Review of The Village Voice 2nd Annual Holiday Spirits Tasting Event on The Hornblower Infinity Cruise Ship, Pier 40 @ West Houston St., Manhattan, NY

Thursday, November 20th 2014

As we approached the riverboat Hornblower Infinity at Pier 40 at West Houston Street for the Village Voice Holiday Spirits Tasting Event, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect.  Would it be one of the loud party boat events that can be seen (and heard) regularly blaring up the Hudson? Or would it be a tasting event primarily sponsored by large name-brand distilleries?  As it turned out it was neither.   Once we looked past the garish pulsating lights of the Infinity’s decor, we found ourselves presented with the opportunity to experience sophisticated and complex tastes from a wide variety of small artisanal distilleries and wineries.

When we first boarded, we were given a souvenir glass, and scanned the deck.  Table after table of unique drinks to try from bow-to-stern. Food was also included, with pasta, burgers, and ice cream sundaes, all from Whole Foods Market. The ship also featured live entertainment; with sets from the jazz quartet  Blue Vipers of Brooklyn and  DJ Tim Martell.  

Not recognizing too many of the companies, we tried a sample from the nearest table and offering from the Cooperstown Distillery, a concoction of Fenimore Gin, Fentiman’s Ginger Beer, Orange Curacao, and Cardamon Bitters. This is not an ordinary drink sample- and this was just the beginning.  As we progressed from deck to deck (There were three full decks of samples and food!), many of the samples were even more complex and exotic.  We tasted Scorpion Mezcal with hot chocolate, Caleb’s Kola, a brand-new cola manufacturer;  Sorel Artisanal Liquor – a complex winter drink reminiscent of Glühwein or Swedish Glögg, and finally, Nahmias et Fils.

This event was truly about the smaller brands, unique and often hand-crafted. The company, Nahmias Et Fils  is a typical in the sense of the passion and care put into their niche product. In a room with so many competing flavors it would be impossible to pick a favorite, but their Mahia managed to stand apart with it’s subtlety and unique complexity.  Mahia has origins in Morocco, and is a distilled spirit made from figs or dates and herbs.

I had the opportunity to speak with the founders and producers of Mahia, Dorit Nahmias and David Nahmias who were both at the event, ebullient and enthusiastic. I asked David what it was that made Mahia different, expecting a description or process or flavors – but instead he told me,  “It’s love. Really, it’s love. We put such care into this, you have no idea!” I started to understand when I heard their story. The Nahmias both quit their 21st century jobs in software engineering and finance and put everything on the line to continue a multigenerational family tradition that began in Morocco. “I decided that I had to follow my dream and continue the tradition.”

It was this kind of passion that could be found at almost all of the brands represented at the tasting event.  This was the second year of this well-curated event by the Village Voice. Let’s hope that it becomes an annual tradition.