Buffalo Trace Distillery first introduced its annual release of Kosher Whiskey in 2020, and now it is returning to retail in May this year.

The distillery began working on this collection in 2010 with the Chicago Rabbinical Council, aiming to create what it believes to be the first authentic Kosher whiskey.

During Passover, Kosher law mandates that whiskey should not be either owned or consumed by Jews. In 2012 the Chicago Rabbinical Council oversaw the sale of new American oak Kosher barrels in a contract of sale to a non-Jewish executive, the Buffalo Trace president, Mark Brown. The barrels were then filled with whiskey and stored away, specially marked ‘Kosher Whiskey’ in order to age.

In line with last year’s release, the whiskey is available in three styles; Kosher Rye Recipe Bourbon, Kosher Wheat Recipe Bourbon, and Kosher Straight Rye Whiskey.

The bottling lines at the distillery will be flushed completely now that the whiskey has reached the desired age, ensuring that it is not exposed to any non-Kosher spirits. As Passover ended this year on April 4, the whiskey will be released to distributors after bottling later this month.  Bottles will sell through wholesalers and retailers before Passover begins again in 2022.

“We were overwhelmed with the popularity of our Kosher Whiskey when we first released it last year,” said Drew Mayville, master blender, director of quality.  “We realize having a truly certified Kosher whiskey is important to not only the Jewish community, but also a broader audience, and we’re pleased that we have the ability to offer it each year to reach this audience.”   

The new Kosher whiskey line is limited, but it will continue to be an annual release each year after Passover. The labels depict both Buffalo Trace Distillery logo and the Chicago Rabbinical Council-Kosher logo.  Each expression of Buffalo Trace Kosher Whiskey has a suggested retail price of $39.99 per 750ml bottle. 

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