02/04/2021 - We get a lot of questions about whether certain products are gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease. One question we've seen a lot is about liqueurs. Specifically, which liqueurs are gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease?
Liqueurs can be enjoyed on their own, or to give cocktails a twist of flavor. Liqueurs are made with distilled alcohol and either distilled with, or infused with, anise, berries, chocolate, coffee, cream, flowers, fruit, herbs, honey or nuts.
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According to the FDA, all distilled alcohol is gluten-free, unless gluten is added after distillation. That means that liqueurs are gluten-free, unless gluten is added to them.
Numerous cocktails rely on one or more liqueurs or cordials for flavor. Here's a list of liqueurs that are gluten-free, or made with gluten-free ingredients, and considered safe for people with celiac disease.
As always, read ingredients, avoid troublesome allergens, and choose carefully. If you are unsure of any particular ingredient, please check celiac.com's list of safe gluten-free ingredients, and our list of forbidden unsafe, non-gluten-free ingredients.
Liqueurs and cordials can be broken down into the following types: Anise-flavored liqueurs; Berry liqueurs; Chocolate liqueurs; Coffee liqueurs; Cream liqueurs; Crème liqueurs; Flower liqueurs; Fruit liqueurs; Herbal liqueurs; Honey liqueurs; Nut-flavored liqueurs; herbal liqueurs; and Whisky liqueurs. Unless wheat or gluten ingredients are added after distillation, all of the following types of liqueurs are considered gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease.
Liqueurs Considered Gluten-Free and Safe for Celiacs:
Absante
A pale green, anise-flavored liqueur. Turns opalescent when dripped slowly over ice. An ideal substitute for absinthe and other anise liqueurs.
Absinthe
An anise-flavored liqueur that was originally 136 proof and was banned by law for many years in most countries. Absante, Pernod, and Herbsaint can be used to replace absinthe in cocktail recipes.
Advocaat
Advocaat is a liqueur from The Netherlands made of egg yolks, brandy, sugar, and vanilla that is often enjoyed straight or on the rocks. Sometimes called Dutch eggnog.
Agavero
A tequila-based liqueur flavored with the damiana flower. Agavero uses a blend of 100 percent blue agave añejo and reposado tequilas aged in French Limousin oak.
Amaretto
An almond-flavored liqueur made with apricot pits. Amaretto is one of the most popular liqueurs, and is often paired with a coffee liqueur, Kahlúa.
Amaro Meletti
Amaro Meletti is a bitter Italian digestif flavored with myriad aromatic herbs, including anise and saffron, with a distinct chocolat flavor. Amaro Meletti is usually drunk on its own, over ice.
Amer Picon
Amer Picon is a bitter French liqueur with a distinct orange flavor, similar to Amer Torani and Amaro CioCiaro.
Aperol
An Italian aperitif produced from a recipe developed in 1919. Its primary flavor is orange but it also includes rhubarb, chinchona, gentian, and other "secret" herbs.
Averna
An Italian bitter liqueur (or amaro) that is still produced from the original 1868 recipe of herbs, roots, and citrus rinds with natural caramel for sweetness.
Barenjaeger
A honey-flavored liqueur produced in Germany with origins stemming back to medieval Europe. Provides a nice neutral-flavored sweetness to cocktails and is an ideal substitute for real honey in drinks.
Benedictine
A proprietary liqueur made of herbs, roots, and sugar with a cognac base. It is a popular premium liqueur that is essential for a number of classic cocktails.
Blackberry Liqueur or Brandy
Some blackberry brandies can be sweeter than the liqueurs, though they can often be used interchangeably. Crème de mûre is one type of blackberry liqueur.
Bols Liqueur
Bols Liqueur is Gluten-Free, 100% GMO-Free Sugar, 100% Natural Sugar.
Butterscotch Schnapps or Liqueur
A liqueur made from a mix of butter and brown sugar that tastes like butterscotch candy.
Cacao Mint Nuss
Cacao Mint Nuss is just crème de cacao with an extra hazelnut flavor. Cacao Mint Nuss is an uncommon liqueur used to impart a nutty taste on drinks made with crème de cacao.
Campari
A popular orange flavored bitter Italian apèritif made with a unique blend of herbs and spices from a secret recipe originally developed by Gaspare Campari in 1860 for his Cafè Campari in Milan, Italy.
Chambord
The best-known raspberry liqueur brand on the market, Chambord is produced in France's glorious Loire Valley from red and black raspberries, honey, vanilla, and cognac.
