Liquor & Alcohol Kashrus Policies | Square Cloud

Informational reference only. Double-check original sources for current guidance, and consult your rav or certifying agency. A source review does not confirm live eruv status, minyan schedules or hospitality availability.

Star-K · OU · cRc · OK · Kof-K

Reviewed 2026-09-05

Alcoholic beverages look simple but raise several recurring kashrus issues:

Grape / stam yayin — Wine and grape-based spirits need Jewish production controls; cooked (mevushal) status matters when non-Jews or non-shomer Shabbos Jews handle opened bottles.
Hidden additives — Flavors, glycerin, lactose/dairy, wine blending, colors, and emulsifiers are common and often unlabeled on spirits.
Wine-cask aging / finishes — Sherry, port, Madeira, cognac, and similar barrels used for whiskey/rum/tequila raise stam yayin absorption questions.
Shared / craft equipment — Especially beer and flavored spirits; craft practices have driven stricter beer policies.
Chametz she’avar alav haPesach — Grain whiskey aged across Pesach at Jewish-owned firms that did not sell chametz can become permanently forbidden; agencies track affected brands.
Passover — Grain, kitniyos, and grape issues mean year-round approval is not Passover approval.

Primary consumer hubs

Agency	Hub
Star-K	Beer, Liquor and Liqueur listing (USA/Canada manufacture)
OU	Alcoholic beverages category, Kosher beer list, Passover spirits article
cRc	Alcoholic Beverages hub, policy essays, category policies
OK	A Closer Look: Alcohol & Beverages (Scotch, beer, vodka, tequila essays); Say L’Chaim – Beer; American Whiskey & Bourbon; wine mevushal articles
Kof-K	No public consumer liquor hub / brand list found on kof-k.org (searched whiskey/liquor/beer/alcohol); site focuses on certification services and product search

Grape wine / yayin / mevushal

Star-K

Public position: Wines (and grape juice) require reliable kosher certification year-round; for Passover, special Passover certification on the bottle is required. Star-K consumer guidance stresses checking whether wines are mevushal when waitstaff are non-Jews or non-shomer Shabbos (e.g., simcha/shul settings).
Practical guidance: Buy certified kosher wine; for public service / hired help, prefer mevushal unless your rav and setting allow non-mevushal.
Sources: Kashrus in High Spirits; Kashrus Kurrents Winter 2025 (simcha checklist).

OU

Public position: Kosher wine production is highly controlled because non-Jews may not handle wine (stam yaynam); mevushal (cooked) wine may be handled by non-Jews. OU follows Rav Moshe Feinstein that pasteurization ≥ ~175°F qualifies as mevushal; some bottles are labeled mifustar (pasteurized) for those who do not rely on pasteurization as mevushal.
Practical guidance: Check both hechsher and mevushal / non-mevushal / mifustar wording. Prefer mevushal at foodservice or when domestic help may handle wine; treat mifustar as non-mevushal if you do not rely on pasteurization.
Sources: Uncorking the Secrets of Kosher Wine; MIFUSTAR – Is it Mevushal?; Pasteur, Détente, Kosher Wine.

cRc

Public position: Wine (including fruit wine) requires certification. Wine served at cRc-certified events must be mevushal. Israeli products may have additional shemitta / label issues (e.g., some Carmel wines).
Practical guidance: For events under cRc, only certified mevushal wine; check every bottle.
Sources: cRc Wine listing page; Alcoholic Beverages essay.

OK

Public position: Kosher grape juice/wine must be produced entirely by Shomer Shabbos Jews from crushing through bottling; after mevushal (briefly boiled/pasteurized), handling restrictions lift. OK states its minimum mevushal temperature is 86°C (186.8°F); notes Igros Moshe 165→175°F discussions and that some bottles are labeled mefustar (pasteurized) for those who do not accept pasteurization as mevushal. OK does not allow a fully closed pasteurization system—some steam must escape. Prefers mevushal for settings where non-Shomer Shabbos or non-Jews may handle wine; some consider non-mevushal more mehudar for Kiddush/Seder.
Practical guidance: Buy OK (or other reliable) certified wine; check mevushal / mefustar wording; treat mefustar carefully if you do not rely on pasteurization as mevushal.
Sources: The Unique Kosher Status of Grape Juice and Wine; What’s Cooking with the Temperature of the Wine.

