Gluten-Free Alcohol
All distilled beverages, a.k.a. spirits, are gluten free. Distilled beverages with added flavoring are not necessarily gluten free, but several type of American schnapps are. If the distilled beverage has flavoring, please check before drinking. Below is our list of definitely gluten free alcohol. As you can see, there’s a very large variety that you can drink. Cheers!
- Absinthe
- Armagnac (French brandy)
- Baiju
- Beer (Bard’s Beer, Green’s, New Grist, O’Brien’s, La Messagère, Redbridge, Toleration)
- Bourbon
- Brandy
- Calvados
- Champagne (Gossett, Jacquat, Hamm, Korbel, Moet & Chandon)
- Cider (Ace Cider, Blackthorn, Blue Mountain, Cider Jack, Fox Barrel, Newton’s Folly, Original Sin, Spire Mountain, Woodchuck Granny Smith, and several others)
- Cognac
- Frangelico
- Fruit brandy
- Gin
- Grand Marnier
- Grappa
- Grenadine
- Jägermeister
- Kahlua
- Kirschwasser
- Margarita (the traditional blend of tequila, triple sec, salt, and lime)
- Martini (the traditional blend of gin and vermouth) or Vodka Martini
- Mead
- Ouzo
- Pisco
- Port Wine
- Rum
- Sherry
- Southern Comfort
- Tequila
- Triple Sec
- Vermouth
- Vodka
- Whisky
- Wine
For questions about specific products, check out Gluten Free Drinks —Mike wrote letters to several companies and posted their answers on his website.
When it comes to gluten free alcohol, what’s your preference?
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Bailey’s Irish cream is not gluten free. the irish whiskey they use has gluten in it accordint to the website. St brendans irish creme is GF though
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for the catch. Just to be safe, we’ve pulled Bailey’s from the list. But, if you read their comment closely they talk about GF status *before* distillation. The status *after* distillation is what’s really relevant (and it’s pretty well established that gluten proteins no longer exist after distillation. That said, I don’t think it’s wise to second guess the info companies report. If they report it has gluten, that’s what I’ll base my decisions on. There are so many alcohols out there that I’m happy to skip the Bailey’s and drink one from a company willing to give me more useful information.
For what it’s worth, it looks like Bailey’s used to report they were gluten free. Check out this link: http://www.glutenfreedrinks.com/AlcoholBeverages_Baileys.htm
Best,
Ross
I did not know that vermouth, port wine and the other things on that list are not gluten free. That is what you are saying, right?
No, the alchohol on the list IS gluten-free.
I thought Tequilla was gluten free. In the CSA Gluten Free listing agave is a safe ingredient.
I’m a new Celiac Sprue and I’m confused.
Tequila…does it matter if dark or light?
I’m sorry but bourbon is not gluten free. Most is made with a combination of corn and wheat in the mash. Beware.
What are names of gluten-free sherries?
Are the following gluten-free:
Danzka Vodka
Doornkatt German Snapps
Akvavit (Aquavit)
Aalborg Akvavit
Linie Aquavit
Jokaj wine
Botrytis wine
Isreal wines and liquor products
I meant to spell Tokaj wine.
What are some gluten-free ports?
Is there a gluten-free bourbon? Scotch? Irish Whisky?
I have been on a gluten-free diet for 23 yrs and was always told that only potato vodka was gluten-free. A change?
The website listed above (www.glutenfreedrinks.com) list a lot of gluten-free alcohol, including Jack Daniels Bourbon. The science proving that the distillation process removes gluten is a few years old now. Both Dr. Fasano, Dr. Green, Shelley Case and every other celiac expert around the world agrees on the issue. It’s unfortunate that people did without their favorite beverages when they were actually gluten-free for so long.
I’ve not found a tequila to contain gluten to date but that doens’t mean one doesn’t exist. Refer to http://www.glutenfreedrinks.com or purchase the GF Alcohol Guide from http://www.clanthompson.com for product information.
I make the world’s greatest cookies which are gluten-free, virtually sodium free and mostly organic. I can’t have a website due to my home certification status. I’d like to use single malt scotch in my cookies but was warned that the gluten-free status can vary from batch to batch of scotch.. Is this true? Since Irish Whiskey is triple distilled is it gluten-free? Also Europeans use wheat for caramel coloring making their flavored licquors not gluten-free.
Triple distilled whiskey would be considered gluten-free. Caramel coloring in some countries can contain gluten. It is considered gluten-free in the U.S., since manufacturers here make caramel with corn. Some alcohols made in the U.S. have flavors added after the distillation process that renders the product gluten-free, but not those with added caramel.
So is Bourbon Gluten Free or not? I keep seeing conflicting information.
Bourbon should be distilled and if so, it is considered gluten-free. The conflicting info you’re finding it due to people repeating old outdated, untrue information. I’ve not heard of Bourbon with flavors added but that would be the only way gluten could be added back into it.
To check on specific brands, you might look up http://www.glutenfreedrinks.com.
Cheaper alcohols are often grain alcohol flavored to mimic the one desired. Although all of these may have varieties that ARE gluten free, there will likely be many varieties that are NOT gluten free.
I’d have to refer again to the http://www.glutenfreedrinks.com website for info on specific brands. Additionally, the booklet about gluten-free alcohol from http://www.clanthompson.com is an excellent resource on this topic.
I’m unclear on commercial wines – I’ve seen one site that said wines containing sulfites (all commercially-produced wine!) were off-limits to celiacs. Is this accurate?
Thanks.
Is Jameson’s Irish Whiskey or Seagrams 7 gluten free?
I’ve never heard of a problem with wine not being gluten free, and know many gluten free people who regularly enjoy wine. Tekla, could you point us to the site where you got that info?
I can tell you with absolute certainty that there is some kind of gluten in Bailey’s Irish Cream. I’ve had reactions to it myself. I switched to St. Brendan’s Irish Cream, which tastes the same, is cheaper, and the company can guarantee me that it *is* gluten-free.
As for wine, some people have reported reactions to some Australian wines. It’s been reported that they are treated with hydrolyzed wheat gluten. As a result, I stay away from Australian wines. Here is a website where it is discussed:
http://www.free-from.com/blog/?p=312
Some sherries are reportedly coloured with caramel colouring derived from wheat, so they should always be checked before consumption.
Also, it should be noted that wine coolers are NOT gluten-free.
Can anyone please suggest a brand of marsala which is gluten free. I have a recipe book with chicken and veal marsala but I have been unable to find a marsala which is gluten free.
I’ve not heard of a marsala wine that contains gluten. Maybe you can check on http://www.glutenfreedrinks.com and see if they list any marsalas on the site. The alcohol products that are gluten-free will not be labeled that way except for beer and ciders that are made for our market.
I’ve heard that all sakes are gluten-free. Is that true? Does it depend on the brand? I read once that TY KU Sake is gluten-free but I’ve been too afraid to add sake to my diet to try any of the them.