Is It Kosher?

Alcoholic beverages play an important part of Jewish life — the joyous cry of "Lechayim" has been passed down from one generation to the next. No less important is knowledge of the kosher status of the many hundreds of available alcoholic beverages.

Vermouth, sangria, champagne, sherry brandy and cognac, as well as some liqueurs and cordials, all require supervision because they are wine-based or may contain wine as an ingredient. All wines must have careful supervision. These concerns extend to grape juice and vinegar as well.

Wines: Strict kashrus supervision is required throughout all stages of the wine-manufacturing process until final bottling. An interesting prohibition: kosher wine that has been cooked before contact with a non-Jew is exempted. Many kosher wines today bear "Yayin Mevushal" (boiled wine) on the label.

Key wine facts: Kedem 1½ Litre bottles are NOT Mevushal. Kedem domestic 187ml and 750ml bottles are ALWAYS Mevushal. ALL Manischewitz wines are Mevushal. All O/U Grape Juices are Mevushal.

Liqueurs are generally made by adding flavoring to high-proof distilled spirit and can contain many ingredients of concern. Vermouth is always wine-based, hence a good certification is always needed.

Whiskeys: The U.S. government allows up to 2.5% sherry (wine-based) to be added to whiskey blends — this can cause problems for the kosher consumer.

Tequila: Most tequila is acceptable, but those bottles with the worm (larva) inside are not kosher.