Kof-K

Public position: No public policy found on wine / mevushal / stam yayin consumer handling on kof-k.org in this research pass.
Practical guidance: Do not invent a Kof-K wine rule; use a reliable certified label and a rav.
Sources: Gap — no kof-k.org wine consumer page located.

Grape brandy / cognac / grape-based spirits

Star-K

Public position: Brandy (grape or fruit) and Cognac, Grappa, and Ouzo all require certification. Unflavored vodka is acceptable without certification except CIROC and others made from grapes / listing whey or wine alcohol. Gin excluding grape/dairy bases may be OK without hechsher; flavored gin requires certification.
Practical guidance: Do not buy cognac/brandy/grappa without a hechsher; watch grape-based vodka.
Sources: Star-K Beer, Liquor and Liqueur listing.

OU

Public position: Brandy distilled from grape wine is discussed in Passover spirits guidance as requiring proper kosher (and for Pesach, Passover) production; OU certifies many brandies/spirits (search product database / certified companies). No single “all cognac OK without hechsher” consumer rule found on OU pages reviewed.
Practical guidance: Prefer OU (or other reliable) certified brandy/cognac; for Pesach use only Passover-certified spirits.
Sources: The Spirit of the Holiday; Alcoholic Beverages certified companies.

cRc

Public position: Liquor card / list guidance: all cognac/brandy varieties need a hechsher. Wine requires certification; brandy/cognac treated as grape-derived sensitive products.
Practical guidance: Only certified cognac/brandy.
Sources: cRc Liquor Card (Nov 2025 PDF summary via public mirrors); Liquor hub.

OK

Public position: No dedicated public “all cognac/brandy OK without hechsher” consumer rule found. Tequila article flags barrels previously used for wines and brandies as a kashrus problem when undeclared; vodka article flags grape-alcohol vodka as a concern. Prefer certified grape distillates.
Practical guidance: Prefer OK-certified (or other reliable) brandy/cognac; do not assume uncertified grape spirits are fine.
Sources: Kosher Tequila; Is Vodka Always Kosher?.

Kof-K

Public position: No public policy found on brandy/cognac/grape spirits.
Practical guidance: No Kof-K consumer brandy list located.
Sources: Gap.

Grain whiskey / bourbon / Scotch (year-round; kitniyos/Pesach notes)

Star-K

Public position: Unflavored bourbon, rye, Tennessee/American whiskey, Scotch, and Irish whiskey are generally acceptable without certification, except when labeled with wine-cask indicators (Sherry, Port, Cognac, Madeira, Oloroso, Sauterne, Shiraz, Dual-Cask Finish, Double-Matured, etc.). Flavored American whiskeys require certification. Some varieties are not recommended due to chametz she’avar alav haPesach or wine casks—use the approved brand list. Japanese whisky: only single-malt 100% Japanese approved (same wine-cask exclusions). Canadian whisky: requires approval (may contain wine).
Practical guidance: Read every label for finish/cask language; check Star-K approved lists for chametz ownership issues; flavored = needs hechsher.
Sources: Beer, Liquor and Liqueur listing; Irish Whiskey listing; Drinking Responsibly.

