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?
{ 38 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.
Wanda to answer your question, yes sake is gluten free. It is rice derived and unless it is flavored with something that is not gluten free it is a safe choice, enjoy!
Not all Vodkas are gluten free. In fact most are made with grains. You really have to watch for the organic Vodkas that are made with corn or potatoes.
If anyone has a list or a couple of suggestions on gluten free vodka, this would be greatly appreciated. Reply to familybeckman@live.com Your time and efforts would be sooo appreciated. Thank You
I just don’t get it?!?!? Why is it that when ever I drink a “distilled” beverage such as Vodka, Bourbon or Scotch I get the same contamination reaction as if I ate Gluten – I lose my vision, can’t move the right side of my body, all severe neurological issues. Is it because the classification for “Gluten free” means that it has to be below a certain level. When I stick to Potato Vodka and other clearly safe drinks I am fine. It is frustrating and hoping some of you might have a little insight…
I can’t explain why distilled alcohols bother some people but obviously, if they do, just avoid them. Smirnoff vodkas are corn based and gf, according to the company. However, Grey Goose is made with wheat and is also said to be gluten-free, due to the distillation process. Almost all wine coolers do contain barley malt so they are off limits – same for things like Mike’s Hard Lemonade.Those are also made with barley malt. Shelley Case goes into detail about distilled alcohol and how they are gluten-free in her must have book (www.glutenfreediet.ca). I’m so glad I read her book shortly after my dx. I believe so much that was untrue until I got her book and got the real truth about what is and is not gluten-free. I still refer to the book today, over four years later.
There is an excellent Polish vodka named Luksusowa that is made from potatoes. I have celiac in the form of dermatitis herpeteformis and itch like crazy if I drink Smirnoff but the Polish vodka works just fine!!!!
from what i hav learned, being ‘glutoned’ in any capacity is still causing damage, and increasing risks of you know whats later in life, the more hits you have the more likeley. Even if symptons not registered by the brain or otherwise. genetically modified, distilled, or ‘removed’ are still made from what our bodies now read as poison, i personally am not prepared to risk distillation processes on my life span! Apple and pear zydur and vegan wine for i.
Whiskey is NOT gluten free!!!!!
Whisky (Scots English) or whiskey (Irish English) is a type of alcoholic beverage distilled from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including BARLEY, MALTED BARLEY,rYE, MALTED RYE, WHEAT, and maize (corn). Whisky is aged in wooden casks, made generally of white oak, except that in the United States corn whiskey need not be aged.
i don’t know much about corn whiskey though…
Hey all, just a couple of comments. First of all, vodka martinis are NOT gluten free unless they are one of a handful of vodkas which are made from potatoes or fruit. Secondly, isn’t Southern Comfort distilled from whiskey which is also NOT gluten free.
It says on here that vodka is gluten free, but alot of it is distilled from grains. Check your vodka labels. I know that Ciroc is gluten free
Is mad dog 20/20 (MD 20/20) gluten free?
I think some of you are overlooking what the author is saying and what the companies are saying. Because these alcohols are DISTILLED, that removes the gluten from the product. That does not mean the product was not made from wheat, rye, barley, etc.
If you have had a reaction to a product, don’t drink it again. Just as you wouldn’t eat french fries when they’ve given you problems before. It would be nice if the companies actually listed what the alcohol was made of on an ingredient’s label like is required on food or took the leap and included “gluten free” on the label. I have a feeling that’s a few years off though.
I wouldn’t try Md 20 20 with a 10 foot leash. Nitrates would kil me.
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