From glaciers to taps: This summer's spirits
Vodka from Finland and France, rosé from the south of France, Gewürztraminer from the Golan, and a new Israeli sparkling wine from Teperberg have hit the shelves just in time. Cans are also taking a place of honor, with Spanish wines and cocktails, alongside colorful craft editions from Schnit. We tasted the new releases and checked what is worth the money.
FIN LAP Arctic Vodka
FIN LAP arrives in Israel from the far north of Europe. It is a new Finnish vodka based, according to the manufacturer, on glacier water from Lapland. The drink undergoes triple distillation and incorporates a delicate touch of Nordic honey. Its goal is clear: to provide a premium feel at a relatively accessible price. A vodka aimed at both neat drinking and the home bar.
The bottle is tall and elegant, in white and blue tones, with a design that gives a feeling of glaciers. On the nose, a clean and fresh aroma is received, without a sharp alcohol attack. The vodka is smooth and pleasant in the mouth, with a balanced body, a delicate finish that does not burn the throat, and a soft touch of sweetness. Suitable for drinking frozen, on ice, or as a base for classic cocktails.
Price: 149 NIS for a liter bottle. Available at select liquor stores.
Yarden Gewürztraminer 2025
Yarden Gewürztraminer 2025, from the Golan Heights Winery, comes from an exceptionally unusual harvest: the third in a row in the shadow of war, with a dry winter and a historic heatwave. Despite a lower-than-average yield, the grapes from the northern Golan Heights provided high-quality and concentrated fruit. It is a dry white wine, with a medium body and 14% alcohol, which brings the aromatic character of the Gewürztraminer without making it too heavy or too sweet.
In the glass, a fragrant white wine is received, with a fruity aroma of lychee, lime, and green apple. In the mouth, it is concentrated, fresh, and easy to drink, with good acidity that keeps it sharp and balanced. Recommended to drink as cold as possible.
Price: 79 NIS. Available at select liquor stores.
ALUVINUM
The ALUVINUM brand arrives in Israel from Spain. It is a brand from Barcelona that offers wines, sangrias, and wine-based cocktails in aluminum cans, light and convenient to carry. In the first stage, white sangria, rosé sangria, Premium white wine, and Orange Spritz arrive in the country. All are kosher, in 250 ml cans, and suitable for the beach, picnics, and concerts.
The design is colorful and accessible. The sangrias bring a fruity aroma of citrus, tropical fruits, peach, and red fruits, while the white wine feels fresh, light, and elegant for the genre. The Orange Spritz is the more summery and cocktail-like option, with oranges, white wine, and pleasant carbonation.
Price: 14.90 NIS per can. Available at select liquor stores.
Alain Jaume Bellissime
Alain Jaume Bellissime is a dry French rosé that comes to us from the Rhône Valley. It is a blend of Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, which aged for about five months in stainless steel tanks. The result is a fresh, precise, and accessible rosé, coming from a family house that has been producing wine since 1826.
In the glass, a clear and brilliant salmon-pink color is received. On the nose, a fruity and spicy aroma is felt, with touches of strawberry and flowers. In the mouth, it is full, balanced, and refreshing, with good acidity and a long finish that does not weigh down.
Price: 59 NIS. Available at select liquor stores.
ESSENCE Blanc de Blancs 2023
The ESSENCE Blanc de Blancs 2023 from Teperberg Winery is the first step of the veteran winery towards the world of sparkling wines using the traditional method. It is a sparkling wine from the ESSENCE series, produced from 100% Chardonnay grapes harvested by hand in vineyards in the Ayalon Valley. After the second fermentation in the bottle, the wine aged on the lees for about 18 months. A serious Israeli sparkling wine, which enters the category with a lot of self-confidence.
In the glass, an elegant and clean drink is received, with delicate bubbles and a fruity aroma of pear, lemon peel, honeycomb, and fresh bread. Fresh, crisp, and precise in the mouth, with good acidity, a pleasant texture, and a long finish that does not feel heavy.
Price: 129 NIS. Available at select liquor stores.
Schnit Beers
Schnit Brewery from Givon Square in Tel Aviv continues to brew fresh, colorful, and slightly crazy craft beers. For the current summer, it presents seven limited editions.
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If the breweries - Pale Ale: A golden, clear, and refreshing Pale Ale, with 4.7% alcohol. A good combination between rich ale fermentation and a cleaner finish.
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Dunkelmann: A dark, unfiltered wheat beer in the Bavarian style, with 5.2% alcohol. A deep color with fruity-spicy aromas of banana and clove.
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Hopsy Daisy: A cloudy NEIPA-type beer, with 7% alcohol. Characterized by an aroma of tropical fruits, citrus, and a touch of berries.
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Tea Party: Lemon Verbena: A light and delicate Pale Ale, with 5.6% alcohol, and the addition of lemon verbena.
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Day Shift: A Session IPA with 5% alcohol. Relatively light, fresh, and easy to drink.
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Orange Blossom: A Pale Ale with 5.4% alcohol, which connects citrusy hops to citrus blossoms.
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Cactus Sour: A sour beer with Israeli red prickly pear, 5.6% alcohol, and a pinkish color.
Price: from 14 NIS per can. Available at select liquor stores and on the brewery's website.
CÎROC
CÎROC arrives in Israel in a kosher version. It is an ultra-premium French vodka from DIAGEO, which is produced from grapes. It combines Mauzac Blanc grapes with Ugni Blanc grapes from the Cognac region, undergoes cold fermentation, and five distillations. The vodka is kosher parve under the supervision of STAR-K.
On the nose, a clean and delicate aroma is received, with a soft fruity sensation of grapes. Smooth, round, and pleasant in the mouth, with a clean texture and a finish that does not burn the throat.
Price: from 120 NIS. Available at select liquor stores.
Finlandia Botanical
The Botanical series from Finlandia arrives for the Israeli summer with two spiced alcoholic drinks based on vodka (30% alcohol). The two flavors in the series are cucumber-mint and berry-rose. A convenient base for drinks with ice and tonic.
Cucumber-mint opens with a fresh aroma, with a clear scent of cucumber and mint. Berry-rose goes in a softer and more floral direction, with an aroma of red fruits and a delicate touch of rose water.
Price: 89.90 NIS. Available at select liquor stores.
