Is Triple Sec Gluten-Free?
Going to a bar and wondering if triple sec is gluten-free? When ordering gluten-free drinks at bars, or even when shopping for alcohol, it can be difficult to know what is safe or not. That’s in part because labeling laws for alcohol are messy.
Sometimes the FDA regulates the label and sometimes the TTB regulates the label. So let this be a reassurance that if you’re feeling totally lost in buying safe alcohol, you’re not alone. And if you want help with it, I show you exactly what to look for on alcohol labels in my Celiac Crash Course.
But that’s not why you’re here right now, right now you want to know is if triple sec is safe. The answer? Based on what it’s typically made of, triple sec should be gluten-free but let’s dive into the details.
Table of Contents
What is Triple Sec?
With its roots in France, triple sec is an orange-flavored liqueur. Often it’s used in mixed drinks like Cosmopolitans, Margaritas, Side Cars, Long Island Ice Teas, Kamikazes, Mai Tais, and more.
This distilled orange liqueur is distilled 3 times to remove the distillates and give you the orange-flavored alcohol. This is actually why it’s called triple sec as the name refers to how it’s made.
Because it’s a pure distilled alcohol, it’s considered gluten-free regardless of starting material as long as no gluten is added after distillation.
So is Triple Sec Gluten-Free?
Yes, triple sec is gluten-free as long as gluten is not added to it. That’s because its made from orange peels and sugar that’s turned into alcohol and then distilled. First, the starting ingredients are gluten-free and even if they weren’t, the distillation process would remove any gluten making it safe.
So the only thing you need to worry about when drinking Triple Sec is if gluten has been added in after distillation (which I haven’t found), or if gluten is in any of the ingredients of the mixed drink you’re ordering with the Triple Sec.
Is Cointreau Gluten-free?
Cointreau, the original orange triple sec liqueur, is gluten-free. It’s a distilled triple sec made from gluten-free ingredients. While I’ve never personally had it, it’s been reported to be much stronger than typical triple secs, so keep that in mind when ordering drinks made with it..
Is Triple Sec De Kuyper Gluten-Free
De Kuyper’s Triple Sec is gluten-free. I confirmed this with the brand though I do want to note, that this brand was very unfriendly to accessing gluten-free data on their alcohols. So while I think it’s been the most widely available triple sec in the USA (at least for me), if you like to vote with your money, maybe buy a different brand due to their lack of friendliness to the gluten-free community.
Does Any Triple Sec Contain Gluten?
During my research in finding gluten-free triple sec, I could not find a brand that contained gluten. Now that does not mean that one doesn’t exist, but due to the gluten-free nature of the alcohol, I’d be surprised if you ever found one that contained gluten.
That said, if you’re buying an unfamiliar brand or bottle of triple sec, still always do your due diligence in checking the ingredients. If you need help with this, I show you exactly how to check the gluten-free status of alcohol in the USA in my Celiac Crash Course.
Gluten-Free Drinks Made with Triple Sec
Going to a bar and want to know what gluten-free triple sec-based mixed drinks you can order? Below is not an all-inclusive list but features some drinks to consider:
- Cosmopolitan – a cocktail made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice. Just make sure the all of the mix-ins are gluten-free (including the vodka).
- Margarita – Tequila, orange liqueur/triple sec, and lime. It can be served with salt on the rim of the glass. You can also get it shaken or blended. Sometimes the margarita mix can contain gluten, so be sure to check.
- Side Car – This is a cocktail made from mixing cognac, triple sec, and lemon juice.
- Long Island Iced Tea – a cocktail made with a mixture of vodka, tequila, rum, triple sec, gin, and cola, it can be a great option. Just make sure everything is gluten-free.
As always, make sure you’re assessing the gluten-free status and safety of drinks for yourself. And make sure you’re requesting the proper cross-contact protocols when ordering these drinks. If you’re not sure how to do this, this is also something I cover in the Celiac Crash Course.
How to Know if Other Alcohols are Gluten-Free
Now that we know most triple sec is gluten-free, how do we know if other alcohols are gluten-free too? Especially when drinks often featuring triple sec often have other alcohols in them too. Like a Cosmopolitan which has triple sec AND vodka.
As I mentioned earlier, understanding when alcohols are safe or not can be confusing in the USA. That’s because depending on the alcohol, its labeling might be subject to either FDA or TTB labeling laws.
Now if it’s subject to FDA labeling laws, that makes it a little easier to tell if something is gluten-free because the FDA requires ingredients to be listed on the label.
But if it’s subject to TTB labeling laws, ingredients aren’t required to be listed so determining the safety of the alcohol becomes a little more difficult.
For a full breakdown on how to determine if an alcohol is gluten-free complete with demonstrations and more, check out the Celiac Crash Course. See you there friend!