Cîroc
France
Made from Mauzac Blanc and Ugni Blanc grapes rather than grain, distilled five times. Naturally grain-free, which makes the original a safe pick for coeliac drinkers.
- Filtration
- Charcoal
- Distillations
- 5×
- 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
- ✓Grape base, so no grain in the bottle at all
- ✓Five distillations
- ✓No added sugar in the original
What to watch
- !The flavoured range is sugared and dominates the brand
- !Priced well above chemically identical grain vodkas
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.
Cîroc is the odd one out here: it is not made from grain. The base is Mauzac Blanc and Ugni Blanc grapes, fermented like wine and then distilled five times, which puts the original bottling in the same grain-free tier as the potato vodkas for anyone avoiding gluten at source rather than trusting distillation to remove it.
Be careful which bottle you are buying. The flavoured Cîroc range is far larger than the original and carries added sugar, and the packaging does little to separate them.
Cîroc questions
How many calories are in a shot of Cîroc? ▾
About 98 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 40% ABV. All of them come from the alcohol, since there is no sugar.
Does Cîroc have sugar? ▾
No. Cîroc has 0g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is Cîroc gluten-free? ▾
Yes. Cîroc is made from grapes. There is no wheat, barley or rye at any stage.
What is Cîroc made from? ▾
Cîroc is made from grapes, distilled 5 times and filtered through charcoal.
What proof is Cîroc? ▾
Cîroc is 80 proof, which is 40% alcohol by volume.
Does Cîroc give you a bad hangover? ▾
Cîroc 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 Cîroc vegan? ▾
Yes. Cîroc is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.