Buffalo Trace Kosher Straight Rye
94 proof (47% ABV) | 750mL | 7 years old | Certified kosher (cRc) — Buffalo Trace Kosher Straight Rye is the only straight rye whiskey in Buffalo Trace's kosher program: a 7-year-old rye aged in specially designated new kosher oak barrels and certified by the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc).
Buffalo Trace launched its kosher whiskey program in 2010 with the cRc, releasing the first expressions in 2020. To satisfy kosher law, the barrels are sold to a non-Jewish executive in a cRc-witnessed ceremony, the bottling lines are flushed and fully cleaned before bottling, and the whiskey is released annually after Passover. Note: it is certified kosher, but not kosher for Passover. Made with the same rye grains as Buffalo Trace's other straight ryes from America's oldest continuously operating distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky — "celebrating the spice of rye, with hints of citrus and clove." Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting notes
Per the distillery: rye spice at the fore with hints of citrus and clove, built on seven years in new kosher oak — vanilla and toasted oak underneath, finishing warm and spicy.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- The only straight rye of Buffalo Trace's three kosher expressions
- 7 years old, 94 proof — aged in designated kosher barrels
- Chicago Rabbinical Council certified
- An annual limited release — kosher-keeping whiskey lovers' essential bottle
How to serve it
Neat or in a Manhattan — 94 proof and real rye spice make it a superb cocktail whiskey, and a meaningful Seder-adjacent pour (after Passover).
Frequently asked questions
Is Buffalo Trace Kosher Rye actually kosher?
Yes — certified by the Chicago Rabbinical Council. The barrels are sold in a cRc-witnessed ceremony and bottling lines are fully cleaned. It is kosher, but not kosher for Passover.
How is it different from the Kosher Wheat and Rye Recipe bourbons?
This is the only straight rye of the three — the "Kosher Rye Recipe" and "Kosher Wheat Recipe" are bourbons. All three are 94 proof, 7 years old, and cRc-certified.