The Israeli distiller preserving an ancient Jewish tradition and turning honey into gin
Shalom Bringher raises bees as 'a hobby that got out of control.' The advantage of using natural ingredients with as little interference as possible is uncertainty. 'Sometimes it comes out this way, sometimes that way'
Mead, slivovitz and gin made from honey. Credit: Roni Kashmin
Shalom Bringher raises bees as 'a hobby that got out of control.' The advantage of using natural ingredients with as little interference as possible is uncertainty. 'Sometimes it comes out this way, sometimes that way'
06:08 PM • December 30 2025 IST
Shalom Bringher, a resident of Kibbutz Malkia in the Upper Galilee, refers to himself as "The Alchemist," almost without a hint of humor. It's more than a brand name, it's a precise characterization of his work. Bringher raises bees, "a hobby that got out of control," he says. The honey Bringher collects does not make it to the jar. Instead, he ferments it, distills it and uses it to make mead, a honey wine which then gives birth to arak and gin.
In the News
The Israeli Distiller Preserving an Ancient Jewish Tradition and Turning Honey Into Gin
