Is cognac gluten-free?
Yes. Cognac is distilled from white wine, made from Ugni Blanc grapes, so there is no grain in it at any stage. It is the one brown spirit on this site that can carry a gluten-free label.
Every cognac here, by base material
| Brand | Made from | ABV | Gluten-free label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courvoisier VS | — | 40% | ✓ Yes |
| Hennessy VS | — | 40% | ✓ Yes |
| Martell VS | — | 40% | ✓ Yes |
| Rémy Martin VSOP | — | 40% | ✓ Yes |
"Not by label" means the spirit is made from a gluten grain, so US rules bar the claim. It does not mean gluten was detected.
Why that is the answer
Cognac looks like whisky and is treated like whisky, which is why people assume it shares whisky's gluten answer. It does not. The base is grape wine, so cognac is gluten-free at source in the way tequila and rum are, rather than gluten-free by distillation in the way bourbon is. Years in Limousin oak add colour, tannin and a heavy congener load, which is why it rates worst on this site's hangover index, but oak adds no gluten. If you want an aged, dark, sipping spirit and need a gluten-free label, this is the category.
FAQ
Is cognac gluten-free? ▾
Yes. Cognac is distilled from Ugni Blanc grape wine and contains no grain at any stage, so it can carry a gluten-free label outright.
Is brandy gluten-free? ▾
Grape brandy, including cognac and armagnac, is gluten-free at source. Grain-based spirits sold as brandy are a different matter, so the base fruit is the thing to check.
Is cognac a good choice if I avoid gluten? ▾
On gluten alone, yes, it is one of the safest aged spirits. On everything else it is the heaviest drink here, scoring 8 out of 10 on our hangover index because of the congeners that long oak ageing concentrates.
Informational only, not medical advice. If you have coeliac disease, your own tolerance matters more than any label.