Gluten-Free Alcohol: Everything You Can Drink on a GF Diet

By Hayley Simpson / Last Modified On August 21, 2023

When Happy Hour calls your name, it should be a time to destress – not worry about ingredient lists. With this article, we’ve taken the hassle out of choosing the best gluten-free drinks so you can focus on fun.

Here, we discuss our favorite gluten-free liquor, brands, and shopping tips!

What Alcohol is Gluten-Free?

First, let’s break down which alcohol is gluten-free.

Gluten-Free Beers

When it comes to gluten consumption, beer is the most complicated alcoholic beverage out there. While the main ingredient is a glutinous grain (usually wheat or barley), many manufacturers have started making safe options for people with celiac disease and sensitivities. Gluten-free beers are made with gluten-free grains like sorghum, maize, millet, or oats.

A Note About Gluten-Removed Beers

Gluten-removed (or gluten-reduced) beers are made with glutinous grains, but an enzyme is added afterward to remove the gluten protein. We don’t recommend gluten-removed beers to those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Related: The Best Gluten-Free Beers

Cider

Cider is naturally gluten-free – it’s essentially alcoholic apple juice! However, it’s always worth looking for a gluten-free label and double-checking for gluten-containing ingredients for several reasons.

1. Some companies add glutinous flavorings to their ciders.
2. Certain cider companies add malt during the process.
3. It may be produced in the same facility as beer (and other glutinous beverages).

Wine

Just like cider, wine is made from fermented fruit. This time it’s grapes (and occasionally other fruit), which are naturally gluten-free. This declaration encompasses all types of wines and alcoholic beverages made from wine, like:

• Red wine
• White wine
• Rosé
• Sparkling wine (e.g., champagne, prosecco).
• Vermouth
• Port
• Sherry
• Brandy (e.g., Cognac, Armagnac).
• Rice wine or sake.

The only wine you want to be careful of is sweet dessert wines, as some of the added flavorings can contain gluten. Simply double-check the wine’s label to ensure it includes no gluten-containing ingredients.

Tip: We recommend ordering from Total Wine, which has over 8,000 different types of wine that can be delivered right to your door.

Related: If you like champagne, you’ll love our celebratory gluten-free champagne cupcakes.

Distilled Spirits

Spirits are typically made from fermented plants, fruit, or gluten-containing grains. Here’s a quick recap of the main ingredients in popular distilled spirits:

• Bourbon: a fermented combination of grain, yeast, and water.
• Gin: a fermented grain like wheat, rye, or barley and juniper berries.
• Rum: sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice.
• Tequila: blue agave plant.
• Vodka: fermented grains like corn, rice, rye, or wheat.
• Whiskey: fermented grain. Most often, it’s rye, but it may also be wheat, corn, or barley.

Can Alcoholic Beverages Be Gluten-Free If They’re Made with Grain?

We know you’re probably thinking: Can spirits be gluten-free if they contain glutinous ingredients? It comes down to the distillation process.

During distillation, the fermented product is heated until it vaporizes. This vapor is then condensed into the alcoholic beverage of your choice. As it has such a high boiling point, gluten doesn’t vaporize and isn’t part of the final distilled spirit. This is why distilled spirits can have a gluten-free label, even if they’re made with a glutinous grain (like rye).

If you feel nervous about knocking back bourbon or vodka, we understand. Stick to spirits made from naturally gluten-free ingredients, like rum and tequila.

Note: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has a comprehensive ruling regarding the labeling of distilled spirits as gluten-free.

Liqueurs

Liqueurs are distilled spirits with added flavorings. For example:

• Cointreau: sweet and bitter orange peels and sugar beet alcohol.
• Kahlua: rum and 100% Arabica coffee beans.
• Limoncello: neutral distilled spirit and lemon zest.
• Midori: neutral grain spirit combined with Japanese Yubari and muskmelons.
• Schnapps: neutral grain distilled spirit mixed with fermented fruit juice.

Not all flavorings will be gluten-free, so be on the lookout for a gluten-free label.

Gluten-Free Alcohol Brands

Now you know what alcohols are gluten-free, we’ll break it down even further. Here’s a bumper list of gluten-free alcohol brands to safely enjoy.

