Israel may not be the first place you think of when it comes to quality whiskey, but M&H distillery (formerly Milk & Honey) has been working hard to change that.
The distillery was established in Tel Aviv in 2012. It was a bold move: The White City’s hot and humid climate is unusual for whiskey making, but the young team — many with a background in tech start ups — rose to the challenge.
Sure, Tel Aviv’s climate results in a less-than-ideal 8-10% yearly evaporation rate, but it is also M&H’s secret to speed-aging their whiskey. Basically, in the heat, the product matures much faster than in, say, gloomy Scotland. It also sucks up (not a technical term) all the flavor from the barrels it’s maturing in super quickly, resulting in a comparable taste to long-aged equivalents.
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This may not sound so crazy, but in the often unyielding world of whiskey, M&H are pushing some serious boundaries. And what better place to do it than Tel Aviv, a city that’s mastered blending the traditional with the new.
By all accounts, their classic single malt whiskey is impressive. It won a Double Gold medal at 2020 “The Fifty Best,” among other accolades.
If gin is more your vibe, their Levantine gin — flavored with ingredients sourced from Tel Aviv’s Levinsky Market, like za’atar, cinnamon, and black pepper — is a sunny vacation in a bottle. Drink enough of it and you may even start to hear the swells of the Tel Aviv waves crash in the background.
Ready for the good news? (I know, a novel concept in recent times): M&H Distillery is bringing its spirits to over 20 states across the U.S., including New York, Florida, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington.
And if you’re not in the U.S., don’t fret. They have distributors across Europe, Canada, and beyond. Visit their website for more details.
