Jason Momoa and Blaine Halvorson's Meili Vodka Has a Secret Ingredient with a Family Tie-In (Exclusive)

When Jason Momoa found out his friend Blaine Halvorson wanted to start a vodka company together, he thought Halvorson was joking.

“I asked him, ‘Why vodka?'” Momoa recalls to PEOPLE. “He explained, ‘We like the idea of ​​moonshine and that sharp essence of moonshine, and we want to bring that into vodka. All those vodka bottles look the same; that whole arena feels stale. When you look at mezcals, tequilas and bourbons, they have character, vodka needs the same kind of uniqueness.'”

The two have been friends for over 16 years. Halvorson, the designer-owner of MadeWorn, played a key role in shaping Momo’s characters in films such as Aquaman and Border. “He’s just someone I bounce ideas off of creatively,” Momoa says.

So it’s no surprise that the actor got involved in the creation of Meili Vodka, their brand that is both delicious and sustainable.

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At the start of their venture more than seven years ago, the duo hand-labeled bottles and sorted bins of recycled glass — clear, green, blue, brown — to create their uniquely colored bottles. No two bottles look the same, they add. The rarest ones are called “green bastards”.

“We went into this trying to create something that we would both love, and I’ve always found my passion in the process of making something,” Halvorson told PEOPLE at OOF Tatata’s Meili Vodka concert in New York. He explains how making the bottles was similar to finding sea glass. “That was our bonding, the spirit that we have. It’s a super cool feeling.”

As for the preferred drinking method, “we want people to experience vodka in its purest form,” says Momoa. “Most people only know vodka as a drink or an ingredient, not as a specific alcoholic beverage. Our goal is to change that perception. We hope to create something that people will appreciate not only in cocktails, but as a wonderful alcoholic beverage in its own right.”

Blaine Halvorson and Jason Momoa with their Meili Vodka.

Alexander Tamargo/Getty

During his journey, Halvorson discovered that using natural spring water significantly improved the flavor of their vodka compared to using reverse osmosis (RO) water. They call it “living water”.

The duo traveled to Montana, where Halvorson is from, to source water from an old aquifer in his father’s backyard, which flows through a limestone shelf.

“It’s the only water source we’ve found with such a low sodium level,” Halvorson explains. “When you get a sweet note in it, it’s really something special.”

“Blaine was absolutely right about finding that perfect spirit live,” adds Momoa. “We decided to use living water in our vodka. Blaine’s idea was brilliant. We weren’t vodka people at first, but we spent seven and a half years developing a spirit that we actually enjoyed and wanted to drink.”

Blaine Halvorson and Jason Momoa address the crowd during Meili Vodka Oof Tatat’s concert at Racket NYC on September 8 in New York City.

Valerie Terranova/Getty

Looking to the future, Momoa is excited about expanding the Meili Vodka experience. Currently, the brand is present in all 50 states. In 2025, while Momoa is in Europe to shoot some movies, he will bring the brand there.

“We’re excited to go to all the bars and restaurants, especially the ones that have worked hard to survive during COVID,” says Momoa. “We want to share something we genuinely love with everyone.”

“We had so many shared experiences, from different styles and struggles to the inspirations behind elements like the coin on the front,” adds Halvorson. “It’s all part of the journey we’ve taken together to create something truly unique.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education