The story on Gluten-Free Vodka is as mixed up as a 21-year old's birthday shots. Many vodkas are distilled from grains that contain gluten, but experts (and science) say that the gluten is removed during the distillation process.
I'll provide you with the info, you make the decisions for your health. And your cocktails.
- Updated May 2021 -
Here's a little more info from folks who know -
The U.S. FDA and TTB have ruled that distilled spirits with no additives (like flavors, so check your root beer-flavored vodka) are 100% safe, because the gluten protein is left behind in the distillation process.
The European Food Safety Authority considers distilled alcohol "unlikely to cause a severe reaction" in those with grain allergies and the Canadian Celiac Association allows distilled alcoholic beverages for people with Celiac even if they're made with wheat, rye, or barley, since "the distillation process should remove the reaction-causing proteins".
Beyond Celiac says: "pure, distilled liquor, even if made from wheat, barley, or rye, is considered gluten-free. Most liquors are safe for people with celiac disease because of the distillation process." However, the Celiac Sprue Foundation (now Celiac Disease Foundation) previously recommended no hard liquor from grains containing gluten, at least during the early phases of a gluten-free diet.
So, most of the experts say your Vodka Collins is fine no matter what, some advise waiting a few months after going gluten-free. I say: check the Collins mix to make sure it's gluten-free too.
Here's a list of popular Vodkas & what they're distilled from:
- Wheat: Stolichnaya/Stoli (blend), Grey Goose, Ketel One, Snow Queen, Pearl, Van Gogh (blend), La Chance, Vox, Polar Ice, Absolut, Trump, X-Rated (blend), Purity (blend), Three Olives (blend)
- Barley: Finlandia, Koskenkorva
- Rye: Belvedere
- Corn: Smirnoff, SF Vodka "Baker Beach", Tito's (Tito's is certified GF)
- Potato: Chopin, Teton Glacier, Monopolowa, Vikingfjord, Luksosowa, Blue Ice
- Grape: Cîroc, Bombora, DiVine, SF Vodka "China Beach"
For the record, I'm with P.Diddy. I drink Ciroc at home and where I can find it, and wine the rest of the time. That's what I use to mix up my pomegranate martinis.
Bottoms up!
KC
About Gluten in other alcoholic beverages:
Learn more about gluten in alcohol here.
Wine is Gluten-Free, as are Cognac & Grappa. They're all made from grapes. If you're concerned about contamination from barrel paste (which I am NOT AT ALL concerned about for a number of reasons) then choose wines that are stainless-steel fermented or are not aged in new barrels.
Wine Coolers, Fruit Flavored Wines & other wine-based drinks that aren't 100% wine can contain barley malt, colors & flavorings.
Gluten-Free Vodka Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes. Plain vodka is gluten-free, even if it is made from grain that contain gluten, because the gluten protein is left behind in the distillation process. Flavored vodkas or vodka drinks may have gluten added, and should be reviewed.
Yes, plain vodka is safe for people with Celiac Disease, unless they have additional allergies or issues.
Yes. Ciroc is made from grapes, and Tito's is made from corn and certified gluten-free. All plain vodka is free from gluten because the gluten protein is left behind in the distillation process. Flavored vodka from Ciroc is gluten-free.
Yes. All plain vodka is gluten-free, so although Grey Goose is made from wheat, the distilling process eliminates the gluten. Â
Yes. All plain vodka is gluten-free, so even though Absolut is made from wheat, the distilling process eliminates the gluten in the plain Absolut vodka. Â
Absolut flavored vodkas (such as Absolut Citron) should be gluten-free, although Absolut states: "it is impossible for us to fully guarantee that flavored ingredients haven't come in contact with any trace of allergens during the suppliers' production processes."
Jeanie says
Thank you!
Bree says
Its bullshit. I read all about how the distillation takes out the gluten then i drank some and got sick af. Theres a ton of people who get really sick from grain alcohol and yet this bs still gets shared.
Kristina @ spabettie says
this is great information... I know there are times when I have a cocktail that is not gf or wf and I get congested.
R.O'Quinn says
Interestingly, most winemakers (both home and commercial) use something in the fermentation process called "yeast nutrients". Yeast nutrients nearly always contain barley. Still (and I'm very sensitive and drink a lot of wine) I've never had a reaction drinking wine. One presumes that the yeast consumes the barley completely during fermentation, and leaves no gluten residue.
Administrator says
Hey Guys - we've had a few questions about my opinion on wine, so here's my explaination:
Barrel paste VERY rarely contains wheat anymore - that was a mostly European practice. (I can't say never, because some obscure story will pop up, but I want to.) Further, the paste rarely touched the wine, and in the case that it did, the extended fermentation period would kill all traces of the gluten protein.
So - I'm not worried about it, and I don't think you should be either. If you want to be super-safe, drink domestic wines.
KC @ G-Free Foodie
Pam McGuffey says
Does anyone know about Vermont Gold Vodka - made from maple sap?
KK says
Cold River Vodka from Maine is gluten free and good 🙂
karamel says
Cold River & Tito Vodkas...both gluten free and great flavor with a little soda and lime!
Andi says
Prairie Organic Vodka made by RJ Phillips is made from corn. Gluten free, delicious, and for the "green" drinker, it is low waste and organic.
Chari says
Boomerang vodka is very good and made from grapes!
lr says
Ceren, local vodka made in Colorado, is gluten free, made from sugar cane (?the famous Colorado sugar beet?) and is great! Too bad, gluten free vodka is not everywhere....
