In gin vegan? Yes, usually it is! But there are exceptions. Read on to find out more!
Vegan alcohol is pretty easy to come by, but you’ll need to do some research because beer and wine can contain animal products like gelatin and egg whites. What’s more, alcohol is frequently exempted from the labeling regulations of other food products, meaning that non-vegan alcohol may never be labeled as such.
So if you’re wondering if gin is vegan, that’s absolutely warranted.
Gin is a spirit that’s taking the world by storm, thanks to its versatility with a combination of other products. In this article, we’ll answer your question and recommend vegan gins and let you know which ones you should stay wary of.
If you’re following a plant-based diet, you’ll be pleased to know that gin is primarily made of juniper berries, as well as other natural components such as fruits, grains, and coriander. Manufacturers also use natural sweeteners and flavorings, making gin suitable for vegan consumption.
But Is All Gin Vegan?
Nearly all types of hard liquor — rum, gin, vodka whiskey, and bourbon are vegan, but is it as black and white as it appears? No. Many brands contain animal-derived ingredients such as honey.
As such, it’s only natural to wonder whether vegans can still enjoy a delicious gin-based liqueur now and then. Fortunately, most gins are vegan because they do not contain any animal-derived ingredients. Some are however non-vegan.
Why Are Some Gin Brands Not Vegan?
Some gin brands are not suitable for vegans because they use ingredients such as honey, isinglass, gelatine, or ants. Yes, you heard it right, ants.
• Honey
Honey is added to create a sweeter and richer drink. It may be obvious to spot the presence of honey e.g in the Warner’s Harrington Honeybee Gin and Anno Orange & Honey Gin, but a lot of the time it’s not that simple.
• Beeswax
Some brands of gin such as Holyrood Holyxxxx Gin can contain beeswax as a “botanical” flavoring.
• Cochineal/Carmine/Crimson Lake/E120
It is a far more uncommon non-vegan component in gin. It comes in many names and is made up of crushed beetles (🤮), and it’s what gives red gin its color.
• Non-Vegan Fining Agents
It’s also rare but certain gins are filtered with non-vegan fining chemicals like gelatin or isinglass.
• Ants
This one is a weird one but yes, it happens. Anty Gin is a brand that is made using the essence of 62 wood ants.
Which Gins Are Vegan?
Walking into a store and selecting a vegan gin is easier said than done, given the dozens of gin brands and hundreds upon hundreds of distilleries available. Fortunately, we’ve put together a simple guide to assist you in selecting the best vegan-friendly gins that can be found in any liquor store:
- Gordon’s – it’s triple-distilled and made with juniper berries, nutmeg, cassia oil, lemon peel, orange, coriander seeds, and orris root.
- Tanqueray London Dry Gin – this one is hands down one of the best gins available. It’s made using juniper, angelica seed/root, licorice, and coriander.
- Bombay Sapphire – made with over 10 vapor-infused botanicals such as almond grains and cubeb berries, all of which are vegan-safe.
- Beefeater – despite its name, it’s vegan. It is one of the most popular vegan gins, made of juniper, lemon, angelica root, coriander, almond, licorice, orange, orris root, and seed as botanicals.
- Hendrick’s – this is one of the best modern gins today. It is vegan-friendly thanks to a long list of vegan-friendly ingredients including juniper, yarrow, cubeb berry, elderflower, chamomile, and a hint of rose petal and cucumber.
Non-vegan Gin Brands
Here are some gin brands that are non-vegan for the reasons mentioned:
- Anty Gin – ants.
- Tarquin’s British Blackberry Gin – honey.
- Anther Anther x Taxi gin – honey.
- Whitley Neil – may contain isinglass.
- Greenhook Beach Plum Gin – gelatin used in the filtration process.
- Old Tom Gin – honey.
- Herno Juniper Cask Gin – it’s made using non-vegan ingredients, but the cap is sealed with beeswax.
- Nosferatu Blood Orange gin – carmine for coloring
It goes without saying that numerous gin brands use animal-derived ingredients during production or filtration. As such, it’s always best to conduct thorough research or ask before drinking!
Any other questions? Leave them below and I’d be glad to help answer them! :)
