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Buffalo Trace creates kosher-certified whiskeys

Kentucky distillery Buffalo Trace has revealed three kosher-certified whiskeys, which are available in limited quantities.

Buffalo Trace has created three kosher-certified whiskeys with an Orthodox rabbinical organisation

The Sazerac-owned distillery worked with not-for-profit organisation Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC) to create the whiskeys.

The new bottlings, described as the “first authentic kosher whiskeys”, comprise of: Kosher Rye Recipe Bourbon, Kosher Wheat Recipe Bourbon and Kosher Straight Rye Whiskey.

Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, kashrus administrator of CRC, said: “We’re excited that our partnership which we began 10 years ago has come to fruition. Our members have shown great interest in the prospect of being able to enjoy a kosher whiskey. We are very happy Buffalo Trace has taken the steps to make sure this happens.”

Kosher law mandates that whiskey should not be owned or consumed by Jewish people during the passover religious holiday in April.

In 2012, the CRC managed the sale of new American oak kosher barrels to a non-Jewish executive, Sazerac CEO and president Mark Brown. The barrels were filled with whiskey and left to mature.

Once the whiskey reached its desired age earlier this year, the bottling lines at the Buffalo Trace Distillery were flushed completely beforehand to ensure the liquid was not exposed to any non-kosher spirits.

“This is a milestone in the spirits industry to produce a truly kosher whiskey,” said Brown. “We know kosher products are very important to the Jewish community as well as a broader audience.

“We are fully committed to ensuring that the entire chain of custody remains kosher so the purchaser has 100% confidence this is a kosher whiskey.”

The new expressions will be released after passover ends this evening (16 April). Bottles will be sold through wholesalers and retailers before the Jewish holiday starts again in 2021.

The limited edition kosher whiskey line will be released annually after passover. The labels depict both the Buffalo Trace Distillery logo and the CRC logo.

Each Buffalo Trace kosher whiskey has a suggested retail price of US$39.99 per 750ml bottle.

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