18 Years. Not 18 Months.
In 2008, Russell Fletcher set out to build a vodka that could stand next to anything on the shelf — and win. Nearly two decades later, that's exactly what happened. Mishka Classic earned Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, blind-tasted against the biggest names in the world. Only two Pennsylvania distilleries have ever achieved that.
The secret isn't a secret: five-times distilled from American corn, blended with Pennsylvania spring water at a natural 7.4 pH. No added sugars. No artificial colors. No shortcuts. Full 80-proof across every expression — cocktail-grade by default. It's why Fine Wine & Good Spirits carries Mishka in 100+ stores across Pennsylvania. It's why Total Wine, Spec's, and The W Philadelphia all said yes.
Mishka is now the Official Spirit of PA250, Pennsylvania's 250th Anniversary celebration — the only distillery with official Commonwealth designation. Russell serves as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Distilled Spirits Council by appointment of Governor Josh Shapiro, the only distiller at the table shaping policy for the state.
Pennsylvania's first and longest-operating Black-owned distillery, Mishka was built the hard way: quality first, community always, no shortcuts ever.
"We let the liquid do the talking. Everything else follows."— Russell Fletcher, CEO & Master Distiller