07.07.2011 05.Tammus, 5771
Gute Getränke:
Without doubt, whiskey has become the Jewish alcoholic beverage of choice.
The Forward newspaper commented “there were more kippas than kilts” at Whiskey Fest 2010. It is a constant surprise how many whiskey mavens there are within the Jewish community.
What is the Jewish fascination with whiskey? Maybe, like Chinese food, with which American Jews are said to have a love affair, whiskey has become another sort of “safe treyf.” Both Chinese food and whiskey were considered exotic, sophisticated and almost un-Jewish! Lenny Bruce considered it another way; whiskey was Jewish and beer was goyish! I suppose the connection started because Jews were more comfortable drinking whiskey compared to cognacs or brandies, which had to be certified as kosher. The best whiskeys could therefore be enjoyed without worrying about kashrut. What began as an aspirational status symbol, became the playing field for a raft of new connoisseurs….