kosher spirits are ones that are made in accordance with traditional Jewish dietary laws (kashruth). To ensure that the liquor is kosher, historically, Jews have produced or overseen its production. While there are very strict rules for making wine, since it is used in religious ceremonies, there are fewer rules for distilling spirits. Essentially, all the ingredients must be kosher, which for most spirits is not a particularly difficult standard to meet (kashruth largely applies to animal products, which are rarely used in spirits production), and the stills and other equipment must also be inspected and approved by a kosher certification authority. A spirit aged in a used wine, port, or sherry barrel that has held non-kosher alcohol cannot be kosher. There are a number of organizations, including the Orthodox Union and the London Beth Din, which will certify a spirit as kosher.
See also boukha; Jelínek; and sherry.
“Steps for Kosher Certification.” OU Kosher website. https://oukosher.org/kosher-overview/steps-to-kosher-certification/ (accessed April 27 2021).
By: Noah Rothbaum