Chartreuse
An herbal liqueur produced by Carthusian monks in the French Alps. Chartreuse is available as either Green or Yellow Chartreuse, and as specially aged V.E.P. bottles.
Cherry Heering
A top-shelf brand of naturally flavored cherry liqueur from Denmark that is used in a variety of cocktail recipes.
Cherry Liqueur
A variety of liqueurs flavored with cherries. Some use natural flavorings or real cherries while others use artificial flavorings. Cherry Heering, crème de cerise, and maraschino liqueur are all cherry liqueurs.
Cinnamon Schnapps
Cinnamon Schnapps is the name given to a group of clear or red cinnamon flavored liqueurs. Both alcohol content and the intensity of the cinnamon spice and sweetness varies widely. Goldschlager, Hot Damn, and Aftershock are some of the top brands.
Coffee Liqueur, Crème de Café
A group of coffee-flavored liqueurs that vary greatly in flavor, style, and cost. The most popular coffee liqueur is Kahlúa, though there are many dozens of brands and styles, with many countries having their own regional versions.
Cointreau
A very popular brand of orange liqueur that is considered a premium triple sec. Useful in any cocktail that calls for a generic orange liqueur and many recipes that call for it specifically.
Cream vs. Crème Liqueurs
The crème liqueurs listed here are not creamy. Crème refers to the high concentration of sugar used in the manufacturing process. They are indeed very sweet, but definitely not cream-based liqueurs.
Crème d' Apricots
Apricot liqueurs vary in sweetness and quality, though they tend to have a great apricot flavor.
Crème d' Almond
Crème d' Almond is a pink liqueur flavored with almonds and fruit stones. Similar to crème de noyaux, though amaretto may also be used as a substitute if the drink's color is not important.
Crème de Banana, Banana Liqueur
Banana-flavored liqueurs are usually quite sweet, with big banana flavor.
Crème de Cacao
A liqueur flavored with cacao (chocolate) and vanilla bean. Crème de Cacao is very popular and used often in chocolate cocktails.
Crème de Cassis
A sweet, low-proof liqueur made from French blackcurrants. Deep red in color, it can be found in a few popular cocktails and is often paired with wine.
Crème de Cerise
A sweet cherry-flavored liqueur. Cherry Heering, maraschino, and other cherry liqueurs can be used as substitutes.
Crème de Coconut, Coconut Liqueur, Batida de Coco
Sweet coconut-flavored liqueurs typically have a rum base and are popular in tropical cocktails. They are not to be confused with non-alcoholic "cream of coconut." Batida de coco is a creamy liqueur, while crème de coconut tends to be clear. Other coconut liqueurs can vary.
Crème de Framboise
A sweet red to purple raspberry liqueur. Similar to Chambord, which is a popular substitute.
Crème de Menthe
A popular sweet liqueur flavored with mint leaves or extracts. Crème de Menthe is either clear or green and is also a popular ingredient in baked good recipes. Similar to peppermint schnapps.
Crème de Mûre
A sweet blackberry-flavored liqueur. Can be a substitute for Chambord and other blackberry and raspberry liqueurs.
Crème de Noyaux
A pink liqueur that has a distinct almond flavor and is made with the stones of plums, cherries, peaches, and apricots. This is not a very common liqueur but is found in a few cocktails.
Crème de Violette
A purple violet-flavored liqueur that was relatively common in classic cocktails.
Curaçao
Often made from the dried peels of lahara oranges, Curaçao is the original orange liqueur, and is used in many classic cocktails. Normally, it is orange in color, but it can also be white, blue, or green.
Cynar
An artichoke-based bitter liqueur that was launched in 1952. Despite its base, Cynar does not taste like artichoke, since it includes a blend of thirteen herbs and other plants.
Damiana
A lightly-flavored herbal liqueur produced in Mexico with a tequila base. The primary ingredient is the damiana herb, which has long been used as an aphrodisiac.
Domaine de Canton
A brand of ginger-flavored liqueur with an eau-de-vie and cognac base produced in France. This one's very popular and you will find a bottle in many bars because it is used often in cocktails.
Dorda Double Chocolate Liqueur
A top-shelf, creamy chocolate liqueur with a Chopin Vodka base. It is produced by the famous Polish chocolatier, E. Wedel, and it's perfect for use in chocolate cocktail recipes with a creamy profile.
