Rosh Hashanah 2023. I’ve heard the chant my whole life, but this time I heard it differently.

Tekiah.

The first blast of the shofar.

The call for new beginnings.

A better year to come.

This time, that moment during services struck me deeply. Just a few weeks before, I had been sitting with my rabbi, raising a glass for a L’Chaim. We were drinking subpar vodka and whiskey—not exactly spiritual.  I’ve never been a big drinker, but I’ve always been drawn to tequila. Maybe it’s in my blood—my mom is from Mexico City, and tequila has always felt like the most honest, natural spirit. That night, I asked the rabbi, “Why aren’t we using tequila for our L’Chaim? It’s cleaner. It’s better for you. It’s rooted in tradition.”

He shrugged and said, “We’d need one that’s kosher.”

That stayed with me.

I went out searching for a truly great kosher tequila. Bottle after bottle, I came up empty. Some were passable, but none felt exceptional—none felt worthy of the ritual and the culture we were trying to honor. Then, during Rosh Hashanah services, with all of this fresh in my mind, the word Tekiah rang out again—this time as a message. I had a sudden flash of clarity. A download. A vision. One that could only be described as divine.

In that moment, I saw it all—what Tekiah could be. Not just a tequila brand, but a true bridge between cultures. A celebration of both my Jewish and Mexican roots. A tribute to my mother. A product that honors tradition, family, and faith.

My mom was everything. She believed in doing the best you could, staying close to your family, supporting your community, and being proud of who you are. Our holidays were joyful and warm, always filled with traditional Jewish dishes—brisket, kugel, challah—but also peppered with flavors from my mom’s childhood in Mexico: fresh tacos, tropical fruits, and handmade salsas that made their way into every celebration.

That blend of tradition and flavor—that celebration of heritage—is what Tekiah is all about.

After that flash of inspiration in synagogue, the research began. I kept the idea close to my chest but moved with urgency. I knew if I was looking for a tequila like this, other people were probably looking for it too.  I started researching what makes a great tequila. I sampled hundreds of bottles. I studied tequila production and kosher certification. Eventually, I realized I had to go to the source. I called my cousin Adam, who had just come to Mexico City from Israel, and together we traveled to Jalisco, Mexico. We walked the agave fields. We visited the best small-batch distilleries. We listened. We tasted. We learned.

And we found it.

A craft tequila worthy of the story it needed to tell—one we could proudly certify as kosher, without compromising on flavor or integrity. From that moment, everything began to align. Every obstacle seemed to dissolve. I had a calm, clear confidence I can’t explain—like I had been given the path, and all I had to do was walk it.

That is how Tekiah Kosher Spirits was born.

Tekiah respects both my Jewish and Mexican heritage. It honors shared traditions while celebrating the vibrant, joyous nuances of both cultures. It is one of the few premium kosher tequilas on the market—and the only Jewish-inspired brand. It is authentically distilled in the tradition of the legendary tequila makers of Jalisco, Mexico. 

Tekiah is about meaning. It’s about identity, tradition, and celebration. It was inspired by the ideals my mother lived by—family, faith, pride, and community. Tekiah isn’t just a tequila. It’s a spirit with spirit. A call to gather, to raise a glass, and to be present with the people who matter most.

We invite you to raise a glass.

To L’Chaim. To Salud. To Tekiah.

Greg Sobol holding tequila bottles

About the author

Greg Sobol

Founder of Tekiah Kosher Spirits

Greg Sobol is the founder of Tekiah Kosher Spirits, an award-winning tequila brand built on the values of celebration, community, and authenticity. Raised in Metro Detroit, Greg studied music, percussion, accounting, and finance, later touring as a professional musician before channeling his creative energy into entrepreneurship.

In 2017, Greg married his wife, Carrie, and joined her in her growing high-end interior design firm. While Carrie led the creative vision, Greg supported the financial and operational side, bringing a balance of creativity and strategy to the business.

Greg’s mother was born and raised in Mexico City, where he has extensive family ties, making the creation of Tekiah deeply personal and connected to his heritage. What began as a vision has grown into a brand recognized on the international stage — earning double gold and silver at the prestigious Agavos Awards. Tekiah is produced in Tequila, Mexico, and stands as the world’s first Jewish-branded tequila, created not only as a premium spirit but as a symbol of heritage, pride, and togetherness.

Greg and Carrie live in West Bloomfield, Michigan with their two young sons. Driven by creativity, family, and community, Greg continues to grow Tekiah into more than just a spirit — a movement that brings people together in meaningful celebration.

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