If gluten is an issue for you, distilled spirits might be the answer you’re looking for. Distilled spirits are gluten-free because the distillation process removes gluten proteins. Here’s a more detailed explanation:
- Source Ingredients: Many distilled spirits, such as whiskey, vodka, and gin, can be made from grains that contain gluten (wheat, barley, rye).
- Distillation Process: During distillation, the fermented liquid is heated, and alcohol (which has a lower boiling point than water and most other substances) evaporates and is then condensed back into liquid form. Gluten proteins, which are larger molecules, do not evaporate and remain behind in the distillation residue.
- Purity of Alcohol: The result is that the distilled alcohol is free from the gluten proteins that could cause reactions in people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Therefore, despite the starting materials, the distillation process ensures that the final distilled spirits are gluten-free. However, it’s important to note that some flavored spirits or those with added ingredients after distillation may not be gluten-free, so it’s always good to check labels and verify with manufacturers if there’s any doubt.
