Buffalo Trace to Re-Release Kosher Whiskey Trio

Buffalo Trace Distillery Kosher Whiskey Trio. Courtesy Photo.

Buffalo Trace Distillery has announced the second annual release of their Kosher whiskey trio: Kosher Rye Recipe Bourbon, Kosher Wheat Recipe Bourbon, and Kosher Straight Rye Whiskey.   

The distillery began work on the project in 2010 with the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc), giving the three whiskeys 10 years to age before their first release last year. While they used the same recipes made famous for their rye whiskey by Sazerac rye and Thomas Handy, bourbon made famous by Buffalo Trace and George T. Stagg, and wheated bourbon made famous by Weller, they followed all Kosher guidelines to create these special whiskeys.

“Kosher law mandates that whiskey should not be owned or consumed by Jews during Passover. In 2012 the cRc oversaw the sale of new American Oak Kosher barrels in a contract of sale to a non-Jewish executive, Buffalo Trace Distillery President Mark Brown, where they were filled with whiskey and put away in specially marked “Kosher whiskey” barrels to age,” explains a press release from Buffalo Trace. “The bottling lines at the Distillery will be flushed completely beforehand to ensure the whiskey is not exposed to any non-Kosher spirits. As Passover ended this year on April 4th, the whiskey will be released to distributors after bottling later this month.”

“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.”   

Buffalo Trace plans to release their Kosher Whiskey trio each year at the end of Passover, with labels that display logos from both the distillery and cRc. Find them on shelves in the coming weeks for around $40 each.

Caroline Paulus is the Senior Editor for The Bourbon Review. She lives and writes in Lexington, Kentucky. Follow her on Instagram @misswhiskeyhistorian to keep up with her latest in bourbon news - and a few old finds, too.