Israeli Distillery Innovates Brandy Production Using Modular Technology Near Lebanon Border
Yinon Tamir, a former Apple employee turned product development head at the Versatil Distillery in the Galilee, combines science, technology, and creativity to revolutionize alcohol distillation. Living in Kibbutz Misgav Am near the Lebanon border, Tamir continued his work despite ongoing threats from drones, rockets, and sirens. His career journey includes years in the US, bartending in Eilat, environmental science studies, and a five-year tenure at Apple working remotely on iOS and macOS localization and bug fixes.
After returning to Israel to care for his mother, Tamir left the tech industry seeking more creative fulfillment. He joined the Golan Brewery, improving production processes, and co-founded a vegan catering business. In 2019, he joined Versatil, an Israeli startup distillery that develops innovative distillation and aging technologies, including two patents for a modular copper still and controlled aging system. This allows customization of flavor profiles and accelerates aging from years to weeks using catalysts and sensors.
Versatil, founded about a decade ago by Matan Adoy from a farming family, employs 12 people in Israel and five in the US, raising $9 million from IL Ventures. Their clients include restaurants, wineries, and hotels, for whom they create custom spirits like gin infused with unique spices, whiskey, arak, and brandy made from second-grade apples. They also repurpose surplus or imperfect agricultural products into high-quality spirits, supporting sustainability.
Tamir continuously expands his expertise, studying distillation at the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling in England. Despite challenges posed by regional security threats and logistical costs of operating in northern Israel, Versatil maintains production and client relationships. Tamir integrates his diverse background, from bartending and environmental science to high-tech problem-solving, into his innovative approach. He is also exploring fermentation projects involving medicinal mushrooms and plans to develop a sauna, reflecting his broad creative interests.
Looking ahead, Versatil aims to deepen scientific understanding of aging processes and potentially incorporate AI to analyze sensory data, though this remains a future goal. The company continues to grow its portfolio of unique, locally sourced spirits and expand its US operations, blending tradition with cutting-edge technology in Israel's alcohol industry.
