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<font size=3>The following is from the CRC. BTW, when I tried to go
to the AKO web site at
<a href="http://www.akokosher.org/" eudora="autourl">www.akokosher.org</a>
I got the message that this web site has been attacked. YL<br><br>
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View it in your browser.</a><br>
<a href="http://m1e.net/c?54614143-zw0ZZpXlJttrc%405331208-1qYHkhjkAzbdY">
<img src="http://www.crcweb.org/images/Kashruth Alert72.jpg" width=522 height=107 alt="KASHRUTH ALERT">
</a><br>
<hr>
<br><br>
</font><div align="center"><h2><b>The following revised whiskey alert and
answers to some of your frequently asked questions has been sent out on
behalf of AKO<br><br>
<br>
<br><br>
<br>
Revised Whisky Alert</b></h2></div>
<font size=3>May 17, 2010<br>
The 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 <i>chametz</i> (<i>mechiras chametz</i>) during
<i>Pesach</i>. These companies primarily manufacture bourbon, cordials,
and American whiskey, and also deal in a small amount of Scotch and
vodka.<br>
<i>Chametz</i>-containing liquors owned, produced and/or aged by
Jewish-owned companies over <i>Pesach</i> are forbidden as <i>chametz
she’avar alav haPesach. </i> <br>
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
<i>Pesach</i>.<br>
<br>
Accordingly, we recommend that <i>Kashrus</i> 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 <i>chametz</i>, (b) not contain any <i>chametz</i>,
including not having <i>chametz</i> 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 <i>Pesach</i> (e.g. vodka).<br>
<br>
The following are some brands which we believe to be subject to the above
concern:<br><br>
1792 Ridgemont<br>
51 Ice<br>
99 Schnapps<br>
A. Smith Bowman<br>
Absinthe<br>
Ancient Age<br>
Antique Collection<br>
Barton<br>
Blantons<br>
Bowman<br>
Buffalo Trace<br>
California Deluxe<br>
Canadian Host<br>
Canadian Hunter<br>
Canadian LTD<br>
Canadian Supreme<br>
Colonel Lee<br>
Dr McGillicuddy’s<br>
Eagle Rare<br>
Elmer T Lee<br>
Experimental Collection<br>
Fireball<br>
Fleishmann’s<br>
George T. Stagg<br>
Hancock’s Presidents Reserve<br>
Herbsaint<br>
Highland Mist<br>
House of Stuart<br>
Imperial<br>
Inver House<br>
James Foxe<br>
Kentucky Gentleman<br>
Kentucky Tavern<br>
Lauder’s<br>
McAfee’s Benchmark<br>
Mix 51<br>
Mr. Boston<br>
Northern Light<br>
Old Charter<br>
Old Thompson<br>
Old Van Winkle<br>
Pappy Van Winkle<br>
Peychaud’s<br>
Regan’s<br>
Rich & Rare<br>
Rock Hill Farms<br>
Royal Canadian<br>
Sazerac Rye<br>
Ten High<br>
Terra Brazilis<br>
Thomas H. Handy<br>
Tom Moore<br>
Tyrconnell<br>
Van Winkle<br>
Very Old Barton<br>
Virginia Gentleman<br>
W L Weller<br><br>
<br>
Consumers who already own one of these liquors are encouraged to ask
their personal Rabbi whether returning the bottles to the store is
considered to be having <i>hana’ah</i> (benefit) from <i>chametz she’avar
alav haPesach</i>. Lastly, we note that this notification does not
cover the serious question of the status of whisky (or other
<i>chametz</i>) owned on <i>Pesach</i> by a Jewish distributor who does
or does not arrange for the sale of his <i>chametz</i>; consumers are
once again encouraged to discuss this question with their personal
Rabbi.<br>
<br>
For updated information or questions regarding this notification, please
email AKO at
<a href="mailto:liquor@akokosher.org">liquor@akokosher.org</a>.<br>
<br><br>
</font><div align="center"><h2><b>Whisky Alert<br>
Questions and Answers</b></h2></div>
<font size=3>May 17, 2010<br>
<i>On May 6<sup>th</sup> AKO released an alert regarding whisky which has
led to a considerable number of questions from consumers. This
document will address the most common of those questions.<br>
</i>
<ol>
<li>The alert was on AKO stationery and quoted the “AKO Executive
Committee”. Pardon my ignorance, but who are these people?
