Maxim Chmerkovskiy’s Vodka Brand Launches in New York

This week, tech entrepreneur and dancer Maxim Chmerkovskiy, known from “Dancing with the Stars,” is bringing his Napa Valley vodka, Tetia Kapa, to New York hotspots like Elsirouftop, Fresco Scott, and Avra. The vodka pays homage to Chmerkovskiy’s favorite relative, Kapa, with “Tetia” meaning aunt in Ukrainian.

Recalling fond memories, Chmerkovskiy shared, “She taught me how to avoid getting drunk at a young age.” He emphasized how vodka plays a significant role in Ukrainian culture, often present in celebrations and gatherings.

The spirit will be available across the Tri-State area, including Brooklyn, where Chmerkovskiy and his family settled when he was 14 years old, arriving in 1994.

Distribution is handled by “Dozortsev & Sons,” a company led by Ukrainian artist Dozortsev.

Chmerkovskiy’s journey began as a teenager dancing in a well-known restaurant in Brighton Beach, where he earned modest pay by performing after attending a local Yeshiva with his partner.

Reflecting on his early days, he said, “It awakened me. There was no need to deliver the newspaper; I could do something else.” Chmerkovskiy was part of “DWTS” for 17 years before stepping away from the show in 2014.

In 2023, he co-founded Tetia Kapa Vodka with Arthur Hartunian and Ian Devereux White, the latter two being founders of Napa Valley Distillery. The vodka, crafted without corn or sugar and using Sauvignon grapes, quickly became popular in chef-led restaurants in Napa, including La Toque and Angele Restaurant & Bar.

Chmerkovskiy expressed excitement about returning to New York with their products, noting, “The way we celebrate revolves around shots of vodka. Everyone tastes it; it’s homemade and can be sipped like high-end mezcal.” A portion of the sales will go to charities supporting Ukraine, including Baranova27, an organization he founded with his father to aid his hometown in western Ukraine.

Currently residing in California with his wife Peta Murgatroyd, a fellow “DWTS” alum, and their three children, Chmerkovskiy recalls a turbulent experience. He was in Kiev judging a dance competition when Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“It was a tough experience. I made many friends there and have a lot of empathy for the Ukrainian people. It was hard to witness,” Chmerkovskiy noted. He mentioned that many dancers he knows transitioned into soldiers amid the conflict and have suffered severe consequences. “It’s tragic. I know families on both sides, and there’s a lot of PTSD stemming from this ongoing conflict.”

Chmerkovskiy reflected on how the war has affected everyone he knows in Ukraine, saying, “It’s extremely difficult to see. Many of them didn’t choose this path, yet here they are, facing unimaginable trauma.”