Updated 12-03-09
Please continue to check the cRc website for the most current liquor information.

This list should not be used after June 30, 2010, at which time it will be reviewed and re-issued.

Beer, Bourbon,  Brandy & Cognac, Gin, Liqueurs, Rum, Rye, Sake, 
Scotch, Tequila, Vermouth, Vodka, Whiskey,  Wine

Bar Stock Items, Drink Mixes, Juices

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANY DRINK OR LIQUOR NOT LISTED ON THIS WEBSITE.

Approved products are not kosher for Passover unless noted as such on the individual label.

PLEASE NOTE: Not all energy drinks and alcoholic beverages such as certain lemonades are certified kosher.

Note: Consumer should be careful to purchase all liquor from a store that either sold their chometz or is owned by a non-Jew.

Beer

Unflavored Beers
All unflavored beers, domestic and imported, with no additives listed on the ingredient label are acceptable, even without a Kosher certification. This applies to both USA and imported beers, including non-alcoholic and dark beers.

Redbridge gluten-free beer from Anheuser-Busch is kosher and pareve.

Many breweries are coming out with specialty brews that have additives; don't assume that all varieties are acceptable - check the label.

Miller flavored beers (such as Lime) are NOT certified Kosher!

Mackeson Triple Stout Beer is not recommended due to the additives and its dairy ingredients!

Flavored Beers
The following flavored beers are currently certified Kosher (under the Vaad of Greater Detroit - even without a hechsher on the product).

The following beers from Samuel Adams, The Boston Beer Company, are Star-K Kosher/Pareve, even without the Star-K on the label.

All products listed below are Yoshon if sell by date is no later than March 2010.

The following beers manufactured by the Spoetzl Brewery under the Shiner label are certified kosher by the Orthodox Vaad of Dertoit, MI even without kosher logo on label.

The following beers are under the supervision of the Kosher Australia Party, even without any kosher marking on the label:

• Coopers Sparkling Ale

• Coopers Best Extra Stout

• Coopers Special Old Stout

• Coopers Premium Lager

• Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale

• All varieties of Homebrew kits

Bourbon

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANY DRINK OR LIQUOR NOT LISTED ON THIS WEBSITE.

Straight Bourbon (Sour Mash is a variety of Bourbon) is acceptable. 

Some examples of Bourbons are:

Brandy & Cognac

All brandy and cognac require certification since both are made from wine.  

Some Kosher Brandies:

Boukha Fig (OU)	Spirit of Solomon (Hisachdus-CRC)
Carmel (OU)	Tishbi (OU)
Herzog (OU)

Gin

Gin with no flavors added is acceptable. 
(Note: Sloe Gin is a liqueur and requires certification.)  

Bombay Brand Sapphire Gin is currently being reviewed for possible kashrus issues and is not recommended until further notice.

Gordon's Flavored Gin (all flavors) produced in the USA, is Kosher certified by the cRc.

Liqueurs

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANY DRINK OR LIQUOR NOT LISTED ON THIS WEBSITE.

Liqueurs generally have lower alcohol content and are, by definition, flavored drinks. Sometimes a liqueur is referred to as an aperitif or cordial. 
All liqueurs require certification. 

Brands that bear certification on the label and may be used:
Check the labels of each bottle and each flavor for the indicated certification. Some flavors from the sources listed below may be Dairy and will have a D next to the kosher symbol.

Amaretto Disaronno (OU)	Kedem (OU)
Bartenura (OU)	Leroux (OU)
Carmel (OU)	Cointreau (No certification on bottle needed)
Honkes (MK - Montreal)	Monfort (OU)
Frangelico (OU)	Peter Cherry Heering (OU)
Starbucks OU even without designation on the bottle. White Chocolate is Dairy
Godiva (OU) - All should be considered as Dairy unless noted otherwise on each label.	Sabra (OU)

Some popular brands that are not recommended:

Bailey’s Irish Cream	Ouzo
B&B Liqueur	Sambuca
Benedictine	Southern Comfort
Gold Schlager	Kirschwasser
Grand Marnier	Llord’s (without hashgacha)
	Tia Maria
	Yukon Jack

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Rum

Rum generally requires certification. 

Bacardi (unflavored varieties) is acceptable without a kosher symbol on the label.  

Don Q Rum (including flavored) only with OU

Rye

No certification required.

Sake

Only recommended when bearing a reliable Kosher symbol.

Sensei brand sake is kosher when bearing an OU on the label.

Scotch

Soju (Korean liquor)

Only recommended when bearing a reliable kosher symbol.

Tequila

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANY DRINK OR LIQUOR NOT LISTED ON THIS WEBSITE.

