Gluten-Free ALCOHOL
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For many people, the weekend means visiting family, catching up on chores, laundry… and grabbing drinks with friends. As we enter into the summer BBQ, tailgate, outdoor bar season, drinking becomes a bittt more frequent - but for those of us who are gluten-free, so does the confusion. Gluten-free alcohol is a confusing topic, and often leaves you in a Google hole with contradicting answers.
Gluten Free Guide: Alcohol
How do I know what I can order?
Some people say that all liquor is safe, even if it’s made from gluten-containing grains. This may be fine for people who are gluten intolerant, however I do not follow this rule. As someone with celiac disease who is extremely sensitive and reactive to gluten, it’s not a risk worth taking, as it is possible to have a reaction from alcohol, even when distilled. This is because, although liquor is distilled to remove the gluten-containing grains, they still contain traces of wheat/rye/barley… and for someone with celiac, a trace of gluten is not safe. There are plenty of gluten-free options to choose from, I promise there is no need to drink alcohol distilled from gluten!
If you’ve been diagnosed with celiac for five minutes or 50 years, it’s likely a thought has come into your head: is this alcohol gluten-free? If you’ve done any research, you’ve probably found inconclusive answers that don’t leave you feeling confident in ordering your next drink. Let’s change that for summer 2019, time to finally understand what you can drink this weekend!
(in alphabetical order, so you can find your answer really quick while you’re waiting to order your next drink...)
What is it? Beer
Can you have it? NOPE, beer is typically made from wheat or barley.
Alternatives: Glutenberg (blanche); Ghostfish Brewing Company (Grapefruit IPA)
What is it? Cider
Can you have it? Yes!
Brands to Try: Angry Orchard; Stella Artois Cidre; Crispin Cider Co
What is it? Gin
Can you have it? No
Alternatives: Cold River Gin, made from potatoes!
What is it? Rum
Can you have it? Yes! Rum is not made from gluten.
Watch out for: Spiced or flavored rums. Anything added leads to a possibility of gluten being present.
My favorites: Gosling’s Black Seal Rum; Bacardi
My favorite drinks: Mojito; Rum Swizzle (when in Bermuda!); Mai Tai
What is it? Wine
Can you have it? Yes
Watch out for: Wine coolers! Many brands use malt, or malt barley, which contain gluten and are unsafe for people with celiac disease.
My favorites: Sauvignon Blanc (Oyster Bay!); Prosecco (…Aperol Spritz!); Mimosa
What is it? Whiskey
Can you have it? No.
Alternatives: Whiskey made from sorghum or corn.
Brand to Try: Queen Jennie Whiskey
What is it? Tequila
Can you have it? Yes!
Watch out for: Cheap tequilas! Only drink 100% agave. Usually even cheap tequilas are gluten-free, however it can be common to use cheap tequila in mixed drinks like margaritas.
My favorite drinks: Margarita (verify the ingredients or mix are gluten free!); Paloma
What is it? Vodka
Can you have it? Sometimes
Safe brands, stick to unflavored: Tito’s; Ciroc (also gluten-free: red berry, coconut, or peach); Deep Eddy; Smirnoff; Cold River Vodka (made from potatoes, you can have their blueberry vodka as well!)
My favorite drinks: Titos and cranberry; Bellini
I hope my guide to gluten-free alcohol gives you more confidence ordering your drinks this weekend and all summer. If you found this post helpful, share it!
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