So you're at a party or a wedding and you ask the bartender for a Remi Martin, or a shot of Jameson whisky. If you keep kosher, this might just be your last time. The Chief Rabbinate just published a long list of over 500 alcoholic beverages that it has deemed non-kosher, among them many popular beverages served at wedding halls in Israel.
Wedding hall owners usually offer customers a wide variety of alcoholic beverages. But lately, following complaints filed with the Chief Rabbinate according to which many places serve non-kosher alcohol, wedding venues may stand to lose their kashrut certificates.
The Rabbinate recently formulated and published a comprehensive chart determining which beverages are kosher and which are not. The beverages declared non-kosher include 352 types of whiskies, such as Bushmills, Jameson, Grant's, and Middleton, and 110 brands of cognac - Remi Martin, Hennessy, Martel, and Camus, to name a few.
In addition, 51 brands of aperitifs including Pastis, Ricard, and Creme de Cassis were also categorized as non-kosher, as well as 46 different liquors, including Bailey's, Grand Marnier, and Frangelico.
Despite the restrictions, kosher drinkers still have a fair choice of beverages, including Chivas, Jack Daniels, JB, Wild Turkey, and Johnny Walker, as well as most types of tequilas, vodkas, and gins.