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If you are a Celiac, you might be wondering is liquor gluten-free? Do you enjoy cocktails or a blended fruity drink (my personal favorite)? I have been known to imbibe from time to time, especially when we are traveling!!! However, if you are a Celiac, it isn’t just that easy to order the latest new cocktail. You have to make sure the liquor is gluten-free and the mixers used are gluten-free.
So what’s a Celiac to do?? RESEARCH, lol. Isn’t that always the answer???
Is liquor gluten-free? – Which Ones?
All distilled liquors are “gluten-free”, but do you know which ones are distilled? Some of you may be liquor aficionados; however, I am not one.
The thing is, during the distillation process, it normally makes the liquor gluten-free – EVEN if the liquor was made from barley, wheat, or rye.
But….
Sometimes distilleries add flavorings and other goodies to their liquors to give them a unique flavor and those can contain gluten, uh oh. Yep, like all things, it truly depends…
The additives are added after the distilling process so that means even if the liquor was made from naturally gluten-free ingredients, it can be then tainted with gluten when the flavorings are added.
Also, the distillation process isn’t always perfect (nothing ever is). There could be trace amounts of gluten left which would not be good for you, especially if you are a sensitive Celiac.
Note: Distilled liquors can be certified gluten-free and Celiac safe, you just need to check. Here’s a complete list.
Well isn’t that just special, ugh! I know, it sucks, but all is not lost.
Is liquor gluten-free? What you can safely drink!
- sake
- brandy
- triple sec
- port
- sherry
- ouzo
- cognac
***I’m sure there are others, just make sure to do your research and read your labels
Is liquor gluten-free? – What about mixers??
Most are, but again (yes, I know I sound like a broken record), you still need to check. People are always coming up with new drink recipes and therefore new and unique mixers so there is the potential for there to be an issue.
Here is a list of a few gluten-free cocktail recipes. Which one do you want to try first?
Is liquor gluten-free? – What about at bars??
That depends. Why? Well, there is a potential for cross-contamination. The last time I asked for a mixed drink, the bartender used one of the handy dandy multi-dispensers that can contain whatever that specific bar uses. As I have never worked in a bar, I have no idea of what those are, but I would stay away. I’m sure most are benign; but, there is always the issue of cross-contamination.
Solution – order your drink neat and not from something that has to be dispensed out of a multi-dispenser.
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