Our Commitment to Kashrus

What makes wine and spirits kosher.  Learn how we vet products and maintain halachic standards.

 

Our Kashrus Process

Welcome to the Simcha Spirits Kashrus page! Here at Simcha Spirits, our goal is to present all the information you need to be a halachically informed consumer and choose the level of kashrus that's right for you. That being said, we are not Rabbanim, a kashrus agency, nor are we certified or endorsed by any. We follow the guidance of our own Rabanim and and the standards of the leading kashrus authorities that are available to the general klal(most notably Star-k, CRC, we are not affiliated nor endorsed by any of these organizations). We encourage you to do your own research and speak to your own Rav or Daas Torah. This information is to bring awareness and be transparent about our process. We understand that not everyone has wine on their mind like we do... here on the Simcha Spirits Kashrus page, we discuss many of the potential issues with various wines and spirits, making it as easy to understand as possible for any consumer.
 

Our Levels Of Kahrus

There are four basic levels of kashrus in relation to wine and spirits:

1. Certified Kosher

All wines and spirits that have a reputable hechsher, and are therefore considered certified kosher by a kashrus organization. Products that are certified are always preferable to products that are not certified.

2.  Acceptable, On a List

All spirits that don't have a hechsher but are on the lists of approved liquors put out by the leading kashrus organizations in America (CRC, Star-K) We are not affiliated with these organizations). These products include alcoholic beverages that are known not to have any problems according to the organization listing it as acceptable and processes.

3. Acceptable, Not On a List

Spirits that are not certified kosher and are not on the lists of approved liquors by any leading kashrus organizations, but are generally understood by halachic authorities not to pose any kashrus concerns. These products generally include alcoholic beverages strictly regulated by laws that only allow specific ingredients.

4. "Sherry Cask"

A term that we use to refer to spirits that have been aged in barrels previously containing non-kosher wine. Sherry is a fortified Spanish wine, and used sherry barrels are commonly repurposed by spirit companies looking to age various spirits in wine casks. According to many of the leading experts on kashrus(including the CRC, and Star-k), sherry cask spirits bring up issues of Yayin Nesech/Stam Yaynim. This issue applies to spirits aged in barrels that previously held non-kosher wine some examples are port, XO, Orlosso, cabernet, chardonnay, Cognac, Madeira, shiraz, or other wines in addition to sherry. Bottles labeled as double oak, double cask, and dual cask matured often imply that the spirit was aged in problematic barrels. We have labeled these products as “Sherry Cask” for your convenience. Please consult with your Rav/Daas Torah about the halachic status of such products.
 

Kosher Whiskey

What makes whiskey kosher? Whiskey is one of the most popular spirits in America. It contains many varieties, each with different halachic considerations. Below are some general rules for which whiskeys fall under the acceptable category, and which require a hechsher. These rules only apply to whiskey that comes from America, Scotland, Ireland, and possibly Japan(see below) . GENERAL RULES: 1. Any straight whiskey with no added flavor and not finished in a “sherry cask” or other non-kosher wine barrel is considered acceptable to drink without kashrus certification.2. All flavored whiskeys or whiskeys with additional additives require a hescher. 3. If a company is owned by a Jew who has not sold his chametz, there may be a problem of chametz sheavor alav Pesach. To avoid this halachic issue, we do not carry any products that are known to be owned by a Jew who didn't sell his chametz. 4. Moonshine is an unregulated spirit category, and therefore always requires a reliable hechsher.
American whiskey includes any distilled spirit made in America from fermented grain mash, including wheat whiskey, American single malt, corn whiskey, and many others. American whiskey follows the general rules listed above.
Bourbon is a type of whiskey that can be made anywhere in America (not just Kentucky). Bourbon is made from a fermented mash of at least 51% corn and aged in charred new oak barrels. Because of the strict regulations regarding additives, there are very few kashrus concerns as long as the general rules above are followed.
In order to be called Irish Whiskey, the whiskey has to be distilled on the island of Ireland to an ABV of less than 94.8%, and then aged in wooden casks, also in Ireland, for a minimum of three years. Irish whiskey must also be made from a mash of malted barley, with or without other cereal grains, water, and yeast. Due to strict regulations regarding ingredients, Irish whiskey follows the same general certification rules for whiskey.
Japanese whisky must be made from malted grain, but other cereal grains can also be included. Water used in whisky production must be extracted in Japan, and fermentation and distillation must happen at a distillery in Japan. The spirit must be distilled to less than 95% ABV, and aged in Japan in wooden casks for a minimum of three years. Additives are less regulated in comparison to many other types of whisky, therefore only 100% Japanese single malt is recommended. Any other Japanese whisky requires a reliable hechsher because of the potential for non-kosher additives.
Rye whiskey has the same laws as bourbon, except it requires a mash of at least 51% rye instead of corn. The same general rules apply in terms of certification.
Scotch whisky must be distilled and matured in oak casks for at least three years, all in Scotland. Scotch must be made from water, malted barley, and yeast. Other cereals can be added, but only in the form of whole grains. No flavorings can be added to scotch, therefore there are limited concerns with scotch in regards to additives. It is common to age scotch in casks that have previously been used to age wine, bringing up the question of "sherry cask" spirits' kashrus status (see above). The same general rules apply in terms of certification.
Canadian whisky is a type of whisky produced in Canada, generally with a lighter and smoother flavor profile than other whiskies. Canadian whiskey laws allow for additives that aren't listed on the bottle. Therefore, Canadian whisky always requires a hechsher.
Simcha Spirits does not sell any uncertified Canadian whisky for this reason.
 

Kosher Tequila

What is Kosher? Tequila is a spirit distilled from blue agave that must be produced in Mexico. There are different types, mostly categorized by the length of time aged. The drop down menu below will discuss each category in more detail. All flavored tequila requires a reliable hechsher.
Tequila blanco, also known as silver tequila, is unaged and generally considered acceptable to drink without a hechsher as long as it’s labeled 100% agave and CRT approved. The CRT is a Mexican organization that regulates and certifies tequila.
Tequila joven, or gold tequila, is either unaged or aged for a short time. This category is different than tequila blanco in that it is allowed to have added coloring, and may have other additives as well. Therefore, it is Preferable when certified by a reliable kashrus organization. But Recommended when CRT approved and 100% Agave.
Tequila reposado is aged for a minimum of 2 months and maximum of 12 months. Any aged tequila has the same potential issue of the barrels used for aging previously containing non-kosher wine.
Additionally, according to Mexican law, tequila companies are allowed to add different additives to aged tequila to enhance the flavor and texture. Among these additives is glycogen, which is usually non-kosher. Therefore, it is preferable to only drink aged tequila with a reliable hechsher. Tequila reposado is acceptable to drink if labeled CRT approved and 100% Agave.
Tequila añejo must be aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 1 year and up to 3 years. Añejo has the same considerations and requirements as reposado, see above.
Extra añejo tequila must be aged more than 3 years. The kashrus considerations are the same as tequila reposado and añejo, see above.
 

Other Liquor Categories

Use the drop down menu to learn about the kashrus considerations for each spirit category below:
Brandy is a distilled spirit made by fermenting and distilling wine or other fruit juices. Brandy is typically aged in wooden casks. Some common types of brandy include Cognac, Armagnac, and fruit brandies like apple or pear. Because brandy may use grapes, there can be issues of Yayin Nesech/Stam Yaynim. Brandy may also include other ingredients aside from fruit and water. Therefore, all types of brandy require a reliable hechsher.
Gin is a distilled spirit with juniper berries and often other botanicals. Gin can be aged, and therefore could have the "sherry cask" issue, but it's not very common. Therefore it is acceptable without certification as long as it is unflavored.
Liqueur is a sweetened and flavored alcoholic beverage made by infusing distilled spirits with various ingredients such as fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, nuts, or creams. Unlike spirits, liqueurs have added sugar. Due to their unregulated nature, all liqueurs require kosher certification and a reliable hechsher.
Mezcal is in the same spirit family as tequila, but it is generally smokier in flavor and has fewer regulations. More additives are allowed, many of which aren't kosher. Some examples include chicken and even a worm. With less regulation comes more concerns for kashrus; therefore all mezcal requires a hechsher.
RTDs, standing for Ready to Drink, includes premade cocktails and hard seltzers and soda. Due to the unregulated nature of these drinks, they require a reliable kosher certification.
Rum is a spirit distilled from sugar cane, with different variations and types. White or silver rum is rum that has not been aged. Spiced rum is a rum that has flavors added after it is distilled and/or aged. Any aged rums have the same potential problem of using ex-wine barrels. As long as rum is not flavored, it is acceptable without a hechsher. All flavored and spiced rums require certification.
Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice, water, yeast, and koji mold (a fermentation starter). All unflavored sake is acceptable to drink without a hechsher. However, it is preferable to only drink sake that is labeled "Junmai," meaning "Pure Rice" or is certified by a reliable hechsher.
Vodka is a spirit that can be distilled from almost anything. It is unaged and therefore does not have potential for the "sherry cask" problem. It can be made from grapes, which can be an issue of Yayin Nesech/Stam Yanim. Grape distilled vodka is uncommon, however, Simcha Spirits checks inventory regularly to ensure that none of our products pose kashrus concerns.
Wine is defined as an alcoholic drink created from fermented grape juice. Due to the halachic complexity when it comes to wine, all wine requires a reliable hechsher.

We're always looking to improve!

Kashrus is our number one priority; if you see a mistake or have kashrus information to share regarding a specific product, please let us know by sending an email to kashrus@simchaspirits.com.