Jason Momoa and Blaine Halvorson's Meili Vodka Has a Secret Ingredient with a Family Tie-In (Exclusive)

Jason Momoa and Blaine Halvorson began creating the liquor brand seven years ago

When Jason Momoa learned that his friend Blaine Halvorson wanted to start a vodka company together, he thought Halvorson was joking.

"I asked him, 'Why vodka?'" Momoa recalls to PEOPLE. "He explained, 'We love the idea of moonshine and that gritty essence of moonshine, and we want to bring that into vodka. All those vodka bottles look the same; that whole arena feels stale. When you look at mezcals, tequilas, and bourbons, they have character. Vodka needs that same kind of uniqueness.'"

The two have been friends for over 16 years. Halvorson, the designer-owner of MadeWorn, has played a crucial role in shaping Momoa's characters in movies like Aquaman and Frontier. "He's just someone that I creatively bounce ideas off of," says Momoa.

So it's no surprise that the actor got on board to create Meili Vodka, their brand that is both flavorful and sustainable.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Related: Jason Momoa Kisses Girlfriend Adria Arjona on Night Out in Nashville

At the start of their venture over seven years ago, the duo manually labeled bottles and sorted through bins of recycled glass — clear, green, blue, brown — to create their uniquely colored bottles. No two bottles look the same, they add. The rarest ones are referred to as "green bastards."

"We went into this trying to create something that we would both love, and I've always found my passion in the process of how something gets made," Halvorson told PEOPLE at the Meili Vodka OOF Tatata Concert in New York City. He explains how making the bottles was akin to finding sea glass. "That was our bonding, the spirit that we have. It's a super cool feeling."

As for the preferred way to drink it, "we want people to experience vodka in its purest form," says Momoa. "Most people know vodka as just a drink or an ingredient, not as a distinct spirit. Our goal is to change that perception. We hope to create something that people will appreciate not just in cocktails but as a beautiful spirit on its own."

During their journey, Halvorson discovered that using natural spring water significantly enhanced the flavor of their vodka as opposed to when using reverse osmosis (RO) water. They refer to it as "living water."

The duo traveled to Montana, where Halvorson is from, to source water from an old aquifer in his father's backyard, which flows through a limestone shelf.

"It's the only water source we've found with such a low sodium level," Halvorson explains. "When you taste the sweet note in it, it's really something special."

"Blaine was absolutely right about finding that perfect live spirit," Momoa adds. "We decided to use live water in our vodka. Blaine’s idea was brilliant. We were not initially vodka people, but we spent seven and a half years developing a spirit we actually enjoyed and would want to drink."

Looking toward the future, Momoa is excited about spreading the Meili Vodka experience. Right now, the brand is in all 50 states. In 2025, while Momoa is in Europe to film some movies, he'll bring the brand there.

"We're excited to go to all the bars and restaurants, especially those that worked hard to stay alive during COVID," says Momoa. "We want to share something we genuinely love with everyone."

"We’ve had so many experiences together, from the different styles and tribulations to the inspirations behind elements like the coin on the front," adds Halvorson. "It’s all part of the journey we’ve taken together to create something truly unique."

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.