Pinnacle Original
France
Wheat from the Brie region of France, run through a five-column process and charcoal filtered, per Difford's Guide. Distilled in northern France, with bottling moved to Beam Suntory's Frankfort, Kentucky plant in 2013. The flavoured Pinnacle range is a different product.
- Filtration
- Charcoal
- Distillations
- 5×
- Grains
- wheat
- Congeners
- Very Low
- Histamines
- Very Low
- Polyphenols
- Very Low
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Very Low
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Very Low
- Calories
- 98
- Sugar
- 0g
14g ethanol at 40% ABV. No sugar, so every calorie here is alcohol.
In its favor
- ✓No added sugar or additives in the original
- ✓Five-column distillation and charcoal filtration
What to watch
- !Wheat base
- !The flavoured line is heavily sweetened
Factor by factor
Congeners Very Low ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Very Low ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Very Low ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Very Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Very Low ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Very Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Very Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Pinnacle Original is a French wheat vodka sold at a budget price, distilled in five columns and charcoal filtered. It scores the same as Grey Goose on chemistry at a fraction of the cost.
Most of the Pinnacle shelf is flavoured, so check the label says Original before assuming it is unsweetened.
Pinnacle Original questions
How many calories are in a shot of Pinnacle Original? ▾
About 98 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 40% ABV. All of them come from the alcohol, since there is no sugar.
Does Pinnacle Original have sugar? ▾
No. Pinnacle Original has 0g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is Pinnacle Original gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. Pinnacle Original is distilled from wheat, so US rules bar it from claiming gluten-free. Distillation does remove the gluten protein, and the Celiac Disease Foundation considers distilled spirits safe for most coeliacs. If you would rather avoid the question, pick a spirit distilled from corn, potato, grape or agave.
What is Pinnacle Original made from? ▾
Pinnacle Original is made from wheat, distilled 5 times and filtered through charcoal.
What proof is Pinnacle Original? ▾
Pinnacle Original is 80 proof, which is 40% alcohol by volume.
Does Pinnacle Original give you a bad hangover? ▾
Pinnacle Original scores 2/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 2/10 for vodka overall. It is low on every hangover factor we track, so most of the morning after comes down to how much ethanol you drink.
Is Pinnacle Original vegan? ▾
Yes. Pinnacle Original is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.