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Kosher Alcohol List
from the Chicago Rabbinical Council and other sources
Latest update April 2, 2009
This list is reprinted with
permission from the Chicago Rabbinical Council with additional information from the Star-K and the OU.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON DRINK OR LIQUOR NOT LISTED ON THIS WEBSITE.
Approved products are not kosher for Passover unless noted as such on the individual label.
PLEASE NOTE: Not all energy drinks and alcoholic beverages such as certain lemonades are certified kosher.
Note: Consumer should be careful to purchase all liquor from a store that either sold their chometz or is owned by a non-Jew.
BEER
Unflavored Beers:
All unflavored beers, domestic and imported, with no additives listed on the ingredient label are acceptable, even without a Kosher certification. This applies to both USA and imported beers, including non-alcoholic and dark beers.
Many breweries are coming out with specialty brews that have additives; don't assume that all varieties are acceptable - check the label.
Miller flavored beers (such as Lime) are NOT certified Kosher!
Mackeson Triple Stout Beer is not recommended due to the additives and its dairy ingredients!
Flavored Beers:
The following flavored beers are currently certified Kosher (under the Vaad of Greater Detroit - even without a hechsher on the product):
- Saranac- all products
- Brooklyn Brewery- all are under Vaad with the exception of "local 1" Brand
- Pete's Brewing- all products
- Matt Brewing- all products
The following beers from Samuel Adams, The Boston Beer Company, are Star-K kosher/pareve, even without the Star-K on the label:
- Black Lager
- Boston Ale
- Boston Lager
- Brown Ale
- Cherry Wheat
- Cranberry Lambic
- Cream Stout
- Double Bock
- Hefeweizen
- Holiday Porter Light
- Octoberfest
- Old Fezziwig
- Pale Ale
- Spring Ale
- Summer Ale
- White Ale
- Winter Lager
Coors (OU)
Molson Canada (OU)
The following beers are under the supervision of the Kosher Australia Party, even without any kosher marking on the label:
- Coopers Sparkling Ale
- Coopers Best Extra Stout
- Coopers Special Old Stout
- Coopers Premium Lager
- Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale
- All varieties of Coopers Homebrew kits
BOURBON
Straight Bourbon (Sour Mash is a variety of Bourbon) is acceptable.
Some
examples of Bourbons are
Bookers, Basil Hayden, Bakers, Knob Creek, Jack Daniel’s, Jim
Beam, Maker’s Mark, Old Crow, Old Granddad, Old Weller, Wild Turkey.
BRANDY & COGNAC
All brandy and cognac requires certification
since both are made from wine.
Some Kosher Brandys:
- Boukha Fig(OU)
- Carmel (OU)
- Herzog (OU)
- Spirit of Solomon (Hisachdus-CRC)
- Tishbi (OU)
GIN
Gin with no extra flavors added is acceptable. (Note: Sloe Gin is a different liqueur and
requires certification.)
Bombay Brand Sapphire Gin is currently being reviewed for possible kashrus issues and is not recommended until further notice.
Gordon's Flavored Gin (all flavors) produced in the USA, is Kosher certified by the cRc.
LIQUEURS
Liqueurs generally have lower alcohol content and are by nature flavored drinks. All liqueurs require certification.
Brands that bear certification on the label and may be used:
Check the labels of each bottle and each flavor for the indicated certification. Some flavors from the sources listed below may be Dairy and will have a D next to the kosher symbol.
- 267 Infusion (OU)
- Avoscotch (OU)
- Amaretto Disaronno (OU)
- Arak- Alouf, Extra Fine (OU)
- Azmara- Coffee (OU)
- Bartenura(OU)
- Carmel (OU)
- Cointreau
- DeKuyper (OU)
- Desert Exotics (OU)
- Drambule- (London Beth Din)
- Frangelico (OU)
- Godiva (OU, OU-D): White Chocolate, Milk Chocolate & Caramel are Dairy.
