<html>
<body>
The following is from
<a href="http://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/</a><br><br>
<font size=1>The following alert has been sent out by the
<a href="http://www.crcweb.org/Whisky%20Alert%20_May%202010_%20Final%20Version.pdf">
Association of Kashrus Organizations (AKO)</a> on May 6, 2010.<br><br>
</font><font size=3>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. <br><br>
Accordingly, we recommend that Kashrus Agencies and consumers change
their policies and only consume those alcoholic 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). <br><br>
A list of liquors can be found at
/<a href="http://www.crcweb.org/Whisky%20Alert%20_May%202010_%20Final%20Version.pdf" eudora="autourl">
www.crcweb.org/Whisky%20Alert%20_May%202010_%20Final%20Version.pdf</a>.
For updated information or questions regarding this notification, please
email AKO at
<a href="mailto:liquor@akokosher.org">liquor@akokosher.org</a>. <br>
</font></body>
<br>
</html>