Rose says
Learn something new everyday. I thought Grey Goose was not distilled from wheat or gluten. I have been drinking Grey Goose sodas for years with no problem! Go figure...
kim says
Tito's vodka is great!! it says on the bottle "gluten free" and it is a smooth vodka that has been distilled 6 times.....
Don says
Don't forget about our little Ocean Vodka brand! We are family owned, handcrafted on the island of Maui, 100% organic AND 100% Gluten Free. We are the only vodka in the world made from organic sugar cane, and the only spirit in the world made with Hawaiian deep sea mineral water from 3000 feet below the Big Island. Needless to say, the high mineral content of our vodka makes incredible cocktails! We are only sold in 7 states now, mostly on the west coast, but we going national in the next few months. Cheers!
J. N. says
Great post. I'm still learning about this gluten free life. Thanks for doing the hard work.
Cathey says
Found out the hard way several weeks ago, thought I was CC from gluten w/ the food. Thankful I had the list last week @ an affair. Now it's Tito's or LIV (Long Island Vodka - comes flavored too). Thanks for the article.
Tiffany Ennis says
I can only have tito's (corn), Chopin (potato) and Ciroc (grapes). Most pinot grigio and Sauvignon Blancs are made in steel barrels. I do not drink anything without calling the company and finding out first. I have gotten very ill from Belvedere (rye)!
Adam says
I recommend trying 3 vodka. It's a soy vodka and is fantastic. It's a clear bottle with a red 3 on it. Hard to find but great when you do.
WordMD says
As a scientist who has Celiac's, I can tell you the distillation process alone does not allow gluten into the final product. If they add malt afterwards, that's a different story. However, scientifically, gluten is non-volatile compared to ethanol that IS volatile; therefore ethanol is collected as the final product. Think about it like vaporization/condensation. If you boil sea or sand water with a slanted top lid that collects the condensation, the water collected will NOT have salt or sand bc they cannot vaporize like water can. Same thing with ethanol, it will vaporize and be distilled but gluten is too heavy of a molecule to vaporize. So if the alcohol is purely distilled, regardless of the source, it should not contain gluten (unless other things are added after distillation).
kdjones says
All i know is.. if i drink anything w/ grain, distilled or not i pay the next day.. NON-Grain, i'm fine! long as i don't get dehydratingly drunk..hehe
Alli says
WordMD, while that may be true, we have had reactions here from grain vodkas (Grey Goose). Whether its an issue of cross-contamination as I have heard (distilled or bottled in the same facility that processes the grain) or something else, some people are sensitive for some reason.
This reaction is actually the way I found out Grey Goose was made with wheat! I assumed vodka must certainly be gluten free. Oy.
Eric says
I wish I woulda saw this article before last night...I drank Stoli Blue and club. I'm paying for it this morning. I realised my allergy a month ago and started the gluten free diet at that time.
Tara says
Another great Gluten Free vodka is Opulent. Not only is it gluten free, but it's made from American corn, which is a double bonus.
Cristinmeow says
Actually, American corn, whether it be organic or not, is pretty much genetically modified....not so good.
jeanne says
If its organic corn, it should be non-gmo.
Nicole says
I have had three bad reactions to Ketel One recently, and I have been GF for 4 years. I have tried Ciroc and loved it. No more vodka that is made from grains for me!
Doug says
I thought perhaps I should let you all know that The Gluten Intolerance Group of North America has certified only ONE distilled spirit as truly Gluten Free. Yes only one !!
Cayman Blue Vodka from the Dominican Republic, made from Sugar Cane and Distilled 6 times. And there is no compromise on smoothness, flavour or finish. Try it, you will like it. ( oh yes, it is also very reasonably priced )
Administrator says
Thanks Doug - it's cool that you've gotten certified by GIG!
the G-Free Foodie crew
Mike says
When the GIG certifies something as gluten free is there any consideration of whether or not the source is a GMO product or not? I am shooting for a gluten free. non GMO diet.
sheryl says
absolute ALWAYS gives me a headache and intestinal pain. vikingfjord does not....neither does red wine
.....but, oh how I missy ipa!!
Karen says
I have been gluten free for 6 months. Last night at dinner I had a lovely gluten free meal and two kettle one martinis. This morning while dealing with that old familiar bad celiac stomach I found this site! Guess I'll be sticking with wine like I usually do! Thanks for the info!
April says
I love Ciroc vodka!
Controversy or not concerning hard alcohol...the brands made with grain still give me gluten symptoms. I stick to non-grain alcohol only. 🙂
I also just learned that many wineries seal their wine casks with wheat paste. I always wondered why some gave me gluten symptoms and some didn't. I've recently come to the realization that none of the wines made in Germany give me symptoms.
~ April
Mar says
Does anyone know if Stoli Vodka is GF? Or what it's derived from??
Aletha says
Martinis are my favorite adult beverage outside wine. Very helpful article!
Judy says
I am gluten free, but I find the gluten free alcohol is very expensive. Almost twice or three times what I pay for vodka. I don't buy the cheap vodka, but I don't want to pay a huge price either.
Sarajay says
I stick to Smirnoff it's affordable and made from corn. It's widely available and has never given me a problem. I love very expensive vodkas but I'm afraid to try them!
dena says
What grains are in White Eagle Vodka? Thank you
joe shipley says
Tito's vodka is made from corn. I drink a lot of it and am always perfect the next morning. I just had skyy last night and I feel terrible right now. Not worth it.
Karen Barteaux says
i just bought a bottle of Grey Goose, but see wheat on the label of ingredients...so, guess i will take it back for refund tomorrow...am i being overly cautious?
G-Free Foodie says
It really depends on your preference, Karen. I prefer to drink distilled spirits from GF grains if I can. KC
lisa says
Is Amsterdam vodka clean