SASKATOON — Rema Buschow has been rocking since she was a nine year old after her father Lennie Pander brought her to her first KISS concert. Since then, she's been a fan and even donned the black and white makeup the band was known for.
She had a bag with the painted face of rock band co-founder Gene Simmons, kept her drawing of the legendary foursome and had her photo taken beside their star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a family trip to Los Angeles.
More than a decade later, she was to meet one of her favourite rock stars in the flesh when Simmons visited Saskatoon to launch MoneyBag Vodka at Minhas Sask Distillery on Saturday, Dec. 10.
“I’ve been a KISS fan for as long as I can remember. My dad took me to my first KISS concert and loved them ever since. I grew up listening to KISS and I loved them,” Rema told SASKTODAY.ca. She was still shaking after getting a signed bottle of the ultra-premium vodka.
“I even showed him a photo that he re-Tweeted of a picture I drew in [elementary] school. Even my school backpack is KISS. I love their songs and met Gene Simmons, one of the band members, today.
Buschow, who met Simmons with her mother, Carmen, was emotional and shaking when they approached the well-known KISS bass player. She couldn't help but cry when Simmons puts his sunglasses on her and hugged her.
“It still feels surreal, as if I’m dreaming. It still hasn’t sunk in, and I was surprised when he put his sunglasses on me and hugged me. I can’t believe it,” added the still-amazed Rema, who couldn't help but shed tears of joy.
Carmen said they wouldn’t touch the vodka bottle Simmons signed and would just be displayed as souvenirs in their home.
“It will become a family heirloom. It will be at a special place in our house and maybe passed on within our family,” added Carmen with a smile.
Luxury drink
Simmons said he has been using the MoneyBag brand and logo that he designed for more than 20 years and decided to come up with the vodka after meeting Minhas Sask Distillery founder Moni Minhas a few years ago. The 750-millilitre glass bottle is shaped like his MoneyBag logo.
“I wasn’t looking to do a vodka initially. But life happens to you while you’re busy making your plans. I started hearing in social circles and parties, then some people told me about vodka. It is a popular drink,” Simmons told SASKTODAY.ca.
“Some say there are vodkas that are not smooth enough or this taste is not enough. So, I decided to put up the finest vodka that everybody would love. I happen to meet the Minhas family in a social gathering and they have distilleries in Calgary and Saskatoon.”
He added that being a Canadian business made it special when they launched the product in Saskatoon, where hundreds lined up outside the Minhas store at 51st Street to have their bottles signed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer with the band KISS.
“You cannot find anything more beautiful and tastes better than MoneyBag vodka. It is simply the finest as it is 10 times distilled. People like vodka and they will surely love this one. Whether it’s for a family gathering or with your friends,” said Simmons.
In a statement, he said that he had been planning to create the perfect drink that would have people enjoy and he was thankful for having the chance to meet the Minhas family, who helped him turn his dream into reality.
“I’ve always wanted to create a versatile and approachable drink that encourages everyone to celebrate life and its good times. Thankfully we found the perfect partner in Minhas Sask Distillery, with whom we spent months developing the MoneyBag recipe,” said Simmons.
The cosmetic quality glass decanter is a distinct and eye-catching bottle that contains an ultra-premium, 10 times distilled and luxury gold-filtered vodka. Minhas crafted the drink using real gold as a filter to capture the smooth taste, refined aroma and flavour.
“We are excited to be working with the legendary rock star and business tycoon to share this super premium vodka with Gene’s army of fans and other discerning customers,” said Minhas Sask Distillery founder Moni Minhas.
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Rema Buschow.
