Reyka
Borgarnes, Iceland
Small-batch Carter-head distillation, filtered through Icelandic lava rock, run on geothermal power. Wheat and barley base.
- Filtration
- Lava rock
- Grains
- wheat, barley
- 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
- ✓Carter-head still, an unusual choice for vodka
What to watch
- !Wheat and barley base, so two gluten grains rather than one
- !Lava-rock filtration is a real process but not a chemistry advantage
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.
Reyka is distilled in a Carter-head still, a design more associated with gin, and filtered through lava rock from the surrounding fields. Both are genuine and both are heavily marketed, so it is worth separating them: the still shapes the spirit, the lava rock is doing what any porous filtration medium does.
The base is wheat and barley. If you are avoiding gluten grains, this is the wrong bottle on this page, and there are four here that are grain-free at source.
Reyka questions
How many calories are in a shot of Reyka? ▾
About 98 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 40% ABV. All of them come from the alcohol, since there is no sugar.
Does Reyka have sugar? ▾
No. Reyka has 0g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is Reyka gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. Reyka is distilled from wheat and barley, 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 Reyka made from? ▾
Reyka is made from wheat and barley and filtered through lava rock.
What proof is Reyka? ▾
Reyka is 80 proof, which is 40% alcohol by volume.
Does Reyka give you a bad hangover? ▾
Reyka 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 Reyka vegan? ▾
Yes. Reyka is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.