OU

Public position: Certifies many whiskeys/bourbons. For sherry-cask–labeled whiskey: OU does not permit serving at OU caterers/restaurants; unflavored whiskey not labeled sherry-cask (and with no reason to assume wine-cask kavush) is permitted (Rema Y.D. 114:10), including typical blends. Passover: Scotch always contains malted barley → always chametz; bourbon is majority corn (kitniyos) often with barley/wheat/rye (chametz)—special Pesach productions needed for kitniyos-approved whiskey.
Practical guidance: Year-round: avoid explicit wine-cask finishes in OU foodservice; for home use follow label + OU articles / rav. Pesach: do not assume year-round whiskey is usable.
Sources: Daf HaKashrus Consumer Edition – Sherry Casks (Rabbi Eli Gersten); The Spirit of the Holiday.

cRc

Public position: Bourbon/American whiskey generally does not require certification, with exceptions: (1) flavors and/or wine-cask aging—detect via label; (2) Jewish-owned companies that do not sell chametz—listed as not recommended. Prefer Straight whiskey; white whiskey/moonshine need certification. Scotch/Irish: permitted unless label/website states wine-cask aging, special finish, or extra maturation (double/triple finish, dual cask, European/French cask, Madeira/port/sauterne/sherry, etc.). Certified preferred over “acceptable.”
Practical guidance: Read labels carefully; consult cRc liquor list for chametz-ownership brands; prefer certified.
Sources: Bourbon policy; Bourbon & American Whiskey list; Scotch list; Sherry Casks policy; Alcoholic Beverages essay.

OK

Public position: American whiskey with added flavors and/or aged in wine casks requires reliable certification. “Straight” whiskey seems little risk and is considered acceptable by most major agencies even without a hechsher; white whiskey/moonshine need a hechsher (shared equipment / flavors). Unflavored bourbon (new charred oak; ≥51% corn) poses little risk and is acceptable to many poskim without a hechsher. Chametz she’avar alav haPesach: Jewish-owned companies’ chametz liquors forbidden year-round unless sold; landscape changes—research / consult an expert (OK does not publish a fixed brand blacklist in this article). Scotch: “new make” OK; wine-cask aging is the issue; best to buy certified or avoid labels mentioning sherry, port, oloroso, Madeira, or wine-cask language (double matured, finished, European oak). Unlabeled assumption: not enough wine-cask whisky for concern; still check blends.
Practical guidance: Prefer “straight” / unflavored bourbon without wine-cask wording; skip flavored/wine-finished; for Scotch avoid wine-cask label terms; research Jewish ownership / chametz.
Sources: Say L’chaim: American Whiskey & Bourbon; A Closer Look: Scotch Whisky.

Kof-K

Public position: No public policy found on whiskey/bourbon/Scotch consumer acceptability or wine-cask finishes.
Practical guidance: No Kof-K liquor list located on kof-k.org.
Sources: Gap — searched kof-k.org for whiskey/liquor/alcohol; no consumer guidance page found.

Flavored spirits / liqueurs / additives

Star-K

Public position: Liqueurs, cordials, cocktail mixes, vermouth (sweetened/flavored) require certification. Flavored gin, flavored vodka, spiced/flavored rum, flavored sake, mezcal, hard cider/root beer/hard tea/malt beverages, bar stock (juices, mixers, bitters, vermouth, etc.) require certification. Unflavored rum (incl. dark) OK without certification except wine-cask label language.
Practical guidance: Any sweetened/flavored spirit → look for hechsher.
Sources: Beer, Liquor and Liqueur listing; Kashrus in High Spirits.

OU

Public position: Historically publishes certified alcoholic beverage lists (whiskeys, beers, liqueurs, vodkas, etc.) with OU / OU-D / OU-P designations. Flavored and specialty spirits are treated as needing certification (see certified companies / product search). Cream and dairy-marked items appear as OU-D when dairy.
Practical guidance: Search OU product tools; do not assume “clear spirit + flavor” is fine without a symbol.
Sources: Alcoholic Beverages category; historical Daf alcoholic beverages list PDF.

cRc

Public position: Liqueurs are by definition flavored and require certification (Alexander, Amaretto, Arak, Curaçao, eggnog, Goldwasser, Grasshopper, Sloe Gin, etc.). Cream liqueurs on the list include dairy-certified items (e.g., Bailey’s Original noted as dairy / Star-D when manufactured by Diageo Bailey’s of Dublin).
Practical guidance: Only certified liqueurs; check dairy designation on cream styles.
Sources: cRc Liqueur page.

