Is Jack Daniel’s gluten-free? Find out which varieties of this popular whiskey are safe for people with celiac!
Jack Daniel’s is a whiskey brand that comes in many different flavors. It is one of the most trusted whiskey brands globally, having been in the market since 1866. This smooth and classic whiskey is distilled in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
For a long time, there has been a controversy as to whether Jack Daniel’s is a whiskey or a bourbon. While this famous drink has all the features that other bourbons have, its manufacturer still insists on marketing it as a whiskey.
The firm explains that its production process makes Jack Daniel’s a whiskey.
Before being stored in high-quality oak barrels, this whiskey is filtered drop by drop through bars of charcoal made from hard sugar maple. This takes the drink a notch higher in terms of quality and smoothness.
This extra stage of charcoal mellowing, which is omitted in the production of most bourbons, is what makes Jack Daniel’s a whiskey.
Is Jack Daniel’s Gluten-free?
Typically, Jack Daniel’s Black Label Tennessee Whiskey is said to be gluten-free.
With a lot of types of alcohol, as long as the drink is produced through the required distillation process, it is expected that all gluten proteins are eliminated. However, since the law does not require alcohol manufacturers to list all their ingredients on the labels, it is hard to tell if all Jack Daniel’s products contain gluten.
Luckily, Jack Daniel’s has declared one of its varieties as gluten-free. That said, let’s look at some of the flavors and whether they contain gluten or not.
Jack Daniel’s Varieties
- Jack Daniel’s Black Label Tennessee Whiskey – according to the manufacturer, all trace elements of gluten are eliminated during the distillation process. So this is the one drink you can be sure about!
The following two are flavored and as we don’t know what’s in them, it’s impossible to say that they’re gluten-free. If you’re extremely sensitive to gluten, I’d avoid them, even though they’re listed as gluten-free on different websites (none of them being Jack Daniel’s). - Jack Daniel’s Honey – while this drink has not been labeled gluten-free, nothing about it implies that it may have traces of gluten. Remember, Jack Daniel’s also fails to clarify whether this drink is gluten-free or not.
However, many bloggers have referred to it as gluten-free. - Jack Daniel’s Apple – just like the honey flavor, this drink has neither been confirmed nor denied as gluten-free by its manufacturer. As such, it is hard to tell whether or not it is completely safe for people with gluten allergies.
However, if you have no allergies but you just like to consume gluten-free products, this drink comes highly recommended. After all, there are numerous sites on the internet that categorize it as gluten-free.
Other gluten-free whiskey brands
If you want to read more about gluten-free whiskey, I have a list here with gluten-free brands → Is Whiskey Gluten-free?
That list also includes some whiskey brands that are based on gluten-free grains! So there’s no worry about whether or not the gluten is eliminated during production.
Other Gluten-free Jack Daniel’s Products
Apart from the drinks, Jack Daniel’s also produces BBQ sauces. Luckily, on their website, they clearly state that all the sauces are gluten-free.
Why is the Black Label variety not labeled as gluten-free?
In many countries, including the United States, products made from gluten grains aren’t ever allowed to be labeled as gluten-free, even when the gluten is removed during distillation.
So this means that alcohol made from a gluten grain, like Jack Daniel’s, can’t be labeled as gluten-free.
Jack Daniel’s is so popular because they produce some of the smoothest whiskeys in the world. Now that you know which of their products is gluten-free, you can choose freely and enjoy. :)
I hope I’ve answered your question! Any others? Feel free to leave them below and I’d be glad to help!
