At the Marriott Marquis in Times Square New York last week, at the 11th annual WhiskyFest, the world’s distillers assembled to serve single malt scotches (i.e. actually 230 different whiskeys and scores of rums, vodkas, gins, brandies and beers) to enthusiastic Orthodox Jewish men and others paying $120-$160 for admission. The Jewish Week has brought us the details of this urgent breaking story of international significance, especially this:...Since its inception in 1997, WhiskyFest has always attracted a sizable number of Orthodox Jews, and the festival has offered a kosher meal plan since 1999. At this year’s WhiskyFest, approximately 10 to 15 percent of the male attendees were wearing yarmulkes or black fedoras, and during the course of the evening there were at least three impromptu Maariv minyanim...So apparently it is legal to drink and daven, or did the rabbi bring a breathalyzer?
It is interesting that single malt has developed such a following in the Orthodox community. Almost all single malt whisky (Scotch or Irish) is aged in casks which have previously been used for wine (Port, Madeira, etc.) of a non-kosher nature. A wooden vessel cannot be cashered. It's somewhat like using a utensil that previously was used for treif.
ReplyDeleteThe only explanation I can come up with is what I call the Homer Simpson t'shuvah: "Because it's so gooooooooooood".