OK

Public position: Flavored American whiskey / wine-cask aging needs certification (American whiskey article). Vodka: not all vodkas are inherently kosher—verify yeast/anti-foam kosher; sugar/glycerin may be added in some countries; grape-alcohol and whey (dairy, usually not Cholov Yisroel) vodkas exist (OK lists many U.S./international grape and whey producers); Russian vodka may have other additives. Wine-cask aging is atypical for vodka (would brown it).
Practical guidance: Do not assume clear unflavored vodka is always fine—check source carbohydrate and additives; flavored spirits need reliable certification.
Sources: Is Vodka Always Kosher?; American Whiskey & Bourbon.

Kof-K

Public position: No public policy found on flavored spirits / liqueurs.
Practical guidance: No Kof-K liqueur list located.
Sources: Gap.

Beer

Star-K

Public position: All beers, even unflavored, require certification on the consumer liquor listing. Foodservice policy (effective Jan 1, 2026): only beer with reliable kosher certification may be served in STAR-K establishments / certified events—driven by craft brewing, flavors, additives, and shared equipment. Coordinated with OU, OK, and local vaadim. Many national brands already have oversight (may remain acceptable without on-label symbol); craft needs symbol/letter. Certified beer list published (~1000 beers).
Practical guidance: Prefer beers with known hechsher; for STAR-K events after 2026-01-01, only certified beer.
Sources: Beer listing; Beer Policy Update PDF (Nov 2025).

OU

Public position: Same coordinated Jan 1, 2026 foodservice rule: only reliably certified beer in OU establishments / certified events. Publishes a Current OU Kosher Beer Reference List.
Practical guidance: For OU events after the effective date, use the OU beer list / certified brands; craft without hechsher is out.
Sources: OU Beer Policy for Food Service – Effective January 1, 2026; Kosher beer list.

cRc

Public position (consumer list): Standard unflavored beers with no additives are acceptable without certification (domestic/imported, light/dark), with exceptions: home/pub breweries, breweries producing non-kosher beer, Jewish-owned, Israel, milk stouts / lactose, flavored (spices, botanicals, fruit, etc.)—these need certification. Strongly recommends hechsher because shared equipment and lactose use are rising. Essay “Beer – Not What it Used To Be” details flavors, oyster/clam, casein, etc.
Practical guidance: Prefer certified beer; if using unflavored without symbol, verify brewery does not produce non-kosher SKUs on shared lines. Note: Star-K/OU foodservice have moved to hechsher-required; cRc consumer page still allows unflavored with caveats (as of research date).
Sources: cRc Beer list; Beer – Not What it Used To Be.

OK

Public position: Historically unflavored beer was low-risk; modern flavored/specialty beers (fruit, botanicals, dairy, wine, oyster, etc.) and shared equipment (bliyos) mean consumers generally cannot know the production story. OK, with several other major agencies, only recommends beer with reliable kosher certification. OK only permits kosher-certified beer in foodservice establishments and catered events under OK supervision. (Star-K beer policy letter notes coordination with OU, OK, and local vaadim for the Jan 1 2026 foodservice rule.)
Practical guidance: Prefer certified beer; for OK foodservice/events, certified only.
Sources: Say L’Chaim – Beer; historical The Kashrus of Beer (older essay still on site); Star-K Beer Policy Update (names OK among coordinating agencies).

Kof-K

Public position: No public consumer beer policy / list found on kof-k.org.
Practical guidance: No Kof-K beer guidance to cite.
Sources: Gap.

Cider / fruit wines (non-grape)

Star-K

Public position: Hard cider, root beer, hard tea, and malt beverages require certification. Mead requires certification. Fruit brandy falls under brandy → certification. Unflavored sake acceptable without certification; flavored sake requires certification.
Practical guidance: Treat hard cider/mead like flavored specialty alcohol—need hechsher.
Sources: Beer, Liquor and Liqueur listing.

OU

Public position: No dedicated “all hard cider OK without hechsher” consumer policy found in reviewed pages; cider/fruit beverages appear among certified alcoholic products when certified. Fruit brandies discussed under Passover spirits as distillates of fruit wine needing proper supervision.
Practical guidance: Use certified products / OU search; do not assume apple cider alcohol is like plain whiskey.
Sources: The Spirit of the Holiday; Alcoholic Beverages category.

cRc

Public position: Wine page states wine including fruit wine requires certification. Hard seltzer / cider categories appear on liquor hub and liquor card as needing care / hechsher (card: hard seltzer/cider — all varieties need hechsher per Nov 2025 card summary).
Practical guidance: Certified only for fruit wine and hard cider/seltzer per list/card.
Sources: Wine; Liquor hub; Liquor Card PDF.

OK

Public position: No dedicated public hard-cider / fruit-wine consumer policy page located in this pass (alcohol essays focus on beer, whiskey, vodka, tequila, wine).
Practical guidance: No public standalone cider policy found; prefer certified products.
Sources: Gap within OK alcohol series.

Kof-K

Public position: No public policy found.
Practical guidance: Gap.
Sources: Gap.

Aging barrels / wine casks / sherry finishes

Star-K

Public position: Whiskey/Scotch/Irish/rum/tequila (and similar) not acceptable without certification when labeled with: Sherry, Port, Cognac, Madeira, Oloroso, Sauterne, Shiraz, Dual-Cask Finish, Double-Matured, or any other indication of wine-cask aging. Policy articles explain sherry/port/Madeira/oloroso finishes as stam yayin concerns; if label/neck tag/website advertises wine-cask aging/finish, avoid.
Practical guidance: No wine-finish wording → may use unflavored whiskey per list; any wine-cask marketing → skip unless certified.
Sources: Liquor listing exclusions; Kashrus in High Spirits; Fall 2009 Kashrus Kurrents liquor discussion PDF.

OU

Public position: Detailed psak article: labeled “sherry cask matured/finished” whiskey involves stam yaynam barrels; OU does not permit such whiskeys at OU caterers/restaurants. Unflavored whiskey not so labeled, with no reason to assume wine-cask kavush, is permitted (Rema); blends likewise when each component might not be sherry-casked.
Practical guidance: Foodservice: no sherry-cask–labeled whiskey. Home: follow OU article + personal rav; unlabeled unflavored whiskey generally OK under OU’s published Rema application.
Sources: Daf HaKashrus Purim 5774 – Sherry Casks; OU news on consumer Daf.

cRc

Public position: Dedicated Sherry Casks policy: Scotch/Irish (etc.) not permitted if label or company site states aged in wine cask, special finish, or extra maturation. Problematic phrases include double/triple finish or matured, dual cask/finish, European/French cask, Madeira finish, port/sauterne/sherry casks. Approved list includes items known not wine-casked; certified preferred.
Practical guidance: Check label and producer website before drinking Scotch/Irish finishes.
Sources: Sherry Casks policy; Scotch; Alcoholic Beverages essay.

OK

Public position: Detailed Scotch essay: whisky aged in wine/sherry casks poses stam yayin / davar charif challenges; surveys Noda BiYehuda / Minchas Yitzchok leniencies and why single-malt sherry-cask differs from historical blends. Consumer recommendation: best to buy kosher-certified whisky, or at least avoid labels mentioning sherry, port, oloroso, Madeira, or wine-cask aging words (double matured, finished, European oak). Tequila: undeclared wine/brandy barrels and cristalino wine-barrel aging are field concerns.
Practical guidance: Treat wine-finish marketing as a red flag unless certified.
Sources: Scotch Whisky; Kosher Tequila.

Kof-K

Public position: No public policy found on sherry/wine-cask finishes.
Practical guidance: Gap.
Sources: Gap.

