
Episode #99
Kosher Bourbon Requires Planning Years Ahead
Send us Fan Mail We taste Buffalo Trace’s three CRC certified kosher whiskeys and dig into the real reason they exist: Passover rules turn barrel aging into an ownership puzzle that has to be solved years in advance. Along the way, we compare profiles, argue about whether 94 proof is the sweet spot, and decide which bottle is genuinely worth the hunt. • overview of the Buffalo Trace kosher lineup and why it is released after Passover • what kosher whiskey means beyond ingredients like grain, water, and yeast • why Passover creates an ownership challenge for whiskey aging in barrels • how Buffalo Trace and the Chicago Rabbinical Council structure barrel ownership and tracking • why dedicated barrels and flushed bottling lines matter for kosher certification • tasting the rye recipe bourbon with caramel, cherry and a surprising dusty note • tasting the wheat recipe bourbon for softness, fruit, vanilla and candied toffee • tasting the straight rye for spice, citrus, clove and a minty finish • whether “normal bourbon” is already kosher and why certification is different • proof talk and why the rye feels like it wants barrel proof • final verdict on which bottles collectors and drinkers should chase Remember www.scotchybourbonboys.com for all things. Scotchy Bourbon Boys. No matter whether you listen to us or you watch us, make sure you leave us good feedback. An Apple, leave us a really good review and a five-star. Kosher whiskey isn’t a blessing on a bottle, it’s a production and logistics problem that has to be solved years before the first pour. Tonight I crack open a sealed trio from Buffalo Trace Distillery: Kosher Rye Recipe Bourbon, Kosher Wheat Recipe Bourbon, and Kosher Straight Rye, all at 94 proof and all produced under Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC) supervision. If you’ve ever wondered what “CRC certified kosher” actually means for bourbon and rye, this story gets surprisingly practical, surprisingly nerdy, and genuinely fascinating. We walk through the Passover challenge that makes whiskey different from most foods: bourbon matures for years, so you can’t simply adjust a recipe for one week and call it done. That leads to the core question of ownership during Passover, and the solution Buffalo Trace put in place starting in 2012, including dedicated barrels, separation and tracking in the warehouse, and bottling line flushing to avoid any contact with non kosher spirits. The timeline matters too, from early planning around 2010 to the first release in 2020, because it shows how far ahead a kosher bourbon program has to be designed. Then we get to what’s in the glass. I compare the kosher rye recipe bourbon against standard Buffalo Trace and get hit with caramel, cherry, and a “dusty” note that feels like a throwback. The wheat recipe bourbon leans softer and sweeter with fruit, vanilla, and a candied toffee vibe, while the straight rye brings spice, citrus, clove, and a minty finish that rye fans may love. We also tackle the question everyone asks: isn’t most straight whiskey already kosher, and does knowing the process change how you value the bottle? If you enjoyed this deep dive into kosher bourbon, Passover constraints, and Buffalo Trace tasting notes, subscribe, share the episode with a whiskey friend, and leave us a five-star review so more people can find the show. If You Have Gohsts Support the show https://www.scotchybourbonboys.com The Scotchy bourbon Boys are #3 in Feedspots Top 60 whiskey podcasts in the world https://podcast.feedspot.com/whiskey_podcasts/






