MUJEN
MUJEN is an independent craft spirits brand based in Los Angeles, California, making shochu.
About MUJEN
MUJEN is a single-distilled premium rice shochu, crafted in Japan and launched from Los Angeles. Shochu has existed for 500 years and is Japan's best-selling spirit category by volume, embraced by a new generation as the go-to drink for celebrating and connecting with friends. MUJEN set out to share that discovery: "a chance to bring something both ancient and celebratory to the world."
The line is built on rice for its light taste, which is delicious on its own and mixes into every popular cocktail: Ai Lite, light and crisp at 23% ABV; Original, "The Perfect Alternative" at 35%; and X, a 10 year aged reserve at 42%. Every expression is sugar-free, carb-free and gluten-free.
MUJEN Original was named one of Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Spirits of 2022, and MUJEN X won Double Gold at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The signature cocktail program is by mixologists Christiaan Rollich and Ash Miyasaki.
The Founders
Sondra Baker and Bruce Bozzi met 20 years ago and bonded over their shared ability to connect with people from all walks of life and a lifelong commitment to fitness. A friend introduced them to shochu, "the best spirit you've never tasted." Intrigued by the taste and the stories of meticulous craft and natural ingredients, they traveled to Japan to learn more.
They visited the most highly regarded shochu distilleries in the world, and their journey led them to Sengetsu, the "Thin Crescent Moon," in Kumamoto prefecture. There they met Junko Tsusumi, Sengetsu's fourth-generation CEO and one of the few women in Japan leading a distillery, and learned about a century-old family commitment to craft and the finest ingredients. Together, they created MUJEN.
How MUJEN makes its spirits
MUJEN is a single-distilled premium rice shochu made in Hitoyoshi, in southern Japan, at Sengetsu, a family-run distillery in Kumamoto prefecture. It is crafted using methods and ingredients developed over four generations, from rice and natural ingredients, following a time-honored, 500-year-old tradition of shochu craftsmanship.
Rice was chosen over other popular shochu bases like sweet potato and barley for its light taste. MUJEN X is aged for 10 years in white oak before bottling.
Details
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
- Founded
- 2021
- Website
- mujen.com
- @mujenspirits
Gallery
Meet the Team
Sondra Baker
Co-Founder
Discovered shochu through a friend and traveled through Japan with Bruce Bozzi to find the distillery that became MUJEN's partner.
Bruce Bozzi
Co-Founder
Los Angeles restaurateur who co-founded MUJEN with Sondra Baker after their travels through Japan's shochu distilleries.
Cocktails
10 recipesAi Bloody Mary
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz MUJEN Ai
- 4 oz Bloody Mary mix
- Celery stalk
Directions
Build over ice in a Tom Collins glass and stir. Finish with a celery stalk or garnishes of your choice.
Bella Rose
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz MUJEN Ai
- 3/4 oz lemon juice
- 3/4 oz Swoon sugar-free syrup
- 1/4 oz Rasasvada Ruby Artemisia
- 3 dashes rhubarb bitters
- Rose petals
Directions
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake well and serve up in a coupe or martini glass. Delicately float rose petals as garnish.
Lieutenant
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 oz MUJEN X
- 1 oz Casamigos Reposado
- 1 oz Amaro Nonino
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Orange twist
Directions
Stir all ingredients with ice for 20 seconds and pour over an ice sphere in a chilled double old fashioned glass. Squeeze the orange twist on top and drop it between glass and ice.