Our 6 Favorite GF Beer Brands

We’ve already got a comprehensive guide to gluten-free beer, but here are our top recommendations:

1. Bierly

Bierly is a dedicated gluten-free facility based in Oregon. They ensure that all Bierly beers “are brewed with gluten-free ingredients from start to finish.” Made with naturally gluten-free grains, their malt is sourced from dedicated gluten-free maltsters. They have several seasonal releases, but their five flagship beers are:

• Baker Street Porter
• Blackbird Stout
• Felix Pilsner
• Lucky IPA
• Rendezvous Double IPA

2. Ghostfish

Ghostfish is an award-winning gluten-free brewery based out of Seattle. With the utmost care, the Ghostfish team “hand selects naturally gluten-free grains, yeast strains, and Pacific Northwest hops.” These boundary-pushing craft beers offer seasonal releases and flagship beers available year-round, including:

• Grapefruit IPA
• Vanishing Point Pale Ale
• Shrouded Summit Belgian White Ale
• Kick Step IPA
• Meteor Shower Pale Lager
• Watchstander Stout

3. Glutenberg

Glutenberg is a 100% gluten-free brewery based in Montreal, Canada. The team set out to create the world’s best-tasting beers, and – based on the awards and accolades they’ve won over the years – we’d say they’re succeeding. Fortunately, US residents can buy several of their gluten-free beers online, including:

• American Pale Ale
• Blonde Ale
• IPA
• Pale Ale
• Saison
• Stout

4. Ground Breaker

Based out of Portland, Ground Breaker was the first dedicated and certified 100% gluten-free brewery in the United States. Whether you’re looking for a fruit ale, dark ale, pale ale, or IPA, they’ve got you covered. Check out where you can buy Ground Breaker’s ground-breaking beers across North America.

5. Holidaily

Holidaily’s range of gluten-free and vegan beers makes every day a celebration. This woman-owned company promises that zero gluten-containing ingredients enter their factory, meaning there’s no risk of cross-contamination. Their year-round beer flavors include:

• Big Henry Hazy IPA
• Buckwit Belgian
• Fat Randy’s IPA
• Favorite Blonde Ale
• Patchy Waters
• Riva Stout

6. New Planet

What happens when a beer lover discovers they have celiac disease? They establish their own gluten-free brewing company! Based in Boulder, Colorado, New Planet keeps things simple with two vegan and gluten-free beer options: a blonde and a pale ale.

Just like the owner of New Planet, if you’re a beer lover with celiac disease, start out small with a gluten-free home brew beer kit.

The 8 Best Gluten-Free Cider Brands

Just like beer, we also have a gluten-free cider guide. Here are some of the most popular options available today.

1. Ace Cider

Ace Cider is a part of the California Cider Company, the first family-owned cider company in the US. They’ve been making Ace Cider since 1993, so it’s clear that they’ve perfected their recipe. The range of gluten-free cider flavors is extensive, including apple, pumpkin, guava, honey, and the world’s first pineapple cider.

2. Angry Orchard

It’s not a summer vacation without Angry Orchard. The Angry Orchard range is extensive and includes both original and hard ciders in various flavors. The good news is that their ciders are made with naturally gluten-free ingredients. The company frequently tests its cider-making equipment to ensure zero risk of cross-contamination.

3. Bulmers

Bulmers is undoubtedly one of the United Kingdom’s most popular cider brands. Fortunately, Bulmers Original Cider is made from 100% British apples. Unfortunately, it’s not available in the States yet. But overseas readers can enjoy a frosty bottle!

4. Ciderboys

Wisconin’s Ciderboys “only uses 100% apples and other natural fruit flavors,” making it naturally gluten-free. There are two main cider options available: Breeze Light and Original Hard Cider.

Their Breeze Light Hard Cider comes in flavors like Cucumber Mint, Black Cherry, Watermelon Strawberry, and Peach Pineapple Mango. Their Original Hard Cider comes in 10 flavors, most rotating seasonally. Personally, we like the sound of Papaya Paradise, Raspberry Smash, and Grand Mimosa!

5. Downeast Cider

Downeast Cider’s tagline and claim to fame is “Unfiltered Craft Cider.” This traditional American cider style offers a cloudy appearance and a fuller, less sweet taste. While they’re famous for seasonal releases, Downeast Cider’s core cider range is available year-round. Try the Original Blend, Double Blend, White, and Blackberry flavors.

6. Magners

Magners is an Irish cider company that consumers have been enjoying since 1935. Their Original Irish Cider is made from a staggering 17 different apple varieties that are left to age for a couple of years. In the United States, you can also purchase Magners Pear Cider and Berry Cider.