Ecstasy
Ecstasy is a clear liqueur flavored with lemon and pomegranate. In a nod to popular energy drinks, the liqueur includes guarana, taurine, and ginseng.
Fernet Branca
An Italian amaro (bitter) liqueur with a strong flavor and aroma that was first produced in 1845. The digestif is made with around 40 herbs, roots, and spices and has a notable menthol-eucalyptus flavor.
Frangelico
The most popular hazelnut liqueur, made by infusing roasted coffee, cocoa, vanilla berries, and rhubarb root into toasted hazelnuts, alcohol and water.
Galliano
A smooth, spicy liqueur with overtones of anise and vanilla from Livorno, Italy.
Ginger Liqueur
A ginger-flavored liqueur that is often made with a variety of ginger, herbs and honey; often added to a base of brandy, rum, or a neutral spirit. Domaine de Canton is a popular brand.
Gingerbread Liqueur
Often a seasonal liqueur released during the autumn and winter seasons, these are flavored with the signature spices found in gingerbread.
Goldschlager
A high-quality, clear-colored cinnamon schnapps that contains 24K gold leaf flakes.
Grand Marnier
A top-shelf and very popular orange liqueur with a cognac base that is made in France, and used in numerous popular cocktails.
GranGala Triple Orange
An orange liqueur with an Italian VSOP brandy base and flavored with Mediterranean oranges. It can be used as a substitute for Grand Marnier.
Herbsaint
The brand name for an anise-flavored liqueur that has long been used as a substitute for absinthe. Released after Prohibition in 1934, Herbsaint is made by the New Orleans-based Sazerac Company. The original recipe of this 90-proof liqueur was re-released in 2009 as Herbsaint Original (100-proof). Similar to Pernod, and often used in cocktails that require an anise liqueur.
Hpnotiq
This popular ocean blue tropical liqueur is a secret family blend of vodka, cognac, and tropical fruits.
Irish Cream Liqueur
Baileys is the most popular brand of this creamy liqueur, which is a blend of Irish whiskey, cream, and chocolate.
Irish Mist
A sweet liqueur made of an aromatic blend of Irish whiskey, honey, herbs, and other spirits. The recipe dates back more than 1,000 years.
Jägermeister
Jägermeister is a popular herbal liqueur produced in Germany that is sometimes used as a health tonic, often drunk in shots, but can also be enjoyed in cocktails.
Kahlúa
The original and most popular brand of coffee liqueur produced in Mexico. So ubiquitous people use the name Kahlúa to refer to any coffee liqueur.
Limoncello
A sweet, lemon-flavored Italian dessert liqueur made from lemon zests.
Licor 43
A popular vanilla-flavored liqueur made in Spain, Licor 43 includes citrus, fruits, herbs, spices among its 43 mostly secret ingredients, with vanilla as the dominant flavor.
Lychee Liqueur
A category of rather sweet liqueurs flavored by either distilling or infusing lychee fruit into a base spirit. It's a fruity flavor that works well in many simple cocktails and party shots.
Mango Liqueur
Often a sweet, orange-colored liqueur flavored using the tropical fruit. A number of brands produce mango liqueurs, including Bols, Marie Brizard, and Orchard.
Maraschino
A clear, dry, cherry-flavored liqueur made from the Marasca cherry and its pits. This is a popular cocktail mixer and is used in many of the classics because it is not as sweet as other cherry liqueurs.
Midori
A bright green-colored liqueur that has a sweet melon flavor. This is the most popular melon liqueur on the market, though there are others of similar color and flavor.
Ouzo
A popular anise-flavored Greek apéritif liqueur that is typically over 90 proof and similar to the Turkish raki. When drunk on its own, it's normally mixed four parts water to one part ouzo.
Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
A very popular thick, sweet, red liqueur infused with the flavor of pomegranates.
Patrón Citrónge
An orange liqueur produced by Patron Spirits using the brand's tequila as the base. It is ideal for tequila cocktails, even those that call for other orange liqueurs.
Patrón XO Café
A tequila-based liqueur with the flavor of coffee. The liqueur is drier and not as sweet as other coffee liqueurs but is stronger at 70 proof.
Peach Liqueur
Made from an infusion of whole, fresh, and/or dried peaches in brandy or a neutral spirit base.
Peppermint Schnapps
A mint-flavored liquor similar to crème de menthe, but peppermint schnapps uses less sugar and more alcohol.
Pimento Dram
A peppery Jamaican rum liqueur with an allspice flavor that is found in tiki and classic cocktails.
