Gin and Tonic is a popular drink. The main ingredient that gives gin its flavor is juniper berries. Gin comes in many tastes depending on the botanicals that are used. There are classic gins used in mixed drinks as well as flavored gins one can drink alone or in a cocktail.
Hendrick’s Gin is gluten-free. All distilled liquors are considered gluten-free, regardless of the source of the original grains. However, hidden glutens may be in some gins due to the addition of other ingredients. Hendrick’s Gin uses botanicals and contains no gluten ingredients. Other gluten-free alternatives to Hendrick’s Gin include Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, and Gin Mare.
Let’s take a closer look at gluten with relation to gin, Hendrick’s gin varieties, and several other gin alternatives. According to celiac websites, these brands are considered safe for a gluten-free diet.
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Gluten in Distilled Products
Since gin is either made from barley, rye, or wheat, some might question whether it contains gluten. During the distilling process, alcohol is isolated from all solids. This vapor passes through the still and condenses on the other end. All gluten protein is left behind in the still. As a result, the final product (before additives) contains no gluten.
Those with extreme gluten sensitivity have been known to react to gin even with these measures, so caution should still be exercised.
Flavored gins might warrant some caution as well. They may contain gluten substances or have come in contact with gluten. Due to the lack of nutrition label requirements, some might want to stick with unflavored gin or double-check with the manufacturer.
For most, gin is a safe alcohol to drink even when trying to avoid gluten.
About Hendrick’s
A fairly new brand of gin, it was launched in 1999 by William Grant & Sons at the Girvan Distillery in Scotland. A Yorkshire native was hired to create the super-premium gin and it became popular.
The blend of botanicals and cucumber essence lends this drink to be garnished with cucumber instead of citrus in a class gin and tonic.
Hendrick’s also makes some unique gin-infused pickled cucumbers which go perfectly with their original recipe gin. These are not alcoholic pickles, but rather use the same botanical infusion as in the gin. They have even created specialty drinks that use the brine from the pickles.
Unique Manufacturing Process
Made in small batches, Hendrick’s uses two rare and unusual stills in its process. Prior to distillation, one still steeps 11 botanicals in spirits overnight. The other still steams the botanicals over the spirits to impart flavors. Liquid from the two stills is then combined for a unique flavor with character and balance.
The stills have their own history – one is very rare and the other was restored after being bought at an auction.
Nutrition in Gin
Gin and many other alcohols are not required to follow the food labeling guidelines set forth by the FDA. Alcohol is regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Drinks with an alcohol by volume of more than 1.2% do not have to list ingredients on their packages. If they contain allergens such as gluten, they must state this on their label. So you can be mildly assured that a spirit with no allergen listed is gluten-free.
Most gins recipes are proprietary and are not listed. The botanicals listed here are from their websites and the nutrition information is from independent sources.
Gin holds very little nutritional value. 1 oz of gin has between 100 and 115 Calories, no fat, no sodium, no cholesterol, and no protein. There are no vitamins or minerals. Herb infusions add little calories and no other nutritional value either.
When counting calories or deciding whether a beverage holds nutritional value, be sure to consider what you mix it with. Tonic will add sodium, fruit juices will add calories and sugars, and even the condiments will add some calories, sugars, or fats.
Hendrick’s Gins
Hendrick’s currently has four flavors. Some are limited edition. They all start with the original botanicals but differ in the additional infusions. They are all similar in the amount of alcohol by volume.
- Original Gin
- Lunar
- Orbium
- Midsummer Solstice
Hendrick’s Gin – Original
Infusions of Rose and Cucumber and 44% Alcohol by Volume.
Botanicals:
- Chamomile
- Elderflower
- Juniper
- Lemon Peel
- Orange Peel
- Caraway
- Coriander
- Culeb Berries
- Angelica Root
- Yarrow Root
- Orris Root
Hendrick’s Lunar
With a great marketing campaign, Hendrick’s Lunar was designed for enjoying gin cocktails under starry nights and moonlit skies.
43.4% Alcohol by Volume.
Combination of:
- Night-blooming floral essence
- Warm baked spices
- Crisp burst of citrus
Hendrick’s Orbium
43.4% Alcohol by Volume.
Extracts of:
- Quinine
- Wormwood
- Lotus Blossom
Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice
Gin with floral touches and 43.4% Alcohol by Volume.
Alternatives
Bombay Sapphire
Varieties:
- Bombay Sapphire
- Bombay Dry Gin
- Bombay Sapphire East
Botanicals:
- Cassia Bark
- Coriander Seeds
- Angelica Root
- Juniper Berries
- Orris (Iris Root)
- Lemon Peel
- Grains of Paradise
- Cubeb Berries
- Almonds
43% Alcohol by Volume.
