbon. It gives the drink its backbone: warm, structured, and bold enough to stand up to citrus, plum, and shiso.

From there, we take it in a more Japanese direction.

The Mito no Kairakuen five-year-aged umeshu adds richness, plum, honeyed sweetness, and a smooth finish.

The yuzu brings brightness and acidity.

The red shiso adds color, aroma, and a subtle herbal edge that keeps the drink from becoming too sweet.

Together, it becomes a summer bourbon cocktail that actually makes sense.

What Is Umeshu?

Umeshu is a Japanese plum liqueur made by steeping ume fruit in alcohol and sugar.

It is sweet, fruity, and easy to enjoy, but the version we use is a little more layered.

Mito no Kairakuen five-year-aged umeshu is aged for five years and blended with brandy and honey, giving it a deeper, smoother flavor than a standard plum wine.

In Plum Syndicate, the umeshu softens the bourbon and adds a rich plum flavor without making the drink feel heavy.

It is the ingredient that gives the cocktail its center.

Why Yuzu and Red Shiso Work So Well

Yuzu is one of the best citrus flavors for cocktails because it is sharp, fragrant, and more complex than lemon or lime.

In this drink, yuzu cuts through the richness of the bourbon and umeshu, making everything feel cleaner and more refreshing.

Then comes the red shiso.

We use Mishima Yukari red shiso concentrate, made from red shiso leaves. Red shiso has a flavor that is herbal, tart, floral, and slightly savory.

If you have ever had umeboshi or Yukari seasoning, you already know that red shiso and ume are a natural match.

That connection is what makes the drink work.

The umeshu brings the plum.

The red shiso sharpens it.

The yuzu brightens it.

The bourbon holds everything together.

What Does Plum Syndicate Taste Like?

Plum Syndicate is smooth, tart, fruity, and refreshing.

You get plum and yuzu first, then the bourbon comes through underneath with warmth and structure. The red shiso gives it a light herbal finish that makes you want to take another sip.

It is not a sugary plum cocktail.

It is not a heavy whiskey drink.

It sits right in the middle: bright enough for summer, strong enough for bourbon drinkers, and Japanese enough to feel right at Juraku.

What To Eat With It

Plum Syndicate pairs especially well with salty, crispy, and savory dishes.

Try it with:

Karaage

Wasabi Shake Shake Fries

Tebasaki wings

Yakitori

Mentaiko Mazemen

Hiyashi Chuka with sesame-soy dressing

The yuzu and red shiso help cut through fried food, while the bourbon and aged umeshu stand up nicely to richer dishes.

If you are ordering something crispy, salty, or a little indulgent, this cocktail is a strong move.

Why We Put It on the Menu

At Juraku, we like drinks that feel playful without being random.

Plum Syndicate connects New York bourbon with Japanese ingredients in a way that feels natural for a Lower East Side izakaya.

It is local whiskey, Japanese umeshu, yuzu, and red shiso in one glass.

Refreshing, but not weak.

Fruit-forward, but not candy-like.

Japanese-inspired, but still familiar enough for anyone who just wants a good bourbon cocktail.

Try Plum Syndicate at Juraku

Plum Syndicate is now available on our summer cocktail menu at Izakaya Juraku.

Made with Syndicate Hudson Region 845 bourbon, Mito no Kairakuen five-year-aged umeshu, yuzu, and Mishima Yukari red shiso concentrate, it is our answer to a simple question:

Can bourbon be a summer drink?

For us, the answer is yes.

Come try it while it is on the menu.