Despite the late night out with friends in Fukuoka the night before, I was up and out of the hotel by 8am to catch an 8:30 train to Arita, traditional home of Japanese porcelain, was was actually the model for Chinese and European “china” as early as the 17th century. Arita is also the home of Munemasa Shuzo, which makes both Nonnoko Kuro and Mizunomai, two very nice barely shochus available in the US.
Mizunomai (Mizu for short) is a high proof barley shochu that was developed for the global market. Extensive taste testing with customers and bartenders throughout Japan, the US, and other Asian countries yielded this blend as the most popular all without compromising the artisinal qualities that make this class of spirits so unique.