Ukrainian-born ‘DWTS’ alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy…
Tetya Kapa, a Napa Valley vodka from Ukrainian-born “Dancing with the Stars” veteran Maksim Chmerkovskiy, debuts in New York this week at hotspots including Elsie Rooftop, Fresco by Scotto, and Avra.
The vodka is called 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 stated. “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.”
Tetya Kapa is a Napa Valley vodka from “Dancing with the Stars” veteran Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Braden Tavelli
The spirit can be accessible all through the tri-state space, including Brooklyn — where Chmerkovskiy landed at age 14 with his household in 1994.
It can be distributed by “Dozortsev & Sons,” owned by fellow Ukrainian Arty Dozortsev.
Chmerkovskiy acquired his begin as a teenage dancer in Brighton Beach’s famed eating places, like Ukraina, that supplied “dinner and a show” to homesick ex-Soviet immigrants. He’d get $20 to $25 a show to carry out with his companion, who would come to the eating places after finding out at a native yeshiva.
“That woke me up. I didn’t have to deliver newspapers, I could do something else,” stated Chmerkovskiy, who has been a dancer and an entrepreneur ever since.
After dancing on “DWTS” for 17 years, Chmerkovskiy now lives with his spouse, fellow “DWTS” alumnus Peta Murgatroyd, and their three children, who are all under 5 years outdated.
He co-founded the vodka model with Arthur Hartunian, founder of Napa Valley Distillery, and Ian Devereux White in 2023.
The spirit can be accessible all through the tri-state space. Chmerkovskiy and co-founder Ian Devereux White. Tetya Kapa
Made without corn or sugar, utilizing Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Tetya Kapa vodka took off with chef-led eating places in Napa, including La Toque and Angele Restaurant & Bar.
“I’m very excited to return and introduce the product to New York,” Chmerkovskiy advised Side 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 will also go to charities supporting Ukraine, including Baranova27, a charity that Chmerkovskiy based with his father to help rebuild homes in Western Ukraine.
Chmerkovskiy was in Kiev judging a dance show when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Ukrainian-born Chmerkovskiy was in Kiev judging a dance show when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Benjo Arwas
“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 stated.
Being in Kiev when Russia invaded “was a tough experience,” Chmerkovskiy stated. “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 turned into troopers and have since misplaced some of their limbs. He also is aware of households on both sides of the border — and says there may be still so a lot “PTSD generationally in the region” from conflicts launched by Moscow that go back to the Soviet Union’s struggle in Afghanistan in 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 stated. “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.”
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