Not just a pretty face
Perilla frutescens, or more commonly known as Shiso, is a plant that is typically found in Japan. There, almost any fish dish is served with the flavourfull leaves.
The leaves also became popular in Europe but were banned for being grown with too much pesticides. Then Koppert Cress stepped in: cultivating Shiso with natural ways of protection in their sustainable greenhouses in the Netherlands.
But one issue remained. Koppert Cress were throwing away many leaves that were not up to their high (beauty) standards. Too old, too small or too large.
We come to the rescue and capture the rich flavours of the Purple Shiso leaves in our one-of-a-kind liqueur. The addition of discarded Dutch plums and Zalotti Blossom, the flower of Thai basil, add depth and complexity to this wonderful liqueur.
How It is made
01 The Leaves
Not every shiso leave is perfect. We take the odd & ugly ones and capture their perfect flavour.
In this liqueur we use an extremely high amount of shiso. Roughly 20.000 leaves for 450 bottles.
02 PLums and Zalotti Blossom
We also add some discarded Dutch plums. These give a fruity sweetness that lifts the nutty and raisin flavours of the Shiso. Lastly we add Zalotti Blossom, the flower of Thai basil. This gives a floral complexity, some slight basil flavour and a complex bitter to balance the sweeter notes.
03 Processing
The stems off all the shiso leaves are removed by hand to ensure the highest quality and freshness. The leaves are macerated with great care to retain the Shiso flavour aswell as the beautiful colour.
04 Distillery
The Shiso leaves, Plums and Zalotti Blossoms are all macerated carefully in high quality grain alcohol to extract the flavours. This is a are very sensitive and precise endeavor: only the perfect duration, ABV and care ensure that the taste is bright and fresh.
By not using heat to extract the flavour we do not damage the Shiso. This ensures that all the complexity of their unique taste is captured.
05 Full Circle Shiso Purple
After adding water and sugar, Full Circle Shiso Purple is born. A liqueur with an extremely potent and unique flavour.
Whats does it taste like?
Shiso Purple is richt in Umami, with hints of basil, raisins, almond and a delicate floral flavour.
How to Enjoy
Full Circle Shiso Purple is similar in use to a sweet vermouth. Drink it with ice and some lemon, or mix up a refreshing drink.
It is very versatile in cocktails. Mix it up with your favourite gin for a herbal sensation. Or use the floral and herbal notes to create a beautiful Shiso Negroni. Shiso Purple matches with almost any spirit, so get creative.
Want to keep it simple? Just add soda water and a splash of lemon. Soon, Shiso Purple will be you new favorite!