</ol>AKO has been the umbrella group for national and community
<i>hashgachos</i> in North America and beyond for the past 25
years. It currently has approximately 80 members and the Executive
Committee is comprised of the administrators of the larger of those
<i>hashgachos</i> including (alphabetically) cRc (Chicago),
CRC/<i>Hisachdus</i> (Brooklyn), COR, Heart-K, Kof-K, MK, OK, OU, and
Star-K.<br>
<br>
2. I checked your list and think that it
is missing some brands owned by the same companies, or you list brands
that I think are owned by others. Are you sure your information is
accurate?<br>
We spent much time doing our due diligence in investigating the multiple
layers of the companies involved, but of course it is always possible
that we missed a few. If you have a specific example, please bring
it to our attention and we’ll do our best to check into it. <br>
Please note that our list does not include items which are merely
distributed by the companies in question nor does it include any items
(e.g. brandy, liqueurs) which we have always recommended as requiring a
<i>hashgachah</i>.<br>
<br><br>
3. The alert lists many brands. Is
everything produced by these companies not recommended?<br>
Not at all. As noted in the alert, some products are produced from
100% non-<i>chametz</i> or are not aged, and do not pose a concern of
<i>chametz she’avar alav haPesach</i>. <br>
It is worth noting that although Bourbon must legally contain at least
50% corn-based alcohol, it commonly contains <i>chametz</i> as (a) a
secondary grain-source which may be 20-40% of the product, (b) malted
barley used to breakdown the starches into fermentable sugar, and/or (c)
backset from <i>chametz</i> fermentations. The simple understanding
is that the presence of any of these forms of <i>chametz</i> would be
enough to render the Bourbon <i>chametz she’avar alav haPesach</i> (see
<i>Mishnah Berurah</i> 442:27 & 447:105), but people with specific
questions are encouraged to consult with their local Rabbi for
direction.<br>
<br>
4. The alert states a number of facts such
as that a Jew owns these companies and never performed <i>mechiras
chometz</i>, however the language implies there was a <i>safek (halachic
doubt)?<br>
</i>The somewhat ambiguous language came from the legal department but
the AKO Executive Committee and at least 8 <i>Poskim</i> associated with
national <i>hashgachos</i> had numerous discussions before releasing this
alert, and were convinced that there is no <i>safek</i>.<br>
<br>
5. Are there not numerous halachic reasons
to permit whisky owned by a Jewish company over <i>Pesach</i>?<br>
The aforementioned group of Administrators and <i>Poskim</i> considered
many possible reasons to be lenient including the owner’s possible
<i>mumar </i>status,that whisky is produced via distillation
(<i>zei’ah</i>), and a possible corporate structure of ownership.
This group unanimously decided to publicize the alert, as none of the
aforementioned reasons justified allowing a Jew to purchase these
alcoholic beverages.<br>
<br>
6. What if I already own a bottle of one
of the listed liquors? Do I have to throw it out like other
<i>chametz she’avar alav haPesach</i>?<br>
Although all of the aforementioned <i>Poskim</i> recommended that a Jew
not purchase these beverages in the future, some of them were willing to
consider reasons to be lenient in specific situations for people who own
considerable amounts of the affected whisky and/or would like to return
unopened bottles to the store where they bought it. People with
these types of questions are encouraged to consult with their local Rabbi
who will direct them. [AKO is considering preparing some halachic
literature for Rabbis to assist them in dealing with the complexities of
the aforementioned <i>shailos</i>.]<br>
However, it may be helpful for consumers to know that we believe that
these companies were not always Jewish owned. Accordingly:<br>
<br>
Any products listed on the original alert which were purchased by a
consumer before <i>Pesach</i> 1992/5752 (and then sold via a personal
<i>mechiras chametz</i> for the subsequent <i>Pesach</i> holidays), are
recommended.
<ul>
<li>Any products listed on the following list which were purchased by a
consumer before <i>Pesach</i> 2009/5769 (and then sold via a personal
<i>mechiras chametz</i> for the subsequent <i>Pesach</i> holidays), are
recommended:
</ul><br>
1792 Ridgemont<br>
99 Schnapps<br>
Barton<br>
Canadian Host<br>
Canadian LTD<br>
Canadian Supreme<br>
Colonel Lee<br>
Fleischmann’s<br>
Highland Mist<br>
House of Stuart<br>
Imperial<br>
Inver House<br>
Kentucky Gentleman<br>
Kentucky Tavern<br>
Lauder’s<br>
Mr. Boston<br>
Northern Light<br>
Old Thompson<br>
Ten High<br>
Tom Moore<br>
Very Old Barton<br><br>
<br>
For updated information or questions regarding this notification, please
email AKO at
<a href="mailto:liquor@akokosher.org">liquor@akokosher.org</a>.<br>
<br>
Chicago Rabbinical Council<br>
2701 W Howard Street | Chicago, IL 60645 <br><br>
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