Recognizable by the purple pouch with gold lettering, Crown Royal has been on the whiskey scene since 1939. Made on the shores of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Crown Royal has an extensive operation and warehouses close to the harbor. In addition to creating whiskies, they are stewards of the local environment, committed to zero waste.
Though Crown Royal is made from rye, corn, and barley, it is said that gluten proteins are naturally removed during the distillation process. Using this logic, Crown Royal Whiskey is gluten-free, but they make no claims of the sort. Those with gluten sensitivities should exercise caution or steer clear. The best gluten-free alternative to Crown Royal is Jack Daniel’s.
First, we’ll explore Crown Royal, the whiskey distilling process, and nutrition information. Then, we’ll dive into whiskeys that are largely thought of and touted as gluten-free. Let’s get started!
Contents
Crown Royal History
In 1939, British royalty visited Canada, traveling by boat and train. A spirits entrepreneur crafted a whiskey suitable for the visitors. A blend of roughly fifty whiskies was presented in a cut-glass decanter in a purple bag with gold stitching. It was a big hit and was soon being produced for wider audiences as a “whiskey fit for a King.”
Fun Facts
- Crown Royal was originally owned by Seagram but is currently owned by Diageo, a multinational distributor.
- 10,000 bushels of rye, corn, and barley are used daily
- 900,000 gallons of water are required and are naturally filtered through the limestone beneath the lake
- 5 million barrels of whiskey are stored in 50 warehouses during the aging process.
- Crown Royal Original still comes in the purple pouch with gold lettering
How is Whiskey Made?
Whiskey is distilled from rye, corn, and barley. Due to this combination of grains, Crown Royal is called a blend. 80% of Crown Royal’s grains come from Manitoba and surrounding provinces, producing hearty, resilient ingredients. Five different mixtures (mash bills) and twelve distillation columns produce the Crown Royal blends. After that, the liquid is aged in different types of barrels, which creates variations.
What is the difference between different types of Whiskeys?
You may see single malt, grain, or blended on the label, which refers to ingredients.
- Single Malt – made with malted barley, water, and yeast.
- Grain – made from corn, wheat, or both
- Blended – a combination of the two
Whiskey and Gluten
It is said that the distilling process removes the gluten proteins from grain alcohol. However, this is not a 100% foolproof process. Some people with celiac disease do just fine drinking Crown Royal, which others have some adverse effects. I cannot offer medical advice, so proceed with caution. Some sources advise against consuming whiskey altogether, and some agree that the glutens are removed during the distillation process. Depending on your health situation and sensitivity levels (plus advice from your medical professional), only you can determine whether to take a chance with whiskey.
Current Crown Royal Whiskey Varieties
Each whiskey variation has a slightly different blend for unique flavors. The nose, palate, and finish vary with each blend. Often the variety is due to the type of barrel in which it is aged. For example, the XO is aged in cognac casks, while the Signature Series uses oak. While the Signature Series Deluxe comes in the purple bag, other blends come in different color bags.
- Signature Series
- Deluxe
- Rye
- Black
- Blender’s Mash
- Master Series
- XR
- XO
- Reserve
- Wine Barrel Finished
- Flavor Series
- Regal Apple
- Vanilla
- Peach
- Salted Caramel
In certain areas, canned cocktails are available:
- Crown Royal Peach Tea
- Crown Royal Washington Apple
- Crown Royal Whiskey & Cola
Crown Royal Nutrition Facts
Most alcohol is not required to list ingredients or nutritional information on their products; these facts were gathered from independent sources and are approximate.
- 110 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 0mg Potassium
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Crown Royal is not a source of any vitamins or minerals. One might say that these are empty calories.
Crown Royal Peach Tea
There is no mention that this is gluten-free or not.
Ingredients:
- Crown Royal Whiskey
- Peach Flavor
- Other Natural Flavors
- Brewed Tea
Nutrition Facts (per 12 oz):
- 7% alcohol by Volume
- 220 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0mg Sodium
- 20g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Whiskeys that Claim to be Gluten-Free
The author of this article (https://whiskeybon.com/blog/is-whiskey-gluten-free) contacted several distilleries asking about gluten, and here is a select group of whiskeys that claim to be gluten-free.
Jack Daniel’s
They state on their website that “All Jack Daniel’s products including ON7 and flavors are gluten-free.”
Ingredients:
- Corn and other grains (no less than 80% corn)
- Aged in charred oak barrels at least two years
Nutrition Facts (per 1 oz):
- 40% alcohol by volume
- 65 Calories
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Fat
- 0mg Sodium
- 0g Protein
Jack Daniels makes several varieties of whiskey, Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire, Tennessee Apple, Country Cocktails, Can Cocktails, and special editions.
