Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] You may have seen one of those tequila bottles in the grocery aisle that says gluten free, someone online claiming that their tequila is vegan. But here's the real question, and most people never ask, is tequila actually vegan? And is tequila naturally gluten free? So today, we're going to break down that aisle, and some of these answers may surprise you. Let's hit the first one first. As a person who can't have gluten, I'm excited to say this is an easy one. Yes, tequila is naturally gluten free. It is made from the blue Weber agave, which is a plant, no wheat, no barley, no rye involved in the process.
[00:00:29] During distillation, alcohol separates from the fermented liquid, which removes all of the proteins like gluten. So distilled spirits like tequila are generally considered safe for people with celiac disease. Now, there are some very rare exceptions to that. If a tequila has added flavorings to it, those flavorings could include gluten. Or on extremely rare cases, let's say that a tequila is actually aged in a beer barrel. And that beer barrel may have some revenue left over that could cause there to be a little bit of gluten. But I'm telling you, that's extremely rare. And I've drank the lost lore bottles rested in a beer barrel without ever having a problem. So when you see gluten free printed on the label, just know in that case, it's not a special feature, it's just marketing. Now, let's jump into the second question about being vegan, because this one blew my mind. Vegan tequila itself is made from agave yeast water. So naturally produced tequila should be vegan. But here's where it gets tricky. Some tequilas add additives after distillation to change flavor or texture. The most common additive used to make a tequila feel smoother is glycerin. And glycerin can be made from plant sources or animal fat. And here's the real problem. Tequila producers are not required to disclose the additives on that label. So even if glycerin is used, it's often impossible to know where that glycerin came from. So for real, strict vegans, this. This creates uncertainty. And it's not just tequila. Believe it or not, this same issue exists in wine, beer, and many other spirits, because alcohol labeling laws in most countries do not require additive disclosure. So what should vegans look for? If someone is concerned about this, there are a couple practices. First off, blanco tequila usually is your safest option. That's because blancos have the lowest allowable additive levels in tequila regulations. Now that's if people are following those rules. So if you really want to know, go to the Agave Matchmaker app and look for the premium brand. Back when Tequila Matchmaker was doing additive free certifications, then you knew what you were drinking and then it was clean of those additives. Today they're not allowed to continue that certification, but the premium brands are brands that went through the certification and you know that they are clean. Secondly, many enthusiasts who talk about traditionally made products and added free tequila focus on ones that you can trust. So while Tequila is a naturally plant based product, lack of labeling transparency can make things complicated for restrict vegans. So in the short version of this video I would say Tequila is naturally gluten free. Most tequilas are likely vegan, but additives like glycerin can create some uncertainty. And this is one reason why we talk about how Tequila is made and can help you make a better choice of what bottle to buy. If you enjoy learning about tequila like this, make sure you subscribe to Tasting Tequila with Brad. We love to break down production methods and talk about brands, review brands and meet brand owners and master distillers. I want to say thanks for watching and as I drink this lost lore vias Tequila know that is not only gluten free but additive free and vegan safe. But I'll probably have a steak after I do this.
