Whiskey Kashrus Alert From AKO
The following Whiskey Kashrus alert was sent to us by the AKO (Association of Kashrus Organizations). The following is the contents of the letter, which can also be viewed by clicking here The AKO Executive Committee has reason to believe that there are large liquor companies in the United States which may be owned in whole or part by Jews. We are concerned that such companies may not have arranged for the sale of their chametz (mechiras chametz) during Pesach. These companies primarily manufacture bourbon, cordials, and American whiskey, and also deal in a small amount of Scotch and vodka. Chametz-containing liquors owned, produced and/or aged by Jewish-owned companies over Pesach are forbidden as chametz she’avar alav haPesach.
Since many liquor products are aged for many years before they are sold to the public, it cannot be assumed that these beverages are acceptable for kosher use even if they are purchased a long time before or after Pesach. Accordingly, we recommend that Kashrus Agencies and consumers change their policies and only consume thosealcoholic beverages which [are free of standard kosher concerns and] are known to (a) be produced by a non-Jewish company or a Jewish-owned company which arranged for the sale of their chametz, (b) not contain any chametz, including not having chametz secondary grains or malted barley (bourbon and cordials are examples of items that may have these forbidden items), and/or (c) were not aged over Pesach (e.g. vodka).
The following are some brands which we believe to be subject to the above concern:
1792 Ridgemont
51 Ice
99 Schnapps
A. Smith Bowman
Absinthe
Ancient Age
Antique Collection
Barton
Blantons
Bowman
Buffalo Trace
Canadian Host
Canadian Hunter
Canadian LTD
Canadian Supreme
Colonel Lee
Dr McGillicuddy’s
Eagle Rare
Elmer T Lee
Experimental Collection
Fireball
Fleishmann’s
Hancock’s Presidents Reserve
Herbsaint
Highland Mist
House of Stuart
Imperial
Inver House
James Foxe
Kentucky Gentleman
Kentucky Tavern
Lauder’s
McAfee’s Benchmark
Mix 51
Mr. Boston
Northern Light
Old Charter
Old Thompson
Old Van Winkle
Pappy Van Winkle
Peychaud’s
Regan’s
Rich & Rare
Rock Hill Farms
Royal Canadian
Sazerac Rye
Ten High
Terra Brazilis
Tom Moore
Tyrconnell
Van Winkle
Very Old Barton
Virginia Gentleman
W L Weller
Consumers who already own one of these liquors are encouraged to ask their personal Rabbi whether returning the bottles to the store is considered to be having hana’ah (benefit) from chametz she’avar alav haPesach.
Lastly, we note that this notification does not cover the serious question of the status of whisky (or other chametz) owned on Pesach by a Jewish distributor who does or does not arrange for the sale of his chametz; consumers are once again encouraged to discuss this question with their personal Rabbi.
For updated information or questions regarding this notification, please email AKO at liquor@akokosher.org.
There are 11 Comments to "Whiskey Kashrus Alert From AKO"
Iv been sayin it all along SCOTCH is the way to go. It is more tzogepast for a yid it’s a more eideleh mashke. Let’s all drink scoth and make a KIDDUSH hashem!
Isn’t there a way to make a mechira for them with zocin according to some poskim
Hic
ow no this is even worse than bugs in the fish
What are the gedolim going to do about this one
Who is the AKO
Oy vey no more eagle rare what are we going to have at the old shul kiddush
Does anyone know what the OU take on this is?
who is AKO?
This is meaningless, AKO no one ever heard of them until now all of a sudden where supposed stop drinking bourbon because some no name with out any endorsements make some allegations. to me everything is sheker until you prove to me that its not. sounds to me like some hockers need to hock that will never change
this is really major newsm I didn’t know that so many jewish people owned liquor companies . its tine 4 change that all liquor should need a hasgocha
Bourbon== kitniyas= not chametz direisah. Even without that:
Mashkeh= taruvis. not chamitz gamur. even without that: might be
chamitz sheovar? assur bihanah? might be owned part by a yid? the yid may be partly jewish? sofek sofek sofek sofek sofek sofek.
sorry this one is really over the top
Bourbon is at least 51% corn, it may be taaruves chometz.
Great article—thanks for the info. I ‘d much rather read such important articles on the TLS than read endlessly about Hershel, Bob, and snow removal.