Yeast / fermentation aids

Star-K

Public position: Beer policy letter notes classic beer is water, hops, barley, yeast—but modern additives/equipment drive hechsher requirement. No standalone detailed consumer “yeast brand list” found in liquor hub beyond general beer certification push.
Practical guidance: Rely on certified beer rather than evaluating yeast alone.
Sources: Beer Policy Update PDF.

OU

Public position: No dedicated public consumer yeast-for-spirits policy page located in this pass; fermentation is subsumed under certified beer/spirits production.
Practical guidance: No public standalone yeast policy found for liquor; use certified products.
Sources: Gap noted; see beer policy and alcoholic beverages category above.

cRc

Public position: Beer essays focus on flavors, lactose, shellfish additives, and shared equipment more than naming yeast brands. No dedicated public yeast-aids liquor policy page found.
Practical guidance: Prefer certified beer; don’t DIY-evaluate yeast.
Sources: Beer – Not What it Used To Be.

OK

Public position: Vodka essay: manufactured yeast and anti-foam agents used in vodka must be kosher-verified. Beer essays discuss fermentation generally but do not publish a consumer yeast-brand list.
Practical guidance: Rely on certified beer/spirits rather than DIY yeast evaluation.
Sources: Is Vodka Always Kosher?.

Kof-K

Public position: No public policy found.
Practical guidance: Gap.
Sources: Gap.

Dairy concerns in cream liqueurs / lactose beers

Star-K

Public position: Liqueurs (including cream types) require certification. Gin exclusion notes whey/lactose/dairy. Beer industry complexity includes diverse additives (foodservice hechsher rule). Historical articles note cream among liqueur flavorants.
Practical guidance: Cream liqueurs only with reliable hechsher and correct dairy marking; avoid milk stouts without certification.
Sources: Liquor listing; Kashrus in High Spirits.

OU

Public position: Dairy alcoholic products marked OU-D on certified lists. Passover/spirits articles discuss additives/colors/flavors needing control. No separate long consumer essay on Bailey’s-type creams found in this pass beyond certification labeling practice.
Practical guidance: Treat cream liqueurs as dairy-certified products only; check OU-D.
Sources: Historical Daf alcoholic list; product search / alerts for dairy designation.

cRc

Public position: Liqueurs require certification; Bailey’s Original listed as DAIRY (Star-D / Diageo Bailey’s Dublin). Beer: milk stouts and lactose beers need certification; lactose/dairy increasingly common.
Practical guidance: Cream = dairy hechsher; lactose beers = certified only.
Sources: Liqueur; Beer.

OK

Public position: Beer article notes dairy among flavored-beer additives. Vodka: whey-based vodka is dairy and usually not Cholov Yisroel. Tequila: glycerin (animal or vegetable) can be an unlabeled smoothness additive.
Practical guidance: Treat cream liqueurs / lactose beers / whey vodka as needing reliable (dairy-aware) certification.
Sources: Say L’Chaim – Beer; Is Vodka Always Kosher?; Kosher Tequila.

Kof-K

Public position: No public policy found on cream liqueurs / lactose beers.
Practical guidance: Gap.
Sources: Gap.

Certified vs uncertified brand lists / consumer lists

Star-K

Maintains structured category listings: which categories need certification vs acceptable without, plus brand-level approved/not approved notes (USA/Canada). Separate certified beer resources linked from beer policy.
Hub: https://www.star-k.org/resource/list/PCW0Z0DO/Beer,_Liquor_and_Liqueur

OU

Product search / app; alcoholic beverages company directory; dedicated beer reference list; periodic Daf lists (may be dated—verify live tools).
Hubs: https://oukosher.org/kosher-beer-list/ · https://oukosher.org/food-categories/alcoholic-beverages/

cRc

Most elaborate public liquor list by category (beer, bourbon, Scotch, vodka, wine, liqueur, tequila, mezcal, etc.), distinguishing Certified (preferred) vs Acceptable vs Not recommended. List stated accurate until a dated year-end (check page for current expiry; research saw “until December 31, 2026” language on hub). Quick Liquor Card PDF for pocket rules.
Hub: https://consumer.crckosher.org/liquor/ · Full list · Card

