Today, vodka is beloved by many throughout the world, from the newly legal American undergraduate student to the bartender at the classic, upscale bar, to the cosmo enthusiast, to pretty much every attendee at an open-bar wedding.Īnd while a drinker who is still in school may opt for a brand of vodka at a lower price point, such as Smirnoff or Svedka, drinkers who are looking for a more refined drinking experience and have more disposable income have a few more options at their disposal. Vodka is believed to have been first created as early as the 8 th century, with different variations being independently developed in different areas of Europe, particularly Sweden, Poland, and Russia. Whatever the thought of vodka does for you, it cannot be denied that it is one of the most popular and versatile liquors available. Vodka-just reading the word may make you think back fondly on old college memories, or maybe it made you wish it was happy hour already, or maybe it served as a reminder to add all the ingredients for a vodka martini to your grocery list. His message to take extreme measures was to prevent the consummation of the product in case it was not-Kosher.Belvedere Vs. YWN has confirmed that Rav Eckstein released this statement after learning of the controversy this morning, but had not personally confirmed that the vodka was problematic. We once again maintain that it is best to consume these products with a proper hechsher.Īdditionally, HaRav Asher Eckstein, of the Vaad Hakashrus Belz, released a letter on stating that people should not consume the product. Therefore, as long the company continues to maintain special kosher runs, the above information is considered accurate. However, this same company does produce a non-kosher version of vodka which contains grape based alcohol, but the standard unflavored version is solely grain based. Our position was based on the stated concern.Īfter extensive research, we have now discovered that there is a special run produced under hashgacha specifically for the Israeli market (with kashering the lines to avoid any contact with equipment used for non-kosher products) and we have verified that the source for the standard alcohol for this company is solely grain based. In recent days, a consumer that spoke to one of our staff correctly posted on a WhatsApp Group that we do not recommend it, but this was misinterpreted and reposted by others outside the cRc (without contacting us first) to state that we have firsthand knowledge that there is wine in the product. We simply left it off our kosher liquor list because vodka from France needs to be verified as kosher. As stated, we believe that unless a particular product meets generally accepted guidelines for kosher liquor, the assumption is that the product is not kosher until verified otherwise.īecause of the above, we never officially published that it was not recommended nor did we say it was recommended. As we know, wine products require special hashgacha to avoid the concern of stam yeinam – wine produced by non-observant Jews. In fact, there have been persistent rumors that this vodka from France contains alcohol produced from wine. The cRc has always advised that vodka produced in France, Ireland, and New Zealand requires special attention out of concern that it may be produced from wine or dairy alcohol. It has come to our attention that a popular vodka, produced in France, was considered acceptable in kosher homes even without a hechsher. Nevertheless, as a community-based hechsher, we feel it is important to do careful research and provide options for those who may not have access to certified products. We firmly believe that products which are certified-kosher are preferable to those listed as approved, as these avoid any kashrus issues. It is well-known that we maintain one of the largest kosher Liquor Lists in the world, investing considerable research to find acceptable kosher liquor options for consumers. The assumption is that prepared food and beverages are not kosher until verified otherwise. Those who keep kosher would never eat in a restaurant without a reliable hechsher, nor bring products into their homes unless verified to be kosher. Read the the cRc statement, released to to YWN moments ago: