Is gin gluten-free?
Usually not by label, and the botanicals have nothing to do with it. Gin is neutral spirit redistilled with juniper, and almost all of that neutral spirit is grain. Of the ten gins here, one qualifies: Monkey 47, which is built on a molasses base rather than a grain one.
Every gin here, by base material
| Brand | Made from | ABV | Gluten-free label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monkey 47 | Molasses | 47% | ✓ Yes |
| Aviation American Gin | — | 42% | Not by label |
| Beefeater | — | 40% | Not by label |
| Bombay Sapphire | — | 40% | Not by label |
| Gordon's London Dry | — | 40% | Not by label |
| Hendrick's | — | 41.4% | Not by label |
| Plymouth Gin | — | 41.2% | Not by label |
| Roku Gin | — | 43% | Not by label |
| Sipsmith London Dry | — | 41.6% | Not by label |
| Tanqueray London Dry | — | 43.1% | Not by label |
"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
People assume the juniper or the botanical bill is the risk. It is not. Juniper, coriander, angelica and citrus peel are all naturally gluten-free. The gluten question in gin is inherited entirely from whatever the base spirit was distilled from, and for London Dry that is nearly always wheat or barley. Distillation removes the gluten protein, so a coeliac drinking Beefeater is very unlikely to react, but a grain-based gin cannot be labelled gluten-free in the US. A molasses or grape base sidesteps the whole thing.
FAQ
Is gin gluten-free? ▾
Most gin is distilled from grain, so it cannot be labelled gluten-free even though distillation removes the gluten protein. Gins built on a molasses or grape base, like Monkey 47, are gluten-free outright.
Do the botanicals in gin contain gluten? ▾
No. Juniper, coriander, angelica, orris and citrus peel are all naturally gluten-free. The gluten question comes from the base spirit, never the botanicals.
Is Hendrick's or Tanqueray gluten-free? ▾
Neither can carry a gluten-free label, because both are built on grain neutral spirit. As with all distilled spirits, the gluten protein does not survive distillation, so most coeliacs tolerate them.
Informational only, not medical advice. If you have coeliac disease, your own tolerance matters more than any label.