Ppl in Shul were murmuring about a new CRC list that says not to drink a lot of the stuff that people have been drinking for years. No hock here about that?
http://cor.ca/assets/static/node/201409/files/541/RH.web2.pdf"There has been much discussion and debate regarding the kosher status of scotch whiskeys that are aged in wine/sherry casks. Scotch whiskey, by definition1, contains only kosher ingredients. Notwithstanding, the spirit must be aged in an oak barrel for a minimum of three years. Scotch manufacturers generally reuse barrels that were previously used to store alcoholic beverages such as sherry, cognac, bourbon, rum or beer. The kashrut concern raised by the use of sherry or wine barrels is that the absorbed wine is almost certainly stam yaynom which is not kosher. Halachik clarification was required to determine whether or not this non-kosher taste that is absorbed in the barrel could render the Scotch as non-kosher.
COR has taken interest in clarifying this matter since it is apparent that many leading Rabbanim in our community are of the opinion that scotch aged in sherry casks is permitted for consumption. Over the last several years, COR has consulted with several industry and kashrut experts in an effort to research the involved issues and formulate a position on its halachik status.
COR further consulted with our community’s Rabbanim; including Rav Dovid Schochet shlit”a, President of the Vaad HaRabbonim and Rav Shlomo Miller shlit”a, Rosh Bais Din of Kollel Toronto amongst other leading Rabbanim, as well as COR’s Rabbinical Vaad Hakashruth. In light of the conclusions of our research and according to the guidance of our Rabbinical Vaad Hakashruth, COR policy will now allow the use of scotches aged in sherry casks at COR-certified venues and events. This policy applies only to scotch and not to other types of whiskey which may involve other halachik complexities including non-kosher wine or glycerin which can be mixed into the whiskey recipe.
Throughout the next several months, Mashgichim who supervise events that are using scotch aged in sherry casks will post signage at the bar indicating the status of the scotch."