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

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 named for Chmerkovskiy’s favorite 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 said.

“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.” The spirit will be available throughout the tri-state area, including Brooklyn — where Chmerkovskiy landed at age 14 with his family in 1994.It will be distributed by  “Dozortsev & Sons,” owned by fellow Ukrainian Arty Dozortsev.  Chmerkovskiy got his start as a teenage dancer in Brighton Beach’s famed restaurants, like Ukraina, that offered “dinner and a show” to homesick ex-Soviet immigrants.He’d get $20 to $25 a show to perform with his partner, who would come to the restaurants after studying at a local yeshiva. “That woke me up.

I didn’t  have to deliver newspapers, I could do something else,” said Chmerkovskiy, who has been a dancer and an entrepreneur ever since. After dancing on “DWTS” for 17 years, Chmerkovskiy now lives with his wife, fellow “DWTS” alumnus Peta Murgatroyd, and their three kids, who are all under five years old. He co-founded the vodka brand with Arthur Hartunian, founder of Napa Valley Distillery, and Ian Devereux White in 2023. Made without corn or sugar, using Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Tetya Kapa vodka took off with chef-led restaurants in Napa, including La Toque and Angele Restaurant & Bar. “I’m very excited to return and introduce the product to New York,” Chmerkovskiy told Side Dish.“How we celebrate revolves around shots of vodka.

This one we don’t have to...