Are more people who observe kosher looking for Scotch whisky to go kosher?
Apparently yes, as evidence mounts that a growing number of younger observant Jews are drinking whisky.
To meet this demand, some Scotch whisky distilleries are having their single malt whisky certified as kosher. While some whisky is naturally kosher, whisky that has matured in wine or sherry casks is not.
Instead, some of Scotland’s best-known distilleries are bringing in rabbis to supervise whisky bottlings, which allows them to have malts certified as officially kosher – meaning that they conform to the regulations of kashrus, or Jewish dietary law.
Distilleries now producing kosher-certified whisky include Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, Auchentoshan, Glen Garioch, Bowmore, Glenrothes and Tomintoul.
In Israel, whisky has become so popular that it’s first single malt whisky distillery is currently under construction.
The Milk and Honey Distillery, which promises to produce a kosher “Speyside/Highland inspired single malt,” will use waters from the Holy Land and is being created under the eye of Scottish master distiller Dr Jim Swan.
Since we Lubavitch provide the ONLY Glatt kosher Restaurant, Cafe and Catering service in Scotland we invite all Mashgichim and rabbonim visiting Scotland to order Kosher food from us during their stay in Scotland
Since we Lubavitch provide the ONLY Glatt kosher Restaurant, Cafe and Catering service in Scotland we invite all Mashgichim and rabbonim visiting Scotland to order Kosher food from us during their stay in Scotland
RM”F has written a few Tshuvos on this issue and he paskened that it is Kosher. The main reasons being that it is not Yayin Nesech it is stam Yaynum. Therefore it can be botul in shishim. the second reason is that he holds that the wine is not meant to impart taste rather it is to remove the harsh taste imparted by sitting in oak casks (oak seems to have a harsh taste). I heard that R’ Zalman Shimon said something to the effect not to drink it (I’m not clear if he held that we should be machmir… Read more »
The information I had came from a national kashrus org. that deals with liquor questions on a daily basis(parties, exotic restaurant foods, etc.).how do the Chabad rabbonim hold?
If I’m not mistaken. Someone in london told me that the Machesester beis din. In the 19th century reviewed the issue and said that sherry casks at ok. It’s not a new subject. Btw. All American whiskey and bourbon is produced in fresh casks.
there are many rabbonim who allow these whiskies, i believe the official maskanawhen it comes to sherry casks (which are actually burnt out on the inside) is “Vekol Baal Nefesh Yachmir”
The issue is complicated, and there are those who permit Scotch matured in Sherry / Wine casks.
One consideration: is the point of the casks to impart flavor or color?
Keeping liquids or foods that are wet in Keilim for 24 hours are considered Kovush (just like being cooked) not only for sharp foods.
Keeping liquids or foods that are wet in Keilim for 24 hours are considered Kovush (just like being cooked) not only for sharp foods.
Even if it was done for taste it is botul beshishim.
It is not considered licahtchelah since it is not done specifically for the Jewish drinker.
There is an opinion (forget where in Sh. Ar.) that says wine absorbed into the walls of a barrel will pogum the taste of wine.
I’d say, though, that because the intention of the Scotch makers is specifically to impart the wine/sherry taste to their product, that raises kosher concerns.
same principal of cooking milichik in fleishig pots or visca-versa, but more so-the (yaiin nesach)wine casks are chosen by distillers who want a more complicated taste to their liquor precisely because the flavor of the wine gets into the finished.product. Although the items are cold they are kept for months or years to achieve the final blending of flavors. and of course, whiskey taste is sharp. Check the halacha for sharp foods kept in cold keilim for more than 12 or 24 hours.
Any one know why
Whisky that has matured in wine or sherry casks is not Kosher ?
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