OK

Publishes topical alcohol essays and certifies many spirits (e.g. “over three dozen” tequila brands noted). No cRc-style public categorized liquor brand list located; use product search / label.
Hubs: https://www.ok.org/consumers/a-closer-look-alcohol-beverages/ · https://www.ok.org/product-search/

Kof-K

No public liquor list / alcohol consumer hub found on kof-k.org. Site offers general product/company search for certified items; no whiskey/beer approval card analogous to cRc/Star-K.
Hub: https://kof-k.org/ (services / product finders; no liquor policy page located)

Passover alcohol

Star-K

Wines/liqueurs/spirits/brandies need reliable year-round hechsher and special Passover certification printed on the bottle for Pesach. Passover guides list specific certified alcoholic beverages. Grain whiskey is chametz; ownership across Pesach (chametz she’avar alav haPesach) is a major year-round after-Pesach purchasing issue discussed in liquor articles.
Sources: Kashrus in High Spirits; Passover hub; Passover abridged guide alcohol sections.

OU

Dedicated Passover article on liquors: whiskey/Scotch chametz; bourbon kitniyos±chametz; vodka/gin/brandy may be Pesach-certifiable under controlled production; international bulk shipping/equipment kashering issues. Prefer OU-P / Passover search.
Sources: The Spirit of the Holiday; OU Passover.

cRc

Liquor essay stresses Jewish-owned whiskey companies and mechiras chametz; brands that skip sale are forbidden as chametz she’avar alav haPesach. Passover product guidance is via annual Pesach materials; year-round liquor list is not a Pesach heter.
Sources: Alcoholic Beverages essay; Pesach hub.

OK

Tequila: sensitive ingredients risk chametz or at least kitniyos ⇒ special Passover certification required regardless of tequila type. American whiskey article notes chametz she’avar alav haPesach for Jewish-owned chametz liquors year-round. Vodka essay: Polish potato vodka equipment shared with wheat ⇒ Passover vodka not currently feasible there.
Sources: Kosher Tequila; American Whiskey & Bourbon; Is Vodka Always Kosher?.

Kof-K

Public position: No public Passover alcohol policy found.
Sources: Gap.

Other liquor-specific policies found

Tequila / mezcal (Star-K, cRc, OK)

Star-K: 100% agave tequila (blanco/reposado/añejo/cristalino/gold) acceptable without certification when CRT-approved; flavored/mixto and wine-cask labels excluded; añejo/reposado/cristalino preferable with certification. Mezcal requires certification.
cRc: Liquor card: blanco tequila only if 100% agave (CRT-approved noted); reposado/añejo advisable with hechsher; mezcal/cristalino/rosa need hechsher.
OU: Certifies various tequilas/spirits; no blanket “all blanco OK” consumer policy located in this pass beyond certified catalog.
OK: Recommends tequila with reliable kosher certification year-round (undeclared wine/brandy barrels; caramel color; unlabeled oak extract/glycerin; transfer trucks as davar charif; cristalino can be wine-barrel aged while colorless). Certifies 30+ brands. Pesach: special certification for all types.
Kof-K: No public tequila/mezcal policy found.
Sources: Star-K liquor listing; cRc liquor card; OU alcoholic beverages category; OK Kosher Tequila.

Canadian whisky

Star-K: Requires approval (may contain wine).
cRc: Card notes Canadian whisky concerns (unflavored Royal Crown mentioned in card summaries; see live list).
OU: No separate Canadian-whisky consumer policy page found beyond general whiskey/sherry discussion.

Israeli beer & liquor

Star-K: Israeli beer and liquor require certification (additional Israel-production issues).
cRc: Israeli beer among exceptions requiring hashgacha; wine may involve shemitta.

