Cheers! Expand your Repertoire – Three Brands of Liquor to Explore

Feb 15, 2023 by Chef David

By Chef David

L’Chaim is a toast to life. We raise a glass to health and continued prosperity. But what is in that glass? There is no shortage of kosher alcoholic beverages and the selection keeps growing. They range the gamut from sweet and bubbly to high-quality whisky. It is time to expand your drinking repertoire and consider some different selections.

Starting at the light end of the spectrum is Watermelon Moscato MYX Fusions, certified by the OU. For more serious drinkers, there is Golden Moon Distillery, certified by EarthKosher, and The Milk & Honey Distillery distributed by ImpEx Beverages, Israel’s first whisky distillery, certified by star K.

These brands cover the drinking spectrum, but their founders may be more extravagant than the beverages themselves.

MYX Fusions – Fruit-Infused Wine

MYX Fusions is a line of lower-calorie and low-alcohol wines launched by Nicki Minaj (Onika Tanya Maraj). Minaj, known for her business acumen is considered one of the most influential female rappers.

Powered by Minaj, as the owner, and brand ambassador MYX fusion is a line of fruit-infused Moscatos positioned to change the way we drink wine.

MYX is an upscale wine cooler, in an attractive delicate bottle. A light-bodied, thirst-quenching wine beverage that is slightly effervescent and easy to drink.

Watermelon Moscato, MYX’s first kosher offering, was launched in June 2022. The signature fruit-forward beverage offers a balanced blend of premium Gordo Australian Moscato grapes with natural juices from fresh, ripe watermelons. Gentle notes of Moscato shine through, while the watermelon flavor provides a crisp, clean finish.

The Moscato comes in both single-serve and full-size bottles, with 5.5% Alcohol By Volume. The bottles themselves are a work of art. They are created to look like a slice of watermelon with a green striped body that resembles the rind and watermelon red neck.  The slightly sweet beverage is perfect for sipping and is great for a light dinner beverage.

Golden Moon Spirits

Stephen Gould, the force behind Golden Moon Distillery knew that when he grew up, he wanted to be a distiller, following in the family tradition. Gould is a master distiller, company founder, and retired US Marine, in addition to being a rare book collector, consultant, and teacher.

Following in his Grandfather’s Footsteps

Gould’s grandfather immigrated from Russia and settled in Clermont, New Hampshire where he opened a dry goods store, then a diner, and then a hotel. During Prohibition, he made applejack and gin. His sister, would go across the border to Canada and come back, pretending to be pregnant, with bottles of Canadian whiskey tucked into her “baby bump.”

While studying for his MBA, Gould started a small brewery with some friends. They planned to open a distillery when he graduated.

His plans changed when Gould asked Fritz Maytag (heir to the Maytag fortune and the grandfather of the American craft brewing and distilling industries) for advice. Maytag told him, “to wait 5-10 years. Go get a real job and learn how to run a business, and then, if you still want to go into distilling, come back to it.” Gould did just that, becoming an executive at several major corporations, before elevating his hobby into a brand.

Golden Moon

In 2008, Golden Moon was founded in Colorado as a small distillery making absinthe. It has continued to grow. In 2022, Golden Moon received their kosher designation for all products (except those containing wine). Golden Moon produces 22 products—including Golden Moon Single Malt Whiskey, REDUX Absinthe, Golden Moon Gin, and Gun Fighter American Bourbon. Golden Moon is sold in 17 states, the UK, four countries in Europe, and Taiwan. Golden Moon Colorado single malt whiskeys are positioned to become a major player in the American single malt category.

The decision to Become Kosher

Gould who is Jewish decided to make his product line kosher, in part for his friends and family, but also because kosher supervision shows a commitment to quality.

The certification process was slow, taking three years, and requiring a thorough review of the manufacturing processes and raw ingredients. The stills had to be koshered which meant filling them with water and blowing steam through them under the supervision of Rabbi Shmuly Engel of Chabad Cherry Creek. In addition, they have random checks by the EarthKosher team and for Passover, Gould needs to sell the distillery to a non-Jew.

