MOSCOW, Russia [FJC] — In Russia, the country’s most authoritative web portal dedicated to alcohol products on the market – Alconews.ru – writes that, recently, vodka-producing companies are increasingly turning to the Department of kosher Chief Rabbinate of Russia for recognition of its products as kosher.
Kosher Vodka Brands Issued
MOSCOW, Russia [FJC] — In Russia, the country’s most authoritative web portal dedicated to alcohol products on the market – Alconews.ru – writes that, recently, vodka-producing companies are increasingly turning to the Department of kosher Chief Rabbinate of Russia for recognition of its products as kosher.
Kosher wine or any alcohol product is difficult to confirm simply by laboratory studies, so the most important and decisive factor is the signature of the most authoritative rabbi. In Russia this individual is Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar.
Due to this developing tendency, more vodka brands in Russia now bear a kosher certificate. In November 2008, the Moscow-based ‘Crystal’ Factory launched the vodka brand ‘Jewish Standard’ issued by the ‘Whitehall’ Company. Then, in December, the brands ‘Kremlin Legends’ and ‘Kremlin Standard’, which are produced in Kaliningrad and managed by the ‘Kremlin’ Factory, also received certification. January saw the addition of yet another vodka brand, ‘Yuri Dolgoruky’, which is issued by ‘Vremena Goda’ Ltd.
The certification of these kosher vodka producers was awarded by the Kashrut Department of the Chief Rabbinate of Russia, which conducted a study of the ingredients’ composition and production technology for these respective vodkas. Upon successfully passing this examination, these vodkas have been recognized as kosher on all days of the year, excluding the days of the Passover holiday.
There are many varieties of vodka that cannot claim to be kosher because of the presence of milk supplements among its composition. To boot, to be considered kosher, beverages cannot comprise more than one type of grain among its ingredients, so any vodka containing mixed grains or oat extracts cannot be considered to be kosher.
Kop Doktar
“to be considered kosher, beverages cannot comprise more than one type of grain among its ingredients, so any vodka containing mixed grains or oat extracts cannot be considered to be kosher”, WHY???????????????????????
Is this some kind of NEW halacha??!!
Milhouse
What on earth does it mean that to be kosher a beverage must only have one type of grain? What kind of rule is that? What could someone possibly have told this reporter to give him the impression that a mixture of grains makes it treif?
leah
why is Smirnoff the graphic for this article? it is not one of the brands even mentioned…
to Leah
Being that Smirnoff is known as Kosher… Its certified by KSA
Hechsher for what???!!!!
Vodka unflavored doesn’t need a hechsher. Just a money making opportunity. When will they give a hechsher for water in Russia too?