Over 100 wines and 75 spirits will be poured at Ahavath Torah Sisterhood’s Kosher Wine and Whiskey Festival, which will be held Motzei Shabbat, February 13, at 8:30 pm. The entire community is invited to try a variety of unique, high end wines and spirits not available anywhere else.

A comprehensive sale list with aggressive discounts will be offered for those wishing to buy before Purim. There will also be a table list for those attending the event to highlight what is noteworthy at each table. Wine Country’s owner, Scott Maybaum, told The Jewish Link that he particularly enjoys curating wine and spirits events because their nature enables customers and the company representatives to interact, to give and hear feedback, and everyone present gets to taste, compare and learn the stories of the products. He added that no one is ever obligated to buy anything, and he learns a lot about what is interesting to customers at such events. “It helps establish common ground and creates new interest in different kinds of products,” he said.

Maybaum explained that craft spirits in particular are increasing in quality and are presenting unique tasting opportunities for kosher consumers. “These are often small production, small batches and items with real stories behind them,” he said. While The Jewish Link will feature some of the event’s special wine offerings next week, this week we feature several of the bourbons and spirits that will be offered for tasting.

For example, Koval’s bourbon whiskey is organic and certified kosher by the Orthodox Union, made by Robert and Sonat Birnecker, who are based in Chicago. Robert was recently named by Crain’s Chicago Business Journal as one of their “40 Under 40.” Their distillery is the first legal one opened since the 1800s and two members of the executive team are coming to the tasting, bringing with them some signed bottles of their single-barrel bourbon whiskey. While it is a Jewish-owned company and the owners particularly wanted kashruth designations, bourbon, which is casked in new oak, is considered by most sources to be inherently kosher.

Also at the event will be Clyde May’s bourbon whiskey, which is a unique “Alabama-style” bourbon that Maybaum particularly enjoys. “I am not sure whether it’s their mash bill or their oak, but it has a very interesting finish that I happen to like a lot.” The tasting will feature some barrel samples of the 110-proof bourbon, in addition to the company’s 86-proof bottle offering. A few numbered bottles of the 110-proof will be available in the store for those who are interested.

Maybaum added that Widow Jane is another bourbon that has been “on fire for the last two years.” He said that the bourbon is on the menu at all the trendier cocktail menus and local and New York restaurants and stores, and is a very high quality spirit to try.

For those who only love single malt scotch, Glencadam will be offering barrel samples of their 25-year aged scotch, which hasn’t yet been released. “They release small batches in limited supply. It will retail between $400 and $500 a bottle, so this is really something to taste,” Maybaum said.

Another unique item available at the tasting will be a brand of Japanese whisky (spelled throughout the industry in Japan without the ‘e’), Nikka, that is very hot right now and has spent the last couple of years winning a number of international awards. Nikka’s Coffey Grain and Taketsuru whiskys respectively refer to the shape of the still and the name of “the father” of Japanese whisky. The original company owner, Masataka Taketsuru, was a sake brewer who went to Scotland in 1918 to study the art of making whiskey. He returned home with a Scottish wife and expert technique learned at the University of Glasgow and apprenticeships from distilleries all over Scotland. Nikka is still owned by the same family, originally created by Taketsuru’s son Nikka, who was born in 1934. The Pure Malt 17 Year Old was awarded 2015 World’s Best Blended Malt Whiskey at the World Whiskies Awards.

Also at the tasting will be wines by Yardin, Recanati, Tura, Dalton, Har Bracha, Tishbi and many wines from The River and Royal Wine Company. Also tasting for the first time locally will be a line of mevushal French wines that are new, different and special, that will be poured by a local brand ambassador.

Visit http://www.ahavathtorah.org/sisterhoodevents or email [email protected] to sign up for the February 13 event. The price is $25 per person or $45 per couple, in advance. Prices at the door will be slightly higher.

By Elizabeth Kratz