Gluten-Free Liqueur

[Marz]

Since I'm from South Africa, I've only got the local drinks as examples, but maybe it applies globally as well.

I had some Amarula liqueur last night after determining with a internet search that it's "gluten-free". It's made from cream and marula fruit. It's fermented using "pure yeast cultures" and then distilled in oak barrels.

I have sent then a query asking them to confirm the gluten-free status, just in case it's changed since those people got their info.

I immediately developed an extremely sore stomach, and thought - here we go again... Today I had further confirmation after a very bad episode in the bathroom.

I have been keeping extremely strict with my diet, and this is the only "new" thing I've had the past few days that could possibly have done me in.

So the question is - could there have possibly been an introduction of gluten anywhere along the way, or is this some weird intolerance to marula fruit? Or maybe cream + alcohol = not good. I'm not lactose intolerant (I think... I can eat icecream without any major side effects for example)

I had a Savanna a few weeks ago - apple cider alcoholic drink - and I was fine with that, so it's not purely the alcohol.

Maybe the "pure" yeast culture wasn't so pure??

Amarula is my favourite alcoholic drink, so it will be sad to lose it...

By the way, if you can get this, it is an awesome, awesome liqueur - quite sweet and very creamy.

[Marz]

Good grief these guys are thorough and quick to reply!! It's definitely still gluten-free, must be some other weird intolerance or something else affecting me. They even checked with the supplier of their caramel colour and bottle it on lines with other gluten-free drinks.

Response from Amarula :

In answer to your query below please find the following:

Amarula Cream is a premium product based on a blend of fresh dairy cream and marula spirit. The product does not contain any gluten containing grains nor their derivatives and is therefore gluten free. The product is produced in a dedicated production plant where there is no risk of potential accidental contamination. The product is bottled on a bottling line that is shared with other products that have also been determined as being gluten free and therefore there is no risk of accidental contamination.

In addition it should be noted that the product contains caramel colour that is indirectly derived from glucose syrup which in turn is derived from maize. We have had confirmation from the supplier of our caramel colour that there is no chance of accidental contamination of the maize with gluten containing grains and therefore the caramel colour is gluten free.

Please continue to enjoy consuming Amarula Cream and feel free to contact us again if you have any further queries.

Kind regards,

Amarula Cream

[dilettantesteph]

I am very sensitive and find that I can drink some wines, but others seem to gluten me. Same with other "gluten free" alcoholic drinks like beer and cider. Over time I have found which I can drink and I stick to them. That's not going to do you much good over in South Africa though. I think that you are going to have to do your own trial and error. Good luck finding what you can drink without getting too sick!

[Skylark]

Ask them about flour paste on the oak casks. It's a source of gluten in wine and spirits that is of concern for the super-sensitive.

[Marz]

Thanks for your responses, it looks like I'll just have to use trial and error. I'll ask them about the oak casks, thanks!

I had a panic attack last night, so it looks like it was definitely gluten from a source, if not the liqueur then something else. My poor sore stomach after the drink, tells me it was probably the liqueur.

Might try Bailey's if I can get it, since I think it's very similar and is supposed to be gluten-free

So Amarula not recommended for the highly sensitive :/ Will let you know about the oak casks.

[Marz]

An update on this - apparently the "local" version of this product is made with fortified wine in addition to the marula fruit (Not mentioned anywhere on website or in their response!). Exported product is higher quality and not wine-based. Apparently the taste is the same, but the former allowed them some tax loop-holes (Go figure!) and a higher production rate. Fortified wine should still in theory be gluten free, so it's probably still the oak cask distillation that might have bothered me.

Still haven't taken the chance to try it again...

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[dilettantesteph]

I'd love to know of another liquor good for super sensitives. Please post or message me if you come across one. These days all I can tolerate is Metaxa Ouzo. You cold give that a try if you like licorice. It's made in Greece and I'm in the U.S.