Suntory Kanade Yuzu Liqueur 700ML

Suntory Kanade Yuzu Liqueur 700ML is a Japanese citrus liqueur made from the juice, pulp, and peel of yuzu fruit, bottled at 20% ABV in a 700ml format. This expression earned a Silver medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), with judges noting its clean, sharp palate and gentle yuzu character leaning toward citrus peel.

Quick Facts: ABV: 20%  |  Origin: Japan  |  Style: Yuzu Citrus Liqueur  |  Producer: Suntory

Production & Heritage

Suntory, founded in 1899 by Shinjiro Torii, is one of Japan's most influential spirits producers, with a portfolio spanning whisky, gin, and liqueurs. The Kanade range represents the company's pursuit of capturing the essence of traditional Japanese ingredients through modern distillation. What distinguishes this yuzu expression is a meticulous process that extracts and distills three separate components of the fruit—juice, pulp, and peel—each yielding a distinct spirit, which are then blended together. This three-spirit approach captures the full aromatic and flavor spectrum of yuzu rather than relying on a single extraction, resulting in a layered, multidimensional liqueur.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright yuzu zest leads immediately, followed by subtle bitter citrus peel and delicate floral citrus oil. There is a faint hint of clean spirit underneath that lifts the aromatics without overpowering the fruit.

Taste: The entry is juicy and tart, driven by fresh yuzu juice and a gentle natural sweetness. At mid-palate, soft herbal tones emerge alongside deeper peel bitterness, adding complexity. The sweetness remains restrained throughout, never veering into cloying territory.

Finish: Clean and zesty, with lingering citrus peel and a soft, pleasant bitterness that trails off slowly. A fresh yuzu note remains on the palate well after the sip, encouraging another taste.

How to Drink Kanade Yuzu

Chilled and neat in a small glass is the most direct way to experience the full yuzu character, allowing the balance between tart juice and bitter peel to come through clearly. On the rocks works well in warmer months, as dilution opens up the floral notes. Three cocktails where this liqueur performs particularly well:

• Yuzu Spritz: Topped with sparkling wine and soda, the liqueur's tartness replaces the need for Aperol-style bitterness with a brighter, more aromatic citrus profile.
• Yuzu Highball: Combined with quality soda water over ice, this mirrors the Japanese highball tradition while delivering a refreshing, low-ABV alternative to whisky-based versions.
• Yuzu Margarita: Substituted for triple sec alongside tequila and lime, the yuzu adds a distinctly Japanese twist with more aromatic depth than standard orange liqueurs.

Best For

• Building a Japanese spirits collection beyond whisky and sake
• Hosting a cocktail evening focused on citrus-forward, lower-ABV drinks
• Gifting someone who appreciates Japanese cuisine and ingredients
• Introducing guests to yuzu as a cocktail ingredient with an approachable, award-winning expression

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kanade Yuzu taste like? It delivers a juicy, tart yuzu flavor balanced by gentle sweetness, with citrus peel bitterness and soft herbal undertones adding complexity beyond a simple fruit liqueur.

How does Kanade Yuzu compare to traditional yuzu-shu? Traditional yuzu-shu is typically sake-based with a lower ABV and more pronounced rice-derived sweetness, while Kanade Yuzu uses three separately distilled spirits from different parts of the fruit, producing a more layered and spirit-forward citrus character at 20% ABV.

Is Kanade Yuzu good for cocktails? Its balanced tartness, clean sweetness, and 20% ABV make it highly versatile in cocktails—it functions as both a modifier and a base in drinks ranging from spritzers to citrus-forward shaken cocktails.

Where is Kanade Yuzu made? Kanade Yuzu is produced by Suntory in Japan, drawing on the company's extensive distillation expertise developed since its founding in Osaka in 1899.

What foods pair well with Kanade Yuzu? Fresh sashimi and crudo benefit from the liqueur's bright acidity; grilled seafood like shrimp or scallops complement the citrus peel notes; light salads with citrus vinaigrette echo its tartness; soft cheeses like fresh chèvre contrast its zest; and mochi or yuzu-flavored desserts create a cohesive finish.

What sizes does Kanade Yuzu come in? The standard widely available format is the 700ml bottle.

Is Kanade Yuzu worth the price? Kanade Yuzu positions as a premium Japanese liqueur, justified by its unique three-spirit production method, quality of ingredient sourcing, and IWSC Silver medal recognition—placing it above mass-market fruit liqueurs in both complexity and craft.

Why Kanade Yuzu?

The defining feature of this liqueur is its three-component distillation process, which separately captures the juice, pulp, and peel of Japanese yuzu before blending them into a single expression. This approach is uncommon in the fruit liqueur category, where most producers use a single maceration or infusion. The IWSC Silver medal validates the execution, with judges specifically highlighting the clean, sharp palate and gentle citrus peel notes. For anyone looking to explore Japanese flavors beyond whisky or seeking a genuinely distinctive citrus liqueur backed by Suntory's century-plus legacy, this is a substantive addition rather than a novelty.