After a long period of examining possible locations, it was decided to place the distillery at Koah Junction in the center of the Golan Heights. After another process, all permits and licenses were obtained, and since April 2022 the two partners at the distillery have been producing fine alcohol using a traditional process without added yeast, coloring, or flavoring — everything is made 100% from natural fruits, spices, and herbs grown in the high fields of the Galilee and Golan.
The letters of the name Olgar combine the first names of the two partners, Olga and Grigory. For them, as immigrants from Ukraine and Russia, the name also has symbolic meaning: the letters OL in Russian stand for “liqueur,” and GAR represents a measure of vodka strength. Thus, a business was born, a place was found, and the name chosen: Distillery Olgar.
As immigrants who love life in Israel and live in the north, we made a decision to support the farmers of the north. We purchase from farmers or packing houses in the Galilee and Golan fruits, herbs, and spices — fresh, free from pesticides and chemicals, and sometimes unsellable (overripe, externally damaged). This way we help the environment by preventing food waste, support farmers who can sell their produce instead of discarding it, and promote the process of producing alcohol without adding sugar, preservatives, yeast, coloring, or flavoring.
In addition, working with traditional methods enriched with our unique improvements to various processes enables us to produce drinks with the true flavors of fruits, plants, and spices, without food colorings or artificial flavorings — as natural extracts also used by select confectioners and chefs.
We produce alcoholic beverages and extracts from all the fruits grown in the northern Israeli agriculture. We also combine herbs and spices produced from dried and ground plants, also without the intervention of additional substances.
Aromatic alcoholic drinks (Eau de vie): here you can find a wide variety of distillates — gin, arak, vermouth, etc., bitters (with a bitter taste), sweet liqueurs with/without sugar, fruit essences. Soon we will also have sparkling drinks such as cider and other surprises.
The result is surprising and amazing. Even for those who did not like alcohol before, there is a place with us and an opportunity to discover a new world.
Despite the short time the distillery has been operating (since April 2022 with a Ministry of Health license), the distillery participates in international and local exhibitions and competitions, wins important awards, and brings true pride.
Even people from around the world are surprised and fall in love with the new taste of Galilee and Golan fruits, already renowned for their grapes, cheeses, and oil — and now also for the excellent production of fruit alcohol.
Like most residents of the north, since 10/8/23 Olgar Distillery, Olga, Grigory and their families have been evacuated from their homes and business, which led to major difficulties in operation, production and marketing.
Despite ongoing bombings, the distillery has not stopped working and continues to produce excellent alcohol that can warm the heart of anyone who tastes it.
Our distillates and unique drinks can be purchased directly from the website, in branches and select stores across the country, as well as by joining our workshops.