Nutrition Facts (per 1.5 oz serving):
- 106 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
- 0g Salt
Tanqueray
Since 1830, Tanqueray has been making award-winning gin. Some say that this gin is not gluten-free.
Varieties:
- Dry Gin
- Ten
- Sevilla Orange
- Rangpur Lime
Nutrition Facts (per 1.5 oz serving):
- 114 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
- 0g Salt
Beefeater Gin
Varieties:
- London Dry
- Pink Gin
- Blood Orange Gin
- London Garden
- Beefeater 24
- Burrough’s Reserve
Botanicals:
- Juniper
- Lemon Peel
- Coriander Seed
- Almond
- Seville Orange Peel
- Orris Root
- Licorice Root
- Angelica Root
- Angelica Seed
- Strawberry
Nutrition Facts (per 1.5 oz serving):
- 100 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
- 0g Salt
Gordon’s Gin
Varieties:
- London Dry Gin Export
- Premium Pink Distilled Gin
- Lemon Distilled Gin
37.5% alcohol by volume.
Nutrition Facts (per 1.5 oz serving):
- 108 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
- 0g Salt
Gin Mare
Hand-crafted in a 13th-century chapel in the Mediterranean.
Varieties:
- Gin Mare
- Capri Mediterranean
Botanicals:
- Arbequina Olives
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Orange
- Coriander
- Juniper Berries
- Lemon
- Green Cardamom
Seagram’s Gin
Seagram’s has been making gin since 1939 and were the first to introduce flavored liqueurs added to the gin. The Extra Dry Gin is definitely gluten-free. No mention on the rest, but since normally fruit flavors are not made from gluten, you are pretty safe.
Varieties:
- Extra Dry Gin
- Pineapple Twisted Gin
- Lime Twisted Gin
- Watermelon Twisted Gin
- Peach Twisted Gin
- Melon Twisted Gin
- Apple Twisted Gin
- Grape Twisted Gin
Extra Dry Gin Tasting Notes:
- Juniper
- Coriander
- Bitter & Sweet Orange
- Angelica Root
Larios 12 Gin
Using 12 botanicals distilled 5 times, the citrus notes really come through. 40% Alcohol by Volume.
Botanicals:
- Wild Juniper
- Nutmeg
- Angelica Root
- Coriander
- Mediterranean Lemon
- Orange
- Tangerine
- Mandarin
- Clementine
- Grapefruit
- Lime
- Orange Blossom
Martin Miller’s Gin
Martins uses two distillations, one using earthy botanicals and the other using citrus-based botanicals. In the end, the two are added together. Icelandic spring water is used when blending the gin to strength. Tastes of the Original gin include lemon peels, pine notes, licorice, and citrus flavors.
Varieties:
- Original
- Westbourne
- 9 Moons – gin that is aged in French oak barrels
- Summerful – adds rosemary and thyme
- Winterful – cinnamon notes with cardamom and mandarin
Aviation Gin
Co-owned by actor Ryan Reynolds.
Botanicals:
- Cardamom
- Coriander
- French Lavender
- Anise Seed
- Sarsaparilla
- Juniper
- Orange Peels
Gins made without Grains
Sing Gin
Established in 2016, this gin is made from grapes instead of grains and follows the traditional distillation process, so it is definitely gluten-free.
Botanicals include:
- Juniper
- Mint
- Orange Peel
- Flax
Chase Gin
This is vodka (made from potatoes) distilled with 10 botanicals to create a gin.
Botanicals:
- Juniper
- Coriander Seed
- Bitter Almond
- Cinnamon Bark
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Angelica Root
- Licorice Root
- Lemon Peel
- Cardamom
Priory Gin
This is also made from potato vodka that is distilled with botanicals into a gin. It comes in London Dry or Pink varieties
Top 7 Gin Cocktails
Besides Gin & Tonic, here are some interesting gin cocktails to try.
1. Negroni
- Gin
- Campari
- Sweet Vermouth
2. Singapore Sling
- Gin
- Cherry Heering
- Benedictine
- Lime
- Angostura bitters
- Splash of soda
3. Aviation
- Gin
- Maraschino Liqueur
- Fresh lemon juice
- Simple syrup
- Crème de Violette
4. Gin Fizz
- Gin
- Simple Syrup
- Soda
- Citrus
5. Tom Collins
- Gin
- Simple Syrup
- