Is Liquor Gluten Free?

Is Liquor Gluten-Free?

Is your favorite drink safe or suspicious?

The simple answer to the question “Is liquor gluten-free” is yes*. This article is going to walk through the asterisk on that answer and break down what to watch out for when going for an alcoholic beverage. 

According to the National Celiac Association, “Distilled spirits are considered to be free of gluten protein even if the starting material for the alcohol is wheat, barley, or rye.” This is because the alcohol is much more volatile than the other components of the fermented mash that is being distilled, allowing for a minimal amount of protein in the product. With that said, that does not mean all alcoholic beverages made from distilled spirits are gluten-free. 

Here’s where the asterisk comes in: while the liquor itself may be gluten-free after the distillation, some manufacturers will then process the distilled spirit with add-ons that are not gluten-free.

For additional flavor, malted barley is sometimes added after the distillation process or the liquid may be aged in gluten-contaminated barrels. The best way to avoid this is to simply avoid ‘flavored’ spirits and instead opt for the original liquors.

Another example is caramel coloring added to deepen the color of the liquor. While not all caramel coloring contains gluten, if picking a spirit by visual observation alone, look for options that are clear. According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau, all flavoring or coloring additives must be declared on the label. If you have access to the bottle, these can be avoided, though this can be difficult when having a drink out. 

Some whiskeys are aged in barrels previously used to flavor beers.

Another area for potential gluten ingestion is through drink mixers. While straight liquor is “safer”, it isn’t always what you’re looking for. While lots of mixers are gluten-free, there are many options that are not. One of the most common offenders we have seen is bloody mary mix, which sometimes contains soy sauce. There are also margarita, piña colada, sweet and sour, and even mojito mixes that aren’t gluten-free. Between checking ingredient lists and using the raw ingredients rather than mixes, avoiding these is not too difficult when making drinks from home. 

When enjoying a liquor-based beverage at a bar or restaurant, the best recommendation we can give you is to go in with a plan. Do some research on the liquors and brands of drink mixers you enjoy that you know to be gluten-free. Advocate for yourself, and rather than assuming that they’re using a gluten-free mixture or liquor - ask. If the server is unfamiliar with ingredients that contain gluten, don’t be afraid to ask to see the bottle or ingredient list. 

So whether you’re having a drink in or a drink out, be aware that though pure distilled spirits are considered to be gluten-free, there are additives that can make it unsafe for someone with a gluten intolerance. Pure distilled spirits include vodka, tequila, gin, rum, whiskey, and your other favorite liquors. Certified gluten-free liquors can be found on the GFCO website (see What Does Certified Gluten-Free Really Mean?).