Amazing Tastes

We sampled two items from the Golden Moon collection, a whisky, and a gin. Golden Moon Principium is distilled from 100% malted barley, grown, malted in Colorado, and aged in New American Oak casks. It is then bottled at 46% ABV (92 Proof). Golden Moon Principium has a warm, sweet, and malty character.

Golden Moon Gin, is distilled using Colorado herbs, spices, and botanicals, which provide a distinctive floral aroma and a gentle refined taste. A nice sweetness, caramel notes, and a spiciness on the finish that is smooth enough to drink neat and bold enough to mix well with other spirits.

Golden Moon can be purchased on their website

Milk & Honey Distillery imported by ImpEx Beverages

Sam Filmus is the President & Managing Director for ImpEx Beverages (an Importer of fine spirits from around the world including Milk & Honey). Filmus successfully turned his passion into a career.  Sam does it all, from public relations, product selection, sales & marketing, logistics, and social media. He is familiar with all aspects of the business, including operating forklifts in the warehouse.

Sam received his Whisky Certification from the University of the Highlands and Islands Moray College. In 2018 Sam was inducted as a Keeper of the Quaich for his lifetime of achievement.  Filmus thrives on educating people about the unique story behind each brand and is never too busy to answer questions.

Milk and Honey

Milk and Honey (M&H) is Israel’s first whisky distillery, made in Israel from start to finish, and imported by ImpEx Beverages. Founded in 2012, under the expert guidance of the late Dr. Jim Swan (known as the Einstein of whisky) an accomplished master distiller and an expert in hot climate distillation and maturation. Under his direction, M&H distillery crafted single malt spirits in Tel Aviv (including producing the only Single Malt whisky in the world, aged in pomegranate wine casks). M&H is known for its handcrafted small-batch production.

We sampled their Elements series, which includes sherry cask, peated, red wine cask, and classic (all 46% ABV). Head Distiller, Tomer Goren, specifically selects casks for each batch, creating a wide spectrum of flavors and custom-made traditional copper pot stills to maintain quality control throughout the process. M&H takes advantage of Israel’s sunny days and the Mediterranean climate to age their whisky rapidly yet gracefully which gives the brand unique flavors that differ from their Old-World counterparts.

The casks make a difference. They use red-wine casks that are scraped, toasted, and re-charred. This process, pioneered by Dr. Jim Swan, rejuvenates used casks and imparts a gentle vanilla sweetness, followed by light oak notes, with a light black pepper spiciness.

M&H Elements Sherry is the first and only kosher single malt whisky in the world, aged in Sherry casks sourced from Spain. Their palate is initially sharp, followed by a finish that is soothing, and sweet. This single malt has a robust flavor of red fruit, dark chocolate, and oaky notes. Peated is matured in casks from Islay, then soaked with smoky aromas and salty flavors. This spirit has a distinct smoky earthy scent. It is medium-bodied with a light spiciness accompanied by lingering ginger and lemon flavors. Red Wine Casks, sourced from Israel’s wineries, impart an aroma of dried red fruits, ginger, oak, and coconut. This spirit starts with oak and vanilla notes, followed by gentle floral flavors with a sweet finish reminiscent of dried raisins.

Discover more about the M&H products available in the United States on the ImpEx website.

Expand You Horizons

The kosher spirits market is constantly expanding, introducing new kosher offerings that cater to a wide range of tastes. Yet, what is most impressive is the passion shown by the leadership of these brands. Visionaries focused on producing high-quality, distinctive offerings that cater to the kosher consumer.

With bold taste profiles MYX Fusions, Golden Moon Distillery, and The Milk & Honey Distillery are high-quality beverages with dynamic leaders who recognize the importance of the kosher consumer. Expand your horizons by exploring these less traditional offerings. As M&H reminds us, always drink responsibly.