Cor Cor Green Label was the product that introduced me to Japanese rum. And it blew me away.
This post breaks down this incredible artisanal Okinawan rum, what it tastes like, and where you can find it. But be forewarned: it’s hard to get.
Cor Cor Green Label Info
Cor Cor, short for Coral Corona (珊瑚の冠), is a white agricole rum from Okinawa. More specifically, it’s from the South Borodino Island of Minamidaito.
This artisanal rum is made by Grace Rum using fresh-pressed sugarcane juice. The sugarcane is grown on the tiny island. As such, it’s only made once per year, after the harvest. This means there’s an annual variation in the flavor of this rum.
Cor Cor Green Label is bottled at 40% ABV. And it has no additives or coloring agents.
Cor Cor Green Label Tasting Notes
Cor Cor is simply outstanding Japanese rum. Overall, it features an intense mix of tropical fruit, melon, pungent herbs, and umami.
The aroma is absolutely stunning and fragrant. Notes include pineapple, papaya, green mango, banana pudding, and even strawberry.
On the palate, Cor Cor Green Label is surprising with a lot of savory flavors plus a hint of brine. Tasting notes include roasted plantain, steamed and sour rice, fresh-cut grass, almond, and eggnog.
This is white rum is hard to find. But if you can track down a glass or a bottle, you will be rewarded.
Where to Find Cor Cor Rum
You can buy this Okinawan rum straight from Grace Rum if you live in Japan. Prices start at ¥4,504, or around $40.
Here in the States, Cor Cor is almost non-existent. A quick search on Wine-Searcher reveals only one retailer (Cask Cartel) at the moment, and they’re charging $500 for a single bottle. Shame on them!
Your best hope is to get a bottle shipped from the UK or maybe Japan. There are retailers in the UK currently carrying Cor Cor Green Label at a semi-reasonable price.
Grace Rum Online
Check out what Grace Rum has been up to on their website (in Japanese) and on Instagram.
The Next Best Thing
Maybe someday Cor Cor will be widely available in the US. But until then, there are still some quality Okinawan rums on the market.
Look out for Teeda Rum from Helios. They’re a much bigger distillery but are still making a craft agricole style rum. The biggest difference is Teeda spends a few years in a barrel. If that sounds good, check out my Teeda rum review.
The other option is Kiyomi. It’s a white rum and also from Okinawa. However, it’s made with molasses and distilled in a continuous column still.
Did I leave any brands out?