Nahmias et Fils Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
Nahmias et Fils is a family-owned distillery in Yonkers, New York, bringing a Moroccan-Jewish home-brewed Mahia recipe to the American market while also producing rye and bourbon under the Legs Diamond label. The place combines fruit-based distillation, small-batch grain spirits, and a tasting room in the heart of the distillery.
History
The history begins in the Moroccan town of Taznakht, where Mahia – "water of life" – was made by Saada and Moshe and later by Joseph and Tamou from oral recipes. David learned the craft as a child: crushing fruit, reading the yeast, and following the spirit's development in the copper still. After a life in the USA, where David and Dorit worked in software and finance respectively, they chose to carry the tradition forward professionally. What started as small batches in a New York apartment grew into a distillery in Yonkers. The recipe, dating back to around 1900, has been adapted and transferred to modern German copper pot-stills, and today the distillery has both production and a tasting room where Mahia and Legs Diamond releases can be tasted.
Raw Materials and Production
Mahia is produced exclusively from figs, primarily ripe fruit from California, through fruit fermentation and distillation in German copper pot stills. Mahia is double-distilled, and a discreet touch of anise is added to honor the Moroccan profile. For the whiskey products, the distillery uses organic rye from New York farms for their 100% rye release and a high-rye mash for bourbon. The production approach is consistent: fruit- or grain-driven distillation with minimal intervention and carefully selected cuts in the distillation process, all in small batches.
Aging and Barrel Types
Documented aging options include the use of American oak for bourbon. The rye release's exact barrel types are not specified, but rye is described as slowly aged in small batches. For Mahia, the focus is instead on the fruit's purity through double distillation rather than long barrel aging.
Whiskies
The portfolio ranges from the fruity Mahia, made from 100% figs, to grain-based products under the Legs Diamond name: a 100% rye whiskey and a high-rye bourbon. In addition to these, a vodka is also sold under the Legs Diamond label and curated packages, but the core is Mahia and the two whiskey releases, which represent the family's origin and the distillery's New York grounding.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Cask and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legs Diamond Rye Whiskey | Rye Whiskey | Distilled from 100% rye grain in small batches; described as spicy and bold with notes of cracked pepper, dark caramel and toasted oak.; Nose: Cracked pepper, toasted grain; Palate: Dark caramel, warm spice; Finish: Toasted oak notes | Current; Core range; Available via the distillery's range/online shop | |
| Legs Diamond Bourbon | Bourbon | American oak | A high-rye bourbon mash, patiently aged in American oak; highlighted for warm vanilla and caramel notes combined with char and spice.; Nose: Warm vanilla notes; Palate: Honeyed corn, caramel; Finish: Blackened and charred oak tones with mild spice | Current; Core range; Available via the distillery's range/online shop |
The Whiskies' Style and Flavor Profile
The product range shows three distinct flavor directions: ripe fruit and floral undertones in Mahia, spicy notes such as cracked pepper and bakery spice in rye, and warm vanilla and caramel tones with charred/wooded elements in bourbon. These directions recur across the range and reflect a focus on the character of the raw materials, precise distillation cuts, and wood aging where used.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery at 201 Saw Mill River Road in Yonkers houses a tasting room with Moroccan-inspired ambiance, where guests can sit among barrels and copper. Tours, tastings and private events are offered, and the venue welcomes guests five days a week. Visits include the opportunity to sample Mahia and Legs Diamond products side by side.
Opening hours: Open to visitors five days a week (times provided when booking).
Philosophy and Craft
The company's stated values rest on respect for an old family method: fruit-driven distillation, minimal intervention, precise cuts, and an ambition to preserve and share an almost lost Moroccan-Jewish tradition. Family ownership and small batches are central elements of their approach.