Tequila is made from the agave cactus in Mexico. 
According to Mexican law any tequila may be labeled 100% agave even though it contains no more than 51% actual agave alcohol!

However, based on research, the cRc has identified one type of tequila which is recommended even without a hechsher (Regular-White).

There are three types of tequila on the market:

1)     Regular-White (also known as Silver) tequila is recommended. This clear tequila contains either 100% agave or a mixture of agave and sugar cane.

2)      Gold-Brown tequila is not recommended without a reliable hashgacha. This darker tequila is aged for 3 months and may have color and flavoring added. 

3)      Reposado (“rested” ) (also known as Special) tequila  is not recommended without a reliable hashgacha. It is aged for 6 months and in addition to concerns of color and flavoring, glycerin may be added for density.

Some acceptable Tequila brands:

Vermouth

Kedem is the only brand readily available with a kosher symbol.

Vodka

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANY DRINK OR LIQUOR NOT LISTED ON THIS WEBSITE.

All Domestic (USA only) non-flavored vodka is acceptable.
Important:  This applies only to grain or potato vodka. Some vodkas are made with grapes, and would need a reliable hashgacha.

Imported vodka requires certification.

The following unflavored imported vodkas are acceptable imports even without certification on the label:

Absolut	Kettle One
Belvedere	Provda (now has OU)
Chopin	Stolichnaya - (see below for flavored)
Finlandia	Vox
Iceberg (now has OU)
Grey Goose Yevreyskaya	Three Olives (from England)

 Imperial Collection

Super Premium - Super Premium Soft - Super Premium Strong 100
 

Absolut Flavored Vodka Is now acceptable only with OU

Putinka Vodka both Pepper flavor and Limited Edition are kosher even without certification on the label.

Gordon Vodkas
The following varieties are cRc certified even without certification on the label: 

Stolichnaya Vodkas: 
The following varieties are acceptable, with OU on the label:

Cinnamon Flavored	Orange Flavored
Coffee Flavored	Peach Flavored
Gold Premium Imported Russian	Raspberry Flavored
Imported Russian	Strawberry Flavored
Lemon Flavored	Vanilla Flavored

Smirnoff

Vodkas:

     Blue Label                
     Red Label
     Silver label

The following Smirnoff products are acceptable, with KSA on the label:

Vodka Twists / Flavors

     Black Cherry
     Blueberry
     Citrus
     Cranberry
     Green Apple
     Lime
     Orange
     Raspberry
     Vanilla

Strawberry Acai is NOT kosher!

Smirnoff Ice:

     Arctic Berry
     Green Apple
     Pomegranate Fusion
     Raspberry Burst
     Watermelon
     Wild Grape

Non -flavored Smirnoff Ice including the Smirnoff Ice and Smirnoff Ice Triple Black contain grape and are not certified Kosher.

Smirnoff Raw Tea:

Green
Lemon
Raspberry

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Whiskey (including Canadian, Irish, Ryes)

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANY DRINK OR LIQUOR NOT LISTED ON THIS WEBSITE.

Any whiskey, including Irish Whiskey, that is aged in a wine cask, such as Sherry or Port, or aged in dual casks, European casks or French casks should be avoided as it is uncertain if these are kosher.

Blended Whiskeys are acceptable only with certification, unless appearing on the list below:

Wines

All wines served at a cRc event, regardless of the location, host or caterer must bear acceptable certification and must be mevushal.  

Check bottles for an acceptable certification and a statement that the wine is mevushal. Many Israeli and French wines are not mevushal, so care must be exercised.

Carmel Wines from Israel must bear the OU on the label; some wines produced during the shmita year will not have the OU on the label.

Alfasi wine, from Chile, is under the OK certification but not all are mevushal. Each label should be checked.

Bar Stock Items

Any bar equipment (strainers, shot measures, blenders, stir rods, shakers, etc.) used with non-kosher products should be properly kashered prior to use for a kosher affair.

Olives - green olives require certification, Domestic Black Olives packed in water, with no added flavors or colors are acceptable without certification on the label.

Pearl Onions - are pickled and require certification

Lemon and Lime - fresh lemon and limes used for slices, wedges and twists must be prepared using a kosher knife and on a kosher cutting board.

All Tabasco brand hot pepper sauce is acceptable as long as it bears a "K".

Maraschino Cherries - only with acceptable certification

Drink Mixes

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANY DRINK OR LIQUOR NOT LISTED ON THIS WEBSITE.

All Drink Mixes requires certification.

Some brands available that are acceptable:

Juices

Require certification. 
Ready-to-drink juices are made in factories that produce a wide range of products, mostly with hot production. There are issues of dairy and non-kosher utensils.

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