7. Strongbow

Because Strongbow is one of the most globally-renowned cider brands, it’s good to hear that all of their US ciders are 100% gluten-free:

• Gold Apple
• Pear Secco
• Original Dry
• Artisanal Blend
• Rose Apple

8. Woodchuck Cider

Woodchuck has been producing America’s original hard cider since 1991. Lucky for us, the entire Woodchuck Hard Cider range is naturally gluten-free, including fun flavors like Sangria Hard Cider, Bubbly Prosecco Cider, and Gumption Cider.

Gluten-Free Wine Brands

This is the easiest gluten-free liquor list: Nearly every wine is gluten-free. If you’re ever unsure, just check the label for glutinous ingredients (or look for a “may contain gluten” tagline).

What Liquors Are Gluten Free?

While you should always double-check labels, brandy, rum, and tequila should be gluten-free. As mentioned, other spirits like vodka, gin, whiskey, and bourbon are gluten-free (as any gluten is removed during the distillation process). If that has you feeling a little nervous, plenty of companies offer certified gluten-free spirits.

Vodka

• Tito’s Handmade Vodka is certified gluten-free and made from corn.
• Stoli Gluten-Free Vodka is distilled from corn and comes from one of the world’s highest-rated vodka companies.
• Devotion Vodka is the first sugar-free, gluten-free certified, American-made vodka.
• Deep Eddy Vodka is made from corn and the finest Texas water. The vodka range includes tantalizing flavors like peach, lemon, sweet tea, cranberry, and lime.
• Enchanted Rock Vodka is another gluten-free liquor brand hailing from Texas.
• Chopin Potato Vodka is crisp, clean, and gluten-free certified.

Gin

Cold River Traditional Gin is certified gluten-free and made with “whole Maine potatoes and the pure water of Maine's Cold River.” Schramm Organic Gin is another award winner to try if you find yourself in Canada. Monopolowa Dry Gin is made from potatoes and a special secret recipe that includes botanicals like juniper, citrus, coriander, aniseed, fennel, and ginger.

Whiskey

Two of our favorite gluten-free whiskeys are made from sorghum, a gluten-free grain. These are:

• Queen Jennie Whiskey, made from 100% Wisconsin sorghum
• Still 630 S.S. Sorghum Whiskey, aged over seven years.

Gluten-Free Liqueur Brands

Here’s a quick list of the most popular liqueurs that’ll take your gluten-free shots to the next level:

• Amaretto
• Aperol
• Bailey’s
• Campari
• Chambord
• Chartreuse
• Cointreau
• Disaronno
• Frangelico
• Grand Marnier
• Jagermeister
• Kahlua
• Limoncello
• Midori
• Sambuca
• Schnapps (in various flavors).
• Southern Comfort
• Triple Sec

Here are even more gluten-free liqueurs that you can enjoy on your next night out (or in).

Hard Seltzer

Hard seltzers are all the rage right now, and most are naturally gluten-free since the main ingredients are carbonated water, alcohol (made from fermented cane sugar), and fruit flavoring.

While some brands use fermented malted barley instead of cane sugar, we’ve compiled a list of gluten-free seltzer brands that are safe for people with celiac disease:

• Arctic Summer
• Bodega Bay (for UK readers)
• Bud Light Seltzer and Hard Seltzer
• Coors Hard Seltzer
• Corona Seltzer
• High Noon (Our personal favorite!)
• Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzers
• Mighty Swell
• Nauti
• TRULY
• White Claw

Gluten-Free Alcohol Shopping Tips

When you’re shopping for gluten-free drinks, the first thing to keep your eye out for is a gluten-free label. You also want to avoid these two things:

1. Glutinous ingredients like barley, rye, kamut, spelt, and wheat. This is particularly important when you’re perusing the beer aisle.
2. Labels that say “may contain traces of gluten.” This is often added to a product if it’s manufactured in a shared facility, where cross-contamination is a possibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Alcohol Is High in Gluten?

The alcoholic beverage that is highest in gluten is beer. This is because it’s essentially fermented glutinous grains.

What Alcohol Is Gluten-Free for Celiacs?

Here’s a quick list of gluten-free alcoholic beverages safe for celiacs:

• Nearly all wine
• Cider
• Gluten-free beer
• Distilled spirits
• Most liqueurs
• Most hard seltzers

Have a Happy Happy Hour!

As you can see from our gluten-free alcohol list, there are plenty of options available for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities. Keep this list handy for your next shopping trip or night out. Wherever the night takes you, you’ll be all set!

Don’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach — check out our list of the best gluten-free snacks next!