Tetya Kapa, a Napa Valley vodka from Ukrainian-born “Dancing with the Stars” veteran Maksim Chmerkovskiy, debuts in New York this week at hotspots together with Elsie Rooftop, Fresco by Scotto, and Avra.
The vodka is known as for Chmerkovskiy’s favourite relative, Kapa. Tetya is Ukrainian for aunt.
“She taught me how to drink and not get drunk at the ripe age of 10 or 11 years old,” Chmerkovskiy mentioned. “We grew up with that culture, constant celebrations, mournings, graduations, any kind of gathering was celebrated with shots of vodka, for health. I grew up in that culture. I didn’t see a glass of wine until my 20s.”
The spirit can be out there all through the tri-state space, together with Brooklyn — the place Chmerkovskiy landed at age 14 along with his household in 1994.
Will probably be distributed by “Dozortsev & Sons,” owned by fellow Ukrainian Arty Dozortsev.
Chmerkovskiy obtained his begin as a teenage dancer in Brighton Seashore’s famed eating places, like Ukraina, that supplied “dinner and a show” to homesick ex-Soviet immigrants. He’d get $20 to $25 a present to carry out along with his accomplice, who would come to the eating places after finding out at a neighborhood yeshiva.
“That woke me up. I didn’t have to deliver newspapers, I could do something else,” mentioned Chmerkovskiy, who has been a dancer and an entrepreneur ever since.
After dancing on “DWTS” for 17 years, Chmerkovskiy now lives along with his spouse, fellow “DWTS” alumnus Peta Murgatroyd, and their three children, who’re all underneath 5 years outdated.
He co-founded the vodka model with Arthur Hartunian, founding father of Napa Valley Distillery, and Ian Devereux White in 2023.
Made with out corn or sugar, utilizing Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Tetya Kapa vodka took off with chef-led eating places in Napa, together with La Toque and Angele Restaurant & Bar.
“I’m very excited to return and introduce the product to New York,” Chmerkovskiy informed Aspect Dish. “How we celebrate revolves around shots of vodka. This one we don’t have to sell, all people have to do is taste it, as it is very much a handmade product that you can sip, like a high end Mezcal, which is why a lot of the restaurants love it.”
A portion of the gross sales may even go to charities supporting Ukraine, together with Baranova27, a charity that Chmerkovskiy based along with his father to assist rebuild homes in Western Ukraine.
Chmerkovskiy was in Kiev judging a dance present when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“The region was never very safe and while [Russia’s invasion] shocked the world, it wasn’t shocking to us or to anyone who knows history and the region. It was to be expected,” Chmerkovskiy mentioned.
Being in Kiev when Russia invaded “was a tough experience,” Chmerkovskiy mentioned. “I made a lot of friends there and I have a lot of empathy for people in Ukraine. It was hard to see.”
“Dancers,” he added, “we are a different type, if you will, and all of a sudden they were part of an army and went straight to the frontline. I’m not used to our type talking about anything other than cha-chas and sambas.”
Some dancers become troopers and have since misplaced a few of their limbs. He additionally is aware of households on either side of the border — and says there’s nonetheless a lot “PTSD generationally in the region” from conflicts launched by Moscow that return to the Soviet Union’s struggle in Afghanistan within the Eighties.
“It is unfortunate – very tragic. Ukraine is now dealing with and will have a whole generation who can’t forget, who are missing limbs,” Chmerkovskiy mentioned. “Everyone I know [in Ukraine] is part of this army. It’s been very hard to watch and everyone I know has nothing to do with this lifestyle but had to pick up a weapon and be on the frontline. It’s crazy. There is so much trauma.”
