For years, St. Louis distiller David Hermelin has been crafting spirits and bourbon that do more than taste good—they tell stories rooted in Jewish tradition. First came Righteous Seven, an award-winning fruit liqueur made from the seven species mentioned in the Torah—wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Then came The Fifth Cup, a liqueur inspired by the Passover seder’s symbolic fifth cup of redemption. Like everything Hermelin produces, both liqueurs are certified kosher. That attention to spiritual and ritual detail helped establish Righteous Road’s identity—and set the stage for what came next.
Last year, Hermelin entered into making whiskey with a single-barrel release finished in barrels that once held The Fifth Cup. Now comes GREYRIDER, a new spirit which, like the rest of his portfolio, tells a story.
Kosher bourbon with a spiritual edge
“I always envisioned getting into whiskey eventually,” Hermelin told the Jewish Light in 2024. “It was a natural progression.”
That progression led to GREYRIDER—a new whiskey finished with Righteous Seven liqueur that Hermelin manufactures in the St. Louis area. It’s a standalone brand under the Righteous Road umbrella. But what sets this one apart isn’t just the flavor—though we’ll get to that. It’s the mythos.
“Gray is in between black and white,” David told me. “Life is lived in the middle. GREYRIDER is about that journey.”
And that journey, as with everything Hermelin makes, is firmly rooted in his Jewish values. The bourbon is certified kosher by both the Orthodox Union and Mishkoltz in Brooklyn, N.Y. “Everything I do will have kosher certification,” he said. “That was one of my original objectives—to create something for people who want to drink with intention.”
That intention shows up not only in the certification but in the finishing process. GREYRIDER starts with a classic 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley mash bill. It ages four years before finishing in barrels with new oak staves soaked in his Righteous Seven liqueur.
“I didn’t have a lot of empty barrels lying around, so I started experimenting. I soaked the staves in the liqueur, then dropped them into the barrels. It worked,” said Hemerlin.
Hermelin describes it as smooth, soft on the finish, and full of subtle fruit and spice. “It gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling,” he said.
Bottles are $56.99, and available for purchase online.
Jordan’s Tasting Notes
- Nose: Caramel, toasted almond, dried apricot
- Palate: Creamy vanilla, caramel, warm spice
- Finish: Dried fig, toffee, toasted nutmeg