Chametz she’avar alav haPesach brand alerts

Star-K, OU, cRc, and OK warn that some whiskey brands are problematic due to Jewish ownership without mechiras chametz. cRc and Star-K maintain explicit not-recommended notes; AKO alerts referenced by cRc; OK says the landscape changes and one should research / consult an expert (no fixed public OK blacklist in the American whiskey article). Kof-K: no public statement found.

Cross-agency comparison (sourced differences only)

Topic	Star-K	OU	cRc	OK	Kof-K
Beer (foodservice)	Hechsher required in certified establishments from 2026-01-01	Same coordinated policy	Consumer list still allows many unflavored beers without hechsher (with exceptions) but strongly recommends hechsher	Only recommends certified beer; only permits certified beer in OK foodservice/events (aligned with major agencies)	No public beer policy found
Unflavored Scotch/bourbon	OK without hechsher if no wine-cask label language	Unlabeled unflavored OK; sherry-cask–labeled banned in OU foodservice	OK unless label/site indicates wine finish; prefer certified	Straight/unflavored bourbon generally acceptable without hechsher; flavored/wine-cask need certification; Scotch: prefer certified or avoid wine-cask label terms	No public policy found
Wine-cask finishes	Exclude listed label terms	Exclude labeled sherry cask in foodservice; Rema leniency if not labeled	Exclude if label or website indicates wine finish	Detailed Scotch essay; avoid sherry/port/oloroso/Madeira/double-matured/finished/European oak wording	No public policy found
Cognac/brandy	Certification required	Certified products / Pesach article; no “uncertified OK” rule found	Certification required (all varieties)	No blanket uncertified-OK rule; grape-barrel / grape-alcohol concerns in other essays	No public policy found
Liqueurs / flavored	Certification required	Certification / OU-D when dairy	Certification required; cream often dairy	Flavored whiskey needs certification; vodka grape/whey concerns	No public policy found
Wine mevushal	Prefer mevushal with non-Jewish/non-shomer staff	Mevushal ~175°F (Rav Moshe); mifustar caution	Must be mevushal at cRc-certified events	Shomer Shabbos production; OK minimum 186.8°F (86°C); no fully closed pasteurization loop; mefustar noted	No public policy found
Tequila	100% agave CRT-approved often OK without (añejo etc. prefer certified); mezcal needs hechsher	Certifies; no blanket blanco heter found	Blanco 100% agave CRT; reposado/añejo prefer hechsher; mezcal needs	Recommends reliable certification year-round (additives/barrels/transfers)	No public policy found
Public list style	Category rules + brand notes (US/CA)	Beer list + product search + essays	Full categorized liquor list + pocket card + policy pages	Topical essays + product search; no cRc-style liquor card	No liquor list located

Research gaps / hard-to-fetch notes

cRc HTML pages often sit behind Cloudflare bot checks; content above for cRc is grounded in search-index excerpts, policy URL titles, and the public liquor-card PDF URL (PDF itself was not reliably text-extractable in this environment). Prefer live site confirmation.
OU beer policy page intermittently returned HTTP 500 during fetch; content confirmed via search snippets matching Star-K’s coordinated letter text.
Yeast / fermentation aids: thin public consumer detail at all three; subsumed under beer/spirits certification.
OK: Strong public alcohol essay set (beer, Scotch, American whiskey/bourbon, vodka, tequila, wine/mevushal). No cRc-style searchable full liquor brand list. Older “Kashrus of Beer” essay still online alongside newer “only recommend/permit certified beer” KosherConnect piece—prefer the Dec 2025 Say L’Chaim beer article for current foodservice practice.
Kof-K: Thin/silent on liquor—no public whiskey/beer/wine consumer list or policy pages located on kof-k.org in this pass; do not invent approvals from certification marketing pages.
Canadian whisky / Israeli beer (OK/Kof-K): no dedicated public OK or Kof-K consumer pages located beyond OK’s general whiskey/beer essays.