California Craft Shochu

California is one of the biggest markets for shochu in the United States. Los Angeles has some of the country's best shochu bars and izakayas, and since 2023 state law has let restaurants with only a beer and wine license pour Japanese shochu up to 24% ABV, putting it on far more menus.

The state is home to both of the brands on DiscoCraft importing their own shochu from Japan: Nankai Shochu, with kokuto shochu from Amami Island and imo shochu from Kagoshima, and MUJEN, with rice shochu from Kumamoto. Alameda's St. George Spirits goes a step further and distills California Shochu itself, from the sake lees of local Calrose rice.