While kosher-certified products have long been quietly present in the global spirits market, no competition has ever before been created specifically to evaluate, recognize, and elevate them. The Kosher Spirits Awards changes that – providing a trusted benchmark for consumers and a powerful new marketing opportunity for producers.
While wine has, for thousands of years, served as the “chosen beverage of the chosen people”, being served at the Shabbat table, Jewish holidays, lifecycle events, and more, spirits are often seen as another way of elevating these special opportunities in time to gather with friends, family, and community. As such commonly recurring beverages being sought out in the Jewish community, how can consumers, be able to differentiate what to purchase to share at such gatherings? The Kosher Spirits Awards is seeking to step in and help inform kosher-keeping consumers concerning their options.
Taking place for the first time in summer 2026, the competition will be chaired by Kentucky Colonel Maggie Kimberl, the Chair of the World Whiskies Awards and the Content Editor of American Whiskey Magazine. Kimberl is also an award-winning freelance spirits journalist focusing on whiskey culture in the United States, including serving as a contributor to Whisky Magazine. The awards will be judged in a professionally controlled, blind-tasting environment, using industry-standard scoring systems.
The Kosher Spirits Awards will be featured on JewishDrinking.com during the summer and will also be ready to be featured leading into the High Holiday season, when Jews across the world get ready to celebrate at such festive gatherings, such as Rosh HaShanah, Sukkot, and Simḥas Torah, providing extra visibility for curious kosher consumers.
Judging & Timeline
Submissions Open: February 2, 2026
Submissions Deadline: May 1, 2026
Winners announced: June 2026
For submissions, please fill out the submissions form.
For media requests, sponsorship opportunities, or entry information, contact: Rabbi Drew Kaplan at Host@JewishDrinking.com