Scotch Whisky In Sherry Casks

[gozalim]

https://www.dansdeals.com/shopping-deals/save-big-wine-bourbon-scotch-50-off-150-plus-stackable-amex-offers-huge-roundup-kosher-scotch-deals/

1. the OK link goes to a wine article, not whisky
2. the glenlivet 12 is the new (double oak) one. I suspect the star-k list may not be up-to-date

[Dan]

1. the OK link goes to a wine article, not whisky

Read it?

[gozalim]

Read it?

I see now

A Barrel of Problems
Sometimes, wines are matured in special oak barrels from California, France, and Italy. Most wineries buy barrels which have already been used to age other wines, but there is a problem with these barrels – they were used for the maturing of non-kosher wines. Used barrels cannot be used for kosher wine (unlike liquor that is matured in sherry casks, which is not problematic).

I suppose this line constitutes statement of OK kashrus policy?

[Dan]

I see nowI suppose this line constitutes statement of OK kashrus policy?

Fits with this as well.

Rabbi Stiegman a"h of the OK, who researched this, said scotch that used sherry casks are kosher.

[hvaces42]

I meant to simplify.
Rabbi Stiegman a"h of the OK, who researched this, said scotch that used sherry casks are kosher.

He told me this over a glass of scotch, several times.

[Euclid]

I meant to simplify.
Rabbi Stiegman a"h of the OK, who researched this, said scotch that used sherry casks are kosher.

Specifically scotch? Or all spirits eg  including bourbon? Angel's Envy is on my wishlist...

[YitzyS]

Specifically scotch? Or all spirits eg  including bourbon? Angel's Envy is on my wishlist...

Bourbon must be made in never-used casks, as per regulation. Thus they never have an issue with Sherry.

ETA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_whiskey#Legal_requirements

[Euclid]

Bourbon must be made in never-used casks, as per regulation. Thus they never have an issue with Sherry.

ETA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_whiskey#Legal_requirements

https://www.breakingbourbon.com/article/bourbon-the-case-of-mistaken-identity

[Euclid]

Lol the new thread title is already outdated 

[justaregularguy]

Read r avi slansky book on wine and scotch I forgot what its called. He goes thru an excellent history and review of the various poskim allowing and not allowing sherry cask. To those who say it doesnt give taste he writes they used to use sherry casks bc it was convenient and at some point they found other barrels (maybe bourbon from america) that were cheaper and switched to those. Then they started getting tons of complaints from customers that something was different about the scotch and they found out it was bc of the sherry casks. The customers clearly discerned a difference. So they switched back to sherry casks. (I say ‘they’ referring to certain scotch companies I’m unsure if it was a particular co it happened with)

[ckmk47]

Angel's Envy is on my wishlist...

Definitely try it.  It's quite good.
Smooth, flavorful.

[avromie7]

Bourbon must be made in never-used casks, as per regulation. Thus they never have an issue with Sherry.

ETA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_whiskey#Legal_requirements

They can be finished in used barrels, Angels Envy is finished in port barrels.

Many bourbons have a bigger issue of chametz sheovar.

[moko]

According to people knowledgeable in whiskey, sherry casks absolutely gives taste to the scotch.

as does the cherry, strawberries, fruit, lavender, chocolate, hints vanilla, etc ......
ETA: this comment does not reflect my opinion on this matter....just sayin....
There's also the issue that there's often significant amount of wine left in the barrels when they put the scotch in.

[ushdadude]

Specifically scotch? Or all spirits eg  including bourbon? Angel's Envy is on my wishlist...

i had the kedem run. according to local store, boondocks kedem is very similar.

[avromie7]

as does the cherry, strawberries, fruit, lavender, chocolate, hints vanilla, etc ......
ETA: this comment does not reflect my opinion on this matter....just sayin....
There's also the issue that there's often significant amount of wine left in the barrels when they put the scotch in.

FWIU, that's not a bigger issue than the barrel, other than adding more to the wine part making it more difficult for it to be batul b'sheish.

[JlmBoi]

There's also the issue that there's often significant amount of wine left in the barrels when they put the scotch in.

Never heard of this, source?

[ckmk47]

There's also the issue that there's often significant amount of wine left in the barrels when they put the scotch in.

I thought the barrels are dismantled to be stored.  No wine possible.

[moko]

I thought the barrels are dismantled to be stored.  No wine possible.

incorrect

[gozalim]

to contribute to the discussion:
here are 2 longer, in depth publications on this topic, that have been circulating

I make no claims about the accuracy of any of them

https://www.crcweb.org/Sherry%20Casks%202.pdf

https://www.kashrut.com/articles/alcohol/SherryCasksUsageInTheScottishWhiskyIndustry.pdf

[NTorch]

Read r avi slansky book on wine and scotch I forgot what its called. He goes thru an excellent history and review of the various poskim allowing and not allowing sherry cask. To those who say it doesnt give taste he writes they used to use sherry casks bc it was convenient and at some point they found other barrels (maybe bourbon from america) that were cheaper and switched to those. Then they started getting tons of complaints from customers that something was different about the scotch and they found out it was bc of the sherry casks. The customers clearly discerned a difference. So they switched back to sherry casks. (I say ‘they’ referring to certain scotch companies I’m unsure if it was a particular co it happened with)

I think you are referring to R' Shraga Kallus' sefer Wine, Whisky & Halacha. R' Slansky is one of R' Kallus' top talmidim and he helped him write it.

The sefer is a very worthwhile read as he explains all the opinions in English and has footnotes with actual language of the quoted seforim.



https://www.judaicaplace.com/wine-whisky-and-halachah-hardcover/9781680251791/