Pimm's Cup
A brand of liqueurs that combines a secret recipe of fruit and spices and adds it to a variety of base liqueurs.
Pineapple Liqueur, Licor de Piña
A pleasant, tart fruit liqueur with the tropical taste of pineapples.
Pumpkin Liqueur
Pumpkin-flavored liqueurs are usually found only during the autumn and winter months. Brands available include Hiram Walker Pumpkin Spice and Bols Pumpkin Smash.
Raki
A high-proof anise-flavored liqueur from Turkey that is often enjoyed with food. Similar to ouzo.
RumChata
RumChata is a cream liqueur that is made with Caribbean rum and Wisconsin dairy cream and flavored with cinnamon, vanilla, sugar, and other ingredients.
St. Germain
Flavored with elderflowers and carrying hints of sweet and floral notes, St-Germain is popular in numerous cocktails, including those made with gin, Champagne, vodka and rum.
Sambuca
Sambuca is a strong, colorless Italian liqueur that’s flavored with anise and licorice, elderflower, and other spices.
Schnapps
Technically, Schnapps is not a liqueur by strict definition, but a distilled spirit that is often produced with fruits in the fermentation tanks. There is a distinction between the real schnapps produced in the traditional European fashion and the super sweet or very flavorful "schnapps" that is very popular in the U.S. Schnapps come in many flavors; apple, cinnamon, peach, and peppermint are the most common.
Sloe Gin
A red liqueur, which is not a gin at all. It is made from the sloe plums of the blackthorn bush. Some types will produce a creamy head when shaken with ice, and this is typically indicated on the bottle's label. It's used to create some very fun and rather popular drinks.
Somrus
An Indian cream liqueur made from a blend of rum and dairy cream and flavored with a variety of spices. It can be used as a substitute for Irish cream or RumChata.
Southern Comfort
An American liqueur made from a whiskey base and flavored with peaches. It is an excellent mixer and bottled at 100 proof, adding to its comforting, warming qualities.
Strawberry Liqueur
A variety of liqueurs that are made from either real strawberries or artificial flavoring. Produced by a variety of brands with varying degrees of quality, sweetness, and flavor.
Strega
An Italian liqueur made of 70 herbs and spices. Strega is Italian for "witch." The liqueur is made with mint, juniper, cinnamon, fennel, and iris, and saffron, which gives it a distinct yellow color.
Sweet Revenge
A wild-strawberry, sour mash liqueur made in the U.S. from American whiskey.
Tangerine Liqueur
A variety of liqueurs made from tangerines, often with mild spice flavors added.
Tequila Rose
A creamy strawberry-flavored liqueur made in Mexico. Tequila Rose is a mix of strawberry liqueur and tequila and was once far more popular than it is today.
Triple Sec
Triple Sec is a colorless orange-flavored liqueur used as a generic name for all orange liqueurs. Cointreau and Combier are premium brands of triple sec.
Tuaca
An Italian liqueur that was reportedly created for the Renaissance era ruler, Lorenzo the Magnificent. The flavors are a subtle blend of vanilla and citrus.
TY KU
A pale green liqueur with a sake and Asian vodka base. The flavor is a mix of over 20 all-natural fruits and botanicals, including Asian pear, fuji apple, pomegranate, damiana, ginseng, and yuzu.
Unicum
An herbal digestif produced in Hungary. It uses a secret recipe of 40 herbs and spices that was originally created in 1790. It is a bitter liqueur and the base formula for Unicum Plum and Zwack liqueurs.
Vanilla Liqueur
There are not many true vanilla-flavored liqueurs. Instead, it's common to find vanilla in a blend with other flavorings, though it does often dominate the overall flavor profile. Popular "vanilla" liqueurs are Galliano, Licor 43, and Tuaca.
VeeV Açai Spirit
A unique distilled spirit (technically a liquor rather than a liqueur) made from the açai fruit, which is one of the popular "superfruits."
X-Rated Fusion
A pink liqueur from France that infuses premium vodka with essence of mango, blood oranges, and passion fruit.
Yukon Jack
A popular Canadian whisky-based honey liqueur.
Zen
A discontinued green-colored, green tea-flavored liqueur produced by the Japanese company, Suntory. It was made with Kyoto green tea, lemongrass, and a variety of herbs with a neutral grain spirit base.
Zwack
An herbal digestif liqueur that is less bitter and has more citrus notes than Unicum, on which it is based. This liqueur is popular in the United States as an alternative to Jagermeister.
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