Herein follows today’s press release regarding the 2026 Kosher Spirits Awards:
Kosher Spirits Awards Launching as the World’s First Dedicated Competition for Kosher-Certified Distilled Spirits
A groundbreaking new competition celebrates excellence, transparency, and untapped market potential in the global spirits industry
[Cincinnati, Ohio] — [February 11, 2026] — Jewish Drinking today announced the launch of the Kosher Spirits Awards (KSA), the world’s first and only international spirits competition devoted exclusively to kosher-certified distilled spirits and spirit-based ready-to-drink beverages.
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.
Chaired by Kentucky Colonel Maggie Kimberl, the Bourbon Women Association’s Spirits Journalist of the Year for 2024, the Kosher Spirits Awards will be judged in a professionally controlled, blind-tasting environment, using industry-standard scoring systems.
“I’ve written extensively about Kosher whiskey and cocktails, and I’ve been asked numerous times for Kosher spirits recommendations,” said Kimberl. “I’m pleased that Jewish Drinking is doing the important work of scoring Kosher-certified spirits, because there’s definitely great interest among the Jewish community. As a gentile, I’m honored to be entrusted as the Chair of Judges for this first-of-its-kind Kosher spirits competition!”
A New Standard for a Growing Market
The global kosher food market is valued at over $25 billion, driven not only by Jewish consumers, but also by people seeking products associated with higher standards of oversight, transparency, and ingredient control. Spirits producers – from bourbon and tequila to gin, rum, and RTD cocktails – have increasingly pursued kosher certification, but until now, there has been no dedicated platform to showcase and differentiate those products.
The Kosher Spirits Awards will:
- Accept entries only from currently kosher-certified brands
- Verify certification status through recognized kosher agencies
- Conduct blind tasting by a panel of spirits professionals and kosher-lifestyle experts
- Award medals and category honors across whiskey, agave spirits, vodka, gin, rum, brandy, and spirits-based RTDs
Empowering Consumers, Elevating Brands
For kosher-keeping consumers, the awards offer a simple, trustworthy way to identify top-quality spirits without navigating complicated certification details. For brands and distillers, the competition opens the door to a deeply loyal and often under-served market.
“I cannot begin to tell you how many times I field questions from kosher-observant Jews asking about spirits,” said Rabbi Drew Kaplan, the founder and director of Jewish Drinking. “Whether they are trying to find out which products are kosher-certified or what the quality is, there are a lot of consumers out there who are interested in this information.”
Judging & Timeline
- Submissions Open: February 11, 2026
- Submissions Due: May 1, 2026
- Winners announced: June 2026
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About Jewish Drinking
Founded in September 2019, Jewish Drinking has published resources exploring the role of beverages in Jewish life, ritual, history, and community. In addition to such resources, Jewish Drinking has also published over 180 episodes of its well-received podcast, The Jewish Drinking Show. Through programming, scholarship, and public engagement, Jewish Drinking helps people understand how drinks – from wine to spirits and beyond – connect to Jewish identity, tradition, and celebration.
Media & Industry Inquiries
For media requests, sponsorship opportunities, or entry information, contact:
Rabbi Drew Kaplan
Host@JewishDrinking.com
562-400-5627
JewishDrinking.com/KSA
