Alcohol During the 9 days
Question
Its the minhag not to drink wine during the 9 days (except for shabbos), what about brandy? Whiskey?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
As you correctly note, it is forbidden to drink wine or grape juice during the Nine Days, except for on Shabbat when it is permitted.
There is a widespread misconception that all alcohol is forbidden during the Nine Days. This is false. Only wine (and grape juice) are forbidden. It is permitted to drink beer, whiskey, and the like during the Nine Days. It is also permitted to use vinegar that may have been derived from wine.
Regarding your question on brandy, if the alcohol was derived only from pressed grapes without adding grape juice then it would be permitted, if however grape juice was added, then its problematic to drink during the nine days. One is not permitted to drink wine that was mixed into water and the like, even if the blessing over the drink will no longer be “hagafen” due to the dilution, as long as one can still taste the wine.
There is no ban on children below “the age of understanding” to drink grape juice. This is usually defined as a child who does not understands the idea of mourning over Jerusalem. Children who do understand the idea should not be given grape juice (or meat) during the Nine Days unless it is needed for their health. It is best to be stringent with children over three years old, not to feed them meat as this stringency is brought in the Mishnah Berurah.
As mentioned, there is no restriction on drinking such things on Shabbat. This is true even at the Third Meal, and even of one’s meal extends past sunset/dark – it remains permitted to consume meant and wine during this meal. It is also permitted to drink wine and eat meat and a “seudat mitzvah” – a meal that celebrates a mitzva like a bris or a siyum (a meal celebrating the completion of the study of a tractate of Talmud). However, there are many details about the seudat mitzva that are beyond the scope of this write up, such as a seudat mitzva during the week of Tisha B'av, who may join such a seuda, and more. As such, a rabbi must be consulted before attending or hosting a meaty seudat mitzva.
Source
OC 551 and commentaries
Azamroh Lishmecho #256