Koji Rice Series 1

A Koji-Driven Expression. Koji Rice Series 1 is built around koji fermentation, the central technique showcased across MURI's limited-edition Koji Rice Series. According to MURI's website, the base is made by growing koji on steamed rice, then mixing with water and fermenting with a cultivated yeast, a process inspired by sake. The blend takes its inspiration from two references: risalamande, the creamy Danish rice dessert, and amazake, described by MURI as the non-alcoholic cousin of Japanese sake. Murray Paterson, MURI's founder, first discovered koji while working as a distiller at Empirical, where he learned how powerful it could be in creating complex, layered flavours before bringing the technique to MURI.^[1],[2]

Part of a Planned Trilogy. MURI's website presents Koji Rice Series 1 as part of a planned three-expression, limited-edition series showcasing koji fermentation, with each expression completely different in style from the others. Murray Paterson considers Koji Rice Series 1 and Koji Rice Series 2 to be absolutely unique in their profiles, describing them as having nothing else like them available anywhere.^[1],[3]

Name Origin. MURI names the beverage as a nod to the hip-hop artist KRS-One.^[4]

MURI describes Koji Rice Series 1 as a silky, light cuvée made from koji-fermented rice wine, mahleb, and beechwood-smoked lavender water kefir, inspired by risalamande and amazake. The following components make up the blend.^[2]

Koji Rice Wine / Amazake — Base. The foundation is a koji-fermented rice component. Per MURI's website, koji is grown on steamed rice, then the rice is mixed with water and fermented with a cultivated yeast, an approach inspired by sake. In a January 2025 podcast, Murray Paterson described this component as rice inoculated with koji to produce an amazake, which is then blended with the smoked lavender water kefir.^[1],[5]

Beechwood-Smoked Lavender Kefir — Aromatic Finish. The blend is finished with a smoked lavender kefir, in which the lavender is smoked over beechwood before being used to perfume the blend. MURI notes that the lactic flavours of the kefir complement the rice base, while the lavender adds heady perfume notes.^[1]

Mahleb — Warming Spice. The blend contains mahleb (Prunus mahaleb), a small cherry pit traditionally used in Middle Eastern recipes, which MURI credits with providing a warming undertone to the blend.^[1]

Three-Day Koji Fermentation. MURI's website describes the Koji Rice Series blends as made using a three-day koji fermentation process in which koji spores inoculate steamed rice, converting starches to sugars and developing umami flavours. The resulting rice is mixed with water and fermented with a cultivated yeast to produce the sake-inspired, amazake-style base.^[6]

Nose. MURI describes Koji Rice Series 1 as a unique, earthy, and floral blend of koji rice and smoked lavender with a spiced touch of mahleb, the lavender contributing heady perfume notes.^[7]

Palate. The palate is described as creamy and smooth, with cinnamon and almond notes echoing its risalamande inspiration. MURI lists subtle earthy, savoury, nutty and citrus flavours, with hints of winter melon, enoki mushrooms, bright lemon citrus, and a subtle backbone of cinnamon and warm spices. The lactic flavours of the kefir complement the rice base, while mahleb provides a warming undertone.^[2],[8]

MURI recommends Koji Rice Series 1 with crunchy Thai salads, rich creamy desserts, gelato, and Basque cheesecake. The blend has also appeared as a cocktail component: a drink called 'Banana Split' was built with homemade banana spirit, cold brew coffee, MURI Koji Rice Series 1, and MURI Passing Clouds.^[2]

Specifications. Koji Rice Series 1 was released on March 27, 2024 as a limited-edition series, part of a planned three-expression run. It is available in the United States.^[1]

• Release: limited edition, March 27, 2024
• Series: one of a planned three expressions
• Availability: United States