Ukrainian-born ‘DWTS’ alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy brings vodka brand to NYC

Tetya Kapa, a Napa Valley vodka from Ukrainian-born “Dancing pinch nan Stars” seasoned Maksim Chmerkovskiy, debuts successful New York this week astatine hotspots including Elsie Rooftop, Fresco by Scotto, and Avra. 

The vodka is named for Chmerkovskiy’s favourite relative, Kapa. Tetya is Ukrainian for aunt. 

“She taught maine really to portion and not get drunk astatine nan ripe property of 10 aliases 11 years old,” Chmerkovskiy said. “We grew up pinch that culture, changeless celebrations, mournings, graduations, immoderate benignant of gathering was celebrated pinch shots of vodka, for health. I grew up successful that culture. I didn’t spot a solid of vino until my 20s.” 

The tone will beryllium disposable passim nan tri-state area, including Brooklyn — wherever Chmerkovskiy landed astatine property 14 pinch his family successful 1994.

It will beryllium distributed by  “Dozortsev & Sons,” owned by chap Ukrainian Arty Dozortsev.  

Chmerkovskiy sewage his commencement arsenic a teenage dancer successful Brighton Beach’s famed restaurants, for illustration Ukraina, that offered “dinner and a show” to homesick ex-Soviet immigrants. He’d get $20 to $25 a show to execute pinch his partner, who would travel to nan restaurants aft studying astatine a section yeshiva. 

“That woke maine up. I didn’t  person to present newspapers, I could do thing else,” said Chmerkovskiy, who has been a dancer and an entrepreneur ever since. 

After performing connected “DWTS” for 17 years, he near nan show successful 2014.

Chmerkovskiy co-founded nan vodka marque pinch Arthur Hartunian, laminitis of Napa Valley Distillery, and Ian Devereux White successful 2023. 

Made without maize aliases sugar, utilizing Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Tetya Kapa vodka took disconnected pinch chef-led restaurants successful Napa, including La Toque and Angele Restaurant & Bar. 

“I’m very excited to return and present nan merchandise to New York,” Chmerkovskiy told Side Dish. “How we observe revolves astir shots of vodka. This 1 we don’t person to sell, each group person to do is sensation it, arsenic it is very overmuch a handmade merchandise that you tin sip, for illustration a precocious extremity Mezcal, which is why a batch of nan restaurants emotion it.”

A information of nan income will besides spell to charities supporting Ukraine, including Baranova27, a kindness that Chmerkovskiy founded pinch his begetter to thief rebuild houses successful Western Ukraine.

He lives successful California pinch his wife, chap “DWTS” alumnus Peta Murgatroyd, and their 3 kids — Milan, who turns 1 adjacent month; Rio, who will beryllium 2 this month, and Shai, who is eight. 

Chmerkovskiy was successful Kiev judging a creation show erstwhile Russia launched its full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful 2022. 

“The region was ne'er secure and while [Russia’s invasion] shocked nan world, it wasn’t shocking to america aliases to anyone who knows history and nan region. It was to beryllium expected,” Chmerkovskiy said. 

Being successful Kiev erstwhile Russia invaded “was a reliable experience,” Chmerkovskiy said. “I made a batch of friends location and I person a batch of empathy for group successful Ukraine. It was difficult to see.”

“Dancers,” he added, “we are a different type, if you will, and each of a abrupt they were portion of an service and went consecutive to nan frontline. I’m not utilized to our type talking astir thing different than cha-chas and sambas.”

Some dancers turned into soldiers and person since mislaid immoderate of their limbs. He besides knows families connected some sides of nan separator — and says location is still truthful overmuch “PTSD generationally successful nan region” from conflicts launched by Moscow that spell backmost to nan Soviet Union’s warfare successful Afghanistan successful nan 1980s.  

“It is unfortunate – very tragic. Ukraine is now dealing pinch and will person a full procreation who can’t forget, who are missing limbs,” Chmerkovskiy said. “Everyone I cognize [in Ukraine] is portion of this army. It’s been very difficult to watch and everyone I cognize has thing to do pinch this manner but had to prime up a limb and beryllium connected nan frontline. It’s crazy. There is truthful overmuch trauma.”