Jameson
Jameson is triple distilled, which they claim “allows any traces of the grains to be removed during the distillation process.” They assert that just one distillation cycle would not remove enough gluten to be considered gluten-free.
Jameson also makes two Caskmates whiskeys where they age the whiskey in old beer bottles. Since beer is not gluten-free, I would exercise caution for contaminants unless Jameson can clarify this statement.
Jameson Products:
- Black Barrel
- Irish Whiskey
- Cold Brew
- Caskmates IPA Edition (whiskey finished in craft beer barrels)
- Caskmates Stout Edition
- 18 Years
- Cooper’s Croze
- Blender’s Dog
- Distiller’s Safe
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Ingredients:
- Aged Irish Whiskey
- Water
- Caramel E150(a)
Nutrition Facts (per 32 ml):
- 40% alcohol by volume
- 70 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Sodium
- 0g Protein
- NO ALLERGENS
Glenfiddich
Someone contacted the company, and their reply was, “Happy to report our whiskey is indeed gluten-free.”
Glenfiddich is a single malt scotch whiskey. They list 28 varieties on their website. Many of their varieties are classified into how old they are. The longer a whiskey is aged, the smoother the taste.
Ingredients:
- Malt Distillate
- Water
- Plain Caramel Color
Nutrition Facts (per 30 ml):
- 40% alcohol by volume
- 66 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
- 0g Sodium
- No Vitamins & Minerals
Wild Turkey
A comment from the company says they do not contain wheat gluten or any other protein with a caveat that they cannot offer specific advice and check with your doctor.
Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Wild Turkey offers 14 different selections of whiskey.
Ingredients:
- Non-GMO grains (often rye)
- Water
- Yeast
- Aged in charred oak barrels
- Aged five to eight years
Nutrition Facts (per 1 oz):
- 43% alcohol by volume
- 69 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0mg Sodium
- 0g Protein
The Glenlivet
They claim the distillation process removed gluten but advise you to check with your doctor.
Single malt scotch whiskey, there are 34 different varieties, many aged quite a while.
Ingredients:
- Scotch Whiskey (malt distillates with water)
- Colorant: plain caramel
Nutrition Facts (per 30 ml):
- 40% alcohol by volume
- 66 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
- 0g Sodium
Glenmorangie
They claim the distillation process removes gluten from their original whiskeys and the spirit caramel used in flavorings (which is derived from wheat starch). Another source stated that Glenmorangie has some branded editions that contain barley and wheat. Like other whiskey brands, use caution.
Glenmorangie is a scotch whiskey with at least 35 selections.
The taste is generated from ingredients such as cinnamon, sherry casks, crème Brulee, menthol, almond, honey, aniseed, vanilla custard, coconut ice, and intense spices
Nutrition Facts (per 35 ml):
- 43% alcohol by volume
- 80 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
- 0mg Sodium
Ardbeg
They claim the distillation process removed gluten.
There are 11 selections from Ardbeg, which has been producing whiskeys since 1815. They produce Scotch Whiskey and Single Malt.
Ingredients:
- Phenolic (Smoky) Malt
- Water
Nutrition Facts (per 1 oz):
- 46% alcohol by volume
- 64 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
- 0g Sodium
The Balvenie
They report their whiskey is gluten-free, with no other explanation.
There are 24 selections listed on their website, and they are all single malt scotch whiskeys. They aged their spirits in one to three different casks in succession. They truly take whiskey development to an art form.
Ingredients:
- Homegrown barley is grown on its own farm
Nutrition Facts (per 30 ml):
- 40% alcohol by volume
- 66 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
- 0g Sodium
Related Questions
What is the difference between whiskey classifications?
During our analysis, we looked at Scotch, Irish, Canadian, and American whiskeys. Whiskey is classified by the region where it is produced, and specific rules often govern the production, ingredients, and aging process. Many of the older whiskies come from Scotland and Ireland, but whiskeys are produced in many countries.
What is Canadian Whiskey?
Besides being produced in Canada, these whiskeys are most often blended using multiple grains, but a large percentage of corn. They are lighter and smoother. Some whiskies add a small number of rye grains.
How Does one Enjoy Whiskey?
Depending on the brand, whiskey can be added to cocktails, served on the rocks, or sipped straight from the bottle. Whiskeys that are aged longer have a smoother taste and flavor and are often collector’s items. These are usually the single malt varieties.
Is it Whiskey or Whisky?
Whisky is the preferred way of spelling Scottish, Canadian or Japanese grain spirits, while Whiskey is the way we spell it in Ireland and the United States.