Is Bourbon Gluten Free

Is Bourbon Gluten Free?

People who follow a gluten-free diet, are intolerant to gluten, or suffer from coeliac disease avoid alcoholic drinks because the majority of them have gluten in their ingredients.

If you clicked on this article, you are looking to find out whether bourbon is one of them, or whether it is gluten-free and thus safe to consume.

When it comes to certain spirits like tequila and run, limiting yourself to a handful of drinks might be utterly pointless because they are naturally gluten-free. But should you add bourbon to this group?

Keep reading to find out!

What Is Bourbon?

Bourbon whisky is the national spirit of the United States. It’s a strictly controlled creation that needs to be manufactured in the United States and has a few distinguishing features.

Besides being the most famous style of American whisky, bourbon is also one of the most widely known whisky types in countries all over the world.

The laws that govern bourbon production start with where it can legally be made. Although many tend to link bourbon to Kentucky, as that is the state where the majority of brands that produce it, it can officially be distilled in any part of the United States.

What Are The Ingredients Of Bourbon?

More than half of the bourbon must be made from corn, which is something that gives this spirit a detectable sweet taste.

To be more precise, a standard bourbon must contain 51% corn, but the great majority of the bourbons on the market contain at least 70% of this sweet crop.

The rest of the mash bill is made from a variety of other ingredients including wheat, rye, and barley, all of which are grains, with rye adding a peppery note to bourbon, and wheat adding a smoother, sweeter hint.

Corn is a gluten-free crop in this blend, however, the remaining grains, which make up for 49% or less of the bourbon, are known as the three leading gluten grains.

What Exactly Is Gluten?

Even if you are gluten intolerant, it is possible to not know precisely what gluten is, which makes it harder for you to avoid it or even understand how it can be found in your food and drinks.

So, to put it simply, gluten is a protein present in just about all wheat grains and lots of packaged meals contain by-products of these grains.

It functions as a “bonding agent” to keep these grains together and it is a natural protein that cannot be removed from the grain but, through certain processes, it can be removed from the by-products.

Is Bourbon Gluten Free (1)

Is Bourbon Gluten-Free?

This is not a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, as you can find types of bourbon on the market that contain gluten, while others are gluten-free.

According to several specialists, individuals suffering from celiac disease as well as gluten intolerance can freely consume pure distilled bourbon and certain other distilled spirits made from gluten grains.

Moreover, according to the National Celiac Association, distilled drinks are gluten-free since their distillation process clears them from the, threatening to some, gluten protein.

Yet, although it is generally accepted that no extra substances must be introduced in the wooden barrels in which bourbons are aged, a few brands do add gluten-containing substances like flavorings after the distillation phase.

This hidden gluten in bourbon should be avoided, but it is not the only problem with bourbon makers.

Another issue is that of cross-contamination, which is a possible scenario in facilities producing more than one product and ones that make products with ingredients like grains that contain gluten.

As we said, bourbon’s distillation means it becomes gluten-free, but other products that might be made in the same facilities might not follow a distillation process and thus their gluten content might cause implications and re-introduce gluten to the bourbon.

As a result, even though bourbon is safe to drink, it is advised to start with small sips of the spirit to make sure that it is 100% okay to enjoy.

So, Should I Consume Bourbon If I Am Intolerant To Gluten?

Not all individuals suffering from celiac disease or gluten intolerance might not always react badly to alcohol made from any type of grain that contains gluten.

However, a significant amount of them do have a bad reaction, and thus there is some disagreement on the consumption of bourbon.

The number of individuals who have these undesired reactions is unknown; yet, if you just found out or realized you are gluten intolerant, it is best you consume any spirits or drinks that could potentially contain gluten with caution, and, as we previously suggested, start with small sips to see how you react to it.

Moreover, if you see that you are sensitive to gluten and the bourbons containing it, try a bourbon that is 100% made from corn.

Koval Bourbon Whiskey and the New Southern Revival 100% Jimmy Red Corn Bourbon are only a couple of the products you can try that are available on the market.

However, many classic options like Jim Beam and Four Roses, both of which are sold and served in many grocery stores and bars, are also gluten-free, and, once you sip on them to double-check, you can safely consume them.

The Bottom Line

Anyone with celiac disease or gluten intolerance should be able to consume bourbon since the distillation process of the particular spirit ‘kills’ all gluten protein found in its main ingredients.

Even so, although bourbon is a safe spirit to drink, it is advised to start with small amounts of it, as there are some bourbons available that include additives that might contain gluten.

An even safer move is to enjoy only those bourbons that are labeled as ‘gluten-free’ to make sure that you won’t have any adverse reactions to your drink which could ruin your night out or time hanging with your friends.

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