Simmons in town to launch local vodka
KISS rocker touts Calgary-crafted, gold-filtered spirit as `literally the best'
Gene Simmons doesn't really care for booze.
Seemingly a rarity in the rock `n' roll world, the KISS co-frontman has famously never had much interest in imbibing over the almost 50 years he's donned his iconic demon war paint and dragon boots on stage.
But he didn't let that deter him from launching a made-in-calgary spirit of his own, Moneybag Vodka — because it's never been about what he likes.
“People seem to have a misconception of how life works. It's very bizarre to me ... I don't personally like spinach souffle, but if you'd like a spinach souffle at Rock and Brews” — a restaurant chain he founded with bandmate Paul Stanley — “we'll make you one,” Simmons said in an interview with Postmedia.
“What does what I like have to do with what people should have?”
Simmons is in Calgary this week for the official launch of his new spirit, which will be distilled locally at Minhas Brewery and Distillery. He'll meet with fans and sign bottles of Moneybag at two events: Wednesday at Minhas Brewery and Thursday at 10 a.m. at Sobeys Liquor in Royal Oak.
Moneybag comes in true extravagant Simmons style. Bottled in a glass decanter shaped like a bag of money — akin to the hardy burlap sacks old-school bank robbers slung over their shoulders — the vodka is 10 times distilled and filtered through real gold.
“It's literally the best vodka out there,” said Simmons.
Manjit Minhas, the distillery's co-founder and a titular Dragon of CBC'S Dragons' Den, said the opportunity to work with Simmons came via “luck, timing and hard work all put together.” Specifically noting the gold filtering — which she described as an “off-the-cuff” request by Simmons — she said the project has had a lot of firsts for her and the distillery.
“There's a lot of creativity, which is the epitome of Gene,” she said.
“We're just really excited about what's come out of it and now we're excited for people to really taste this product in their own drinks or martinis, or however they like to drink vodka.”
Coming to Canada, and specifically to Calgary, to produce his new signature vodka came down to a need for a strong work ethic, Simmons said, adding that “people care” here.
“If we put the brewery in New York or L.A., I don't know how to tell you this, but they're just not going to care as much. And in Calgary, you've got people dedicated to what they do,” he said, adding the same goes for Edmontonians or “even a Newfie.”
Simmons's own hard work has seen him launch multiple new business ventures over the past decade — the rock star has endeavoured into cannabis, soda, restaurants, clothing and life insurance, among various other pursuits. He's juggled all of that while KISS readies to resume its farewell tour next year, which he said should make its way through Canada in the “near future.”
Busy as ever at 73 years old, he scoffs at the mere mention of the word “retirement.”
“The whole concept of retiring is a losing proposition,” said Simmons. “Doctors will tell you, `OK, you don't want to work, that's fine, but get your lazy ass up off the comfortable chair and go out there and hike.' Keep your heart pumping until you die; that's what you're supposed to do.”
Minhas said that drive showed working with Simmons. He's one of few people she's met that she says has rivalled her own work ethic.
“He's 30 years older than me and I can only hope and dream to have that much zest for life and energy,” she said. “He's definitely one to keep up with. But I love that whether he's at a concert or whether he's coming out with a product or on the KISS Kruise — just whatever he's doing — he's always learning. There really was a great back and forth between him and me and our teams.”
Moneybag 's launch will see 750 ml bottles of the spirit on liquor store shelves soon. Minhas said there are plans for 50 ml minis, 1.75 L handles and 3 L Texas mickeys to be released in the future, with the same unique and artful bottle design.
After the Calgary signings, Simmons is set to head to events in Edmonton, Saskatoon and Regina as part of Moneybag's launch.
For more information on Moneybag, visit moneybagvodka.com.