- Herman Jansen ((OU, London Beth Din)
- Honkes (MK – Montreal)
- Kahlua Liquor (only when bearing OU)
- Kava- Coffee (B'datz - Eida Hachareidis)
- Kedem (OU)
- Kijafa (OU)
- Leroux (OU)
- Llord's (Kof K)
- Melody (OU)
- Merry (OU) Irish Cream Liqueur (pareve)
- Monfort (OU)
- Peacock (CRC Hisachdus)
- Peter Cherry Herring (OU)
- R. Jelinek - Slivovitz (OU)
- Rodrigez (OU)
- Sabra (OU)
- Spirit of Solomon (CRC Hisachdus)
- Starbucks Coffee Liqueur (OU) and Cream Liqueur (OU-D) made by the Jim Beam Co. currently kosher under the OU even without designation on the bottle. White Chocolate is Dairy
- Taam Pree (CRC Hisachdus)
- Vinprom (Star-K)
NOT RECOMMENDED LIQUORS
B&B Liqueur; Bailey’s Irish Cream, Becherovka, Benedictine,Bols, Campari, Carolans, Chambord, Chantreuse, Cristal AguaDriente, Dubonett, Galliano, Gold Schlager; Grand Mariner, Hiram Walker Liqueurs, Llord's(without hashgacha), Midori, Ouzo, Raki, Sambuca, Schlink Haus Kabinett, Sheridans, Southern Comfort, Stock from Italy, Swiss Krishwasser, Tia Maria, Yukon Jack.
RUM
Rum generally requires hashgacha.
- Bacardi (unflavored varieties)
is acceptable without a hechsher on the label.
- Cruzan Banana Rum, Estate Light Rum, Pineapple Rum, Citrus Rum, Mango Rum
- Imperial Brands Heavy Body "Mud Key" Rum produced by Florida Distillers (when bearing OU)
- Iceberg, Canadian Iceberg Vodka Corp (when bearing OU)
- The Rum Distillery Blended Rum, The West Indies Rum Distillery, LTD (when bearing OU)
- Don Q Rum (including flavored) (when bearing OU)
RYE
No certification required
SAKE
Only recommended when bearing a reliable Kosher symbol.
Miyako (OU)
Sensei (when bearing OU)
Takara Sake (OU)
SCOTCH
The following list contains several brands of Scotch that have been researched by the Chicago Rabbinical Council and found to be acceptable.
Please make sure to take note of the vintage or special variety listed as not all types under a particular label are recommended.
This listed is a work in progress and will be updated as more information becomes available. Only those varieties of Scotch that were found to be recommended will be posted. The criteria used to establish this list was to check the label and packaging of each particular brand, type and vintage and ascertain that it was not produced using any possible questionable methods. Some questionable methods include scotch aged in wine casks such as sherry or port, dual casks, French casks or European casks.
Updated 01-02-09
- ABERFELDY (DEWAR'S) 12 YEAR OLD, 15 YEAR OLD
- ARDBEG 10 YEAR OLD, 1990 - AIRIGH NAM BEIST
- ARRAN 10 YEAR OLD NON-CHILL FILTERED, BOURBON SINGLE CASK
- AUCHENTOSHAN - BOURBON CASK 16 YEAR OLD, 21 YEAR OLD
- BALLANTINES 12 YEAR OLD- blended
- BALVENIE 15 YEAR OLD SINGLE BARREL
- BEN RIACH 12 YEAR OLD, 10 YEAR OLD
- BENROMACH TRADITIONAL, ORGANIC, 7 YEAR OLD - 1999
BLACK BOTTLE 10 YEAR OLD, 5 YEAR OLD
- BOWMORE 18 YEAR OLD, 1989 CASK STRENGTH -16 YEAR OLD
- BUNNAHABHAIN 12 YEAR OLD, 18 YEAR OLD
- CAOL ILA 12 YEAR OLD
- CHIVAS REGAL 12 YEAR OLD, 18 YEAR OLD, ROYAL SALUTE - 21 YEAR OLD
- CLYNELISH 14 YEAR OLD
- CRAGGANMORE 10 YEAR OLD, 12 YEAR OLD
- CUTTY SARK ORIGINAL SCOTS
- DALMORE 12 YEAR OLD
- DALWHINNIE 15 YEAR OLD
- DEWARS 12 YEAR OLD, SIGNATURE, WHITE LABEL
- DIMPLE PINCH - 15 YEAR OLD
- ELLENSTOWN 10 YEAR OLD
- FAMOUS GROUSE BLENDED SCOTCH
- GLEN MORAY 12 YEAR OLD, 15 YEAR OLD
- GLENCADAM 15 YEAR OLD
- GLENDULLAN CENTENARY
- GLENFARCLAS 10 YEAR OLD
- GLENFIDDICH SPECIAL RESERVE 12 YEAR OLD, CAORAN RESERVE - 12 YEAR OLD
- GLENFIDDICH 21 YEAR OLD -RUM CASK SCOTCH
- GLENLIVET 12 YEAR OLD, 18 YEAR OLD, NADURRA
- GLENMORANGIE 10 YEAR OLD,
- ISLE OF JURA 10 YEAR OLD, 16 YEAR OLD
- J & B RARE
- JOHN BARR RED, BLACK, BLUE - BLENDED
- JOHNNIE WALKER RED LABEL, BLACK LABEL, GOLD LABEL, BLUE - KING GEORGE V, SWING, BLUE LABEL, GREEN LABEL
- KING'S CREST 25 YEAR OLD
- LAGAVULIN 16 YEAR OLD
- LAPHROAIG 10 YEAR OLD, CASK STRENGTH 10 YEAR OLD, 15 YEAR OLD
- LISMORE SINGLE MALT - NO AGE DECLARATION
- LONGROW 10 YEAR OLD
- MILFORD NEW ZEALAND - 10 YEAR OLD
- OBAN 14 YEAR OLD
- OLD FETTERCAIRN STILLMAN'S DRAM 26 YEAR OLD
- PROVENANCE 20 YEAR OLD
- SCAPA 14 YEAR OLD
- SPEYBURN 10 YEAR OLD
- SPEYSIDE 12 YEAR OLD
- STRATHISLA 12 YEAR OLD
- TALISKER 10 YEAR OLD
- TOMINTOUL PEATY TANG - SPEYSIDE GLENLIVET, 16 YEAR OLD
TULLIBARDINE 1993 DISTILLATION
-
Soju (Korean liquor)
Only recommended when bearing a reliable kosher symbol.
TEQUILLA
Tequila is made from the agave cactus in Mexico.
According to Mexican law any tequila may be labeled 100% agave even though it contains no more than 51% actual agave alcohol!
However, based on research, the cRc has identified one type of tequila which is recommended even without a hechsher (Regular-White).
There are three types of tequila on the market:
- Regular-White (also known as Silver) tequila is recommended. This clear tequila contains either 100% agave or a mixture of agave and sugar cane.
- Gold-Brown tequila is not recommended. This darker tequila is aged for 3 months and may have color and flavoring added.
- Reposado (“rested” ) (also known as Special) tequila is not recommended. It is aged for 6 months and in addition to concerns of color and flavoring, glycerin may be added for density.
Some acceptable Tequila brands:
- Agave 99 (with OU)
- Don Bernardo G (with OU)
- El Diamante Del Cielo (with OU)
- Herrudura
- Salusa
- Sol Dios Anejo (OU)
- Sol Dios Platinum / Blanco (OU)
- Stallion (with OU)
-
- Tonala (with OU)
VERMOUTH
Vermouth requires certification, as it is made from wine.
Kedem is the only brand readily available with a kosher symbol.
VODKA
AllDomestic (USA only) non-flavored is acceptable.
This applies only to grain or potato vodka. Some vodkas are made with grapes, and would need a reliable hashgacha.
Imported vodka requires certification.
The following unflavored imported vodkas are acceptable imports even without certification on the label:
- Absolut
- Chopan
- Belvidere
- Finlandia
- Grey Goose
- Iceberg (OU)
- Kettle One
- Provda (now has OU)
- Stolichnaya ((unflavored, see below for flavored)
- Three Olives (from England)
- Vox
- Yevreyskaya
Absolut Flavored Vodka ( when bearing OU)
Gordon Vodkas: The following varieties cRc certified, even without certification on the label:
- Citrus Flavored
- Orange
- Wild Berry
Imperial Collection
- Super Premium - Super Premium Soft - Super Premium Strong 100
Putinka Vodka: both Pepper flavor and Limited Edition are kosher even without certification on the label.
Smirnoff; The following varieties are acceptable, with KSA on the label:
- Vodkas:
- Blue Label
- Red Label
- Silver label
- Vodka Twists/ Ice Flavors
- Black Cherry
- Blueberry
- Citrus
- Cranberry
- Green Apple
- Lime
- Orange
- Raspberry
- Vanilla
Strawberry Acai is NOTt certified kosher.
Smirnoff Ice:
- Arctic Berry
- Green Apple
- Pomegranate Fusion
- Raspberry Burst
- Watermelon
- Wild Grape
Non -flavored Smirnoff Ice including the Smirnoff Ice and Smirnoff Ice Triple Black contain grape and are not certified Kosher.
Smirnoff Raw Tea:
Stolichnaya Vodka(; The following varieties are acceptable, with OU on the label:
- Cinnamon Flavored
- Coffee Flavored
- Gold Premium Imported Russian
- Imported Russian
- Lemon Flavored
- Orange Flavored
- Peach Flavored
- Raspberry Flavored
- Strawberry Flavored
- Vanilla Flavored
WHISKEY (including Canadian, Irish, Ryes)
Any whiskey, including Irish Whiskey, that is aged in a wine cask, such as Sherry or Port, or aged in dual casks, European casks or French casks should be avoided as it is uncertain if these are kosher.
Blended Whiskeys are acceptable only with certification, unless appearing
on the list below:
- Canadian – Canadian Club (regular only, not Classic. Premium
or Special Reserve))
- Canadian Mist
- Crown Royal (Original Only- the cRc does not have information on the new Sherry cask version)
- Gibsons (MK on label)
- Seagram’s (VO and 7 Canadian Blend only, not American Blend)
- Wiser's
WINES
All wines served at a cRc event, regardless of the location, host or caterer must bear acceptable certification and must be mevushal (cooked).
Check bottles for an acceptable certification and a statement that the wine is mevushal. Many Israeli and French wines are not mevushal, so care must be exercised.
Carmel Wines from Israel must bear the OU on the label; some wines produced during the shmita year will not have the OU on the label.
Alfasi wine, from Chile, is under the OK but not all are mevushal. Each label should be checked.
BAR STOCK ITEMS
Any bar equipment (strainers, shot measures, blenders, stir rods, shakers, etc.) used with non-kosher products and should be properly kashered prior to use for a kosher affair.
- Olives – green olives require a hechsher, Black Olives packed in water, with no added flavors or colors are acceptable without certification on the label.
- Pearl Onions – are pickled and require a hechsher
- Lemon and Lime – fresh lemon and limes are used for slices, wedges and twists must be prepared using a kosher knife and a kosher cutting board
- All Tobasco brand hot pepper sauce is acceptable as long as it bears a “K”.
- OtherPepper Sauces – Durkee or French’s with OU on label
- Maraschino Cherries – only with acceptable hashgacha
DRINK MIXES
Drink Mixes require certification
Some brands available that
are acceptable:
- Coco Lopez - only when bearing OU
- Goya brand Cream of Coconut - when labeled "Product of Dominican Republic"
- Goya brand Coconut Milk – when labeled "Product of Dominican Republic"
- Holland House – only when bearing OU
- Jamaica John (only when bearing OU)
- Jero – only when bearing OK
- Mr & Mrs T’s – only when bearing OU
- Rose’s – grenadine and lime, with OU on label
Juices
Juices require certification. Ready-to-drink juices are made in factories that produce a wide range of products,
mostly with hot production. There are issues of dairy and non-kosher utensils.
Some acceptable brands that are locally available are listed below along with the certification
that must appear on the container:
- Apple Juice – Kedem (OU), Langers (OU), Indian Summer (K), IFP (cRc)
- Cranberry Juice – Kedem (OU), Jewel (OU), IFP (cRc), Langers (OU)
- Grapefruit Juice – Tropicana (OK), Jewel (cRc)
- Lemonade – Jewel (cRc)
- Orange Juice – Tropicana (OK), Jewel (cRc), Dole (K), Dominick's-half gallon (cRc), Minute Maid-These all only apply to Orange juice and not necessarily to other varieties
- Pineapple Citrus - Dole (K)
- Tomato Juice – Heinz (OU), Red Gold (OU), Hunts (OK),
Sysco“Citrus Valley” (OU), Sacramento (OU)
Other Liquor Lists
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