New York's first sake brewery enters the world of shochu with a sustainable, rice-based distillate available July 1, 2025
BROOKLYN, N.Y., July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Brooklyn Kura, the pioneering sake brewery reshaping how Americans drink and understand sake, is proud to announce the official launch of Kura Shochu, its first-ever shochu. Available starting July 1, Kura Shochu is a distinct and sustainably crafted spirit that builds on Brooklyn Kura's mission to innovate within Japanese tradition using American-grown ingredients.
Made in small batches and single pot distilled, Kura Shochu is a kasutori shochu – a traditional Japanese spirit made by distilling the sake kasu, or rice lees, left over from sake production. At Brooklyn Kura, the kasu undergoes a secondary fermentation using white koji before being gently pot-distilled to preserve the flavorful esters and oils of the original rice. Bottled at 40% ABV, the resulting spirit is smooth, aromatic, and cocktail-ready, with tasting notes of toasted rice, custard, fig, chestnut, lemon, and jasmine.
"Shochu has always fascinated us – especially kasutori shochu, which shares such a deep connection with sake and the brewing process we love," said Brian Polen, Brooklyn Kura's Co-founder & President. "With Kura Shochu, we saw an opportunity to take something abundant and often overlooked – sake kasu – and turn it into a vibrant, world-class spirit. This launch is as much about sustainability and minimizing waste as it is about celebrating Japanese distilling traditions and sharing them with an American audience in a way that feels fresh, respectful, and exciting."
Shochu, one of Japan's most-consumed spirits, remains underrepresented in the US market, and Brooklyn Kura sees an opportunity to introduce American drinkers to its unique depth and mixability. Designed to shine in cocktails as well as served neat or with soda, Kura Shochu can be used in place of gin, vodka, or even tequila in both classic and modern recipes.
Kura Shochu reflects Brooklyn Kura's ongoing sustainability goals. By upcycling kasu – a nutrient-rich byproduct of sake making – the brewery gives new life to an ingredient that can also be used in cooking, cosmetics, and even as agricultural feed. What's left after distillation is repurposed in collaboration with local New York farms and restaurants, further reinforcing the brand's commitment to reducing waste across its production process.
Kura Shochu is available in 750ML and 375ML bottles at Brooklyn Kura's taproom in Industry City, with wider availability in select bottle shops and hospitality partners to follow.
To support drinker education and deepen appreciation for Japanese distilling traditions, Brooklyn Kura offers Introduction to Shochu classes, held at their Sake Studies Center in Industry City. The session offers guests a chance to dive into the 500+ year history of this unique Japanese spirit, learn to distinguish between styles, and explore how shochu differs from sake and soju. The experience includes a guided tasting of five shochus (including Brooklyn Kura's new Kura Shochu), a brewery tour with a focus on shochu production, small bites, and exclusive bottle discounts – making it the perfect entry point for anyone curious to sip, understand, and enjoy shochu with confidence.
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About Brooklyn Kura
Brooklyn Kura is New York's first sake brewery, dedicated to crafting high-quality sake and building a community of passionate sake enthusiasts. With deep respect for Japanese brewing traditions and a commitment to innovation, Brooklyn Kura has become a leader in the American craft sake movement. In 2023, Brooklyn Kura unveiled the Sake Studies Center, a space dedicated to making the experience of enjoying sake mainstream through its educational programming and guided tastings. Through a strategic partnership with Hakkaisan, Brooklyn Kura opened a new taproom in Industry City and a state-of-the-art production facility that is allowing them to grow production and meet increasing demand.
Brooklyn Kura's sakes are available in its Industry City taproom, at select retailers across the U.S., and now, for the first time, in Japan.
Media Contact
Band of Insiders USA, Band of Insiders, 1 301-367-2196, [email protected]
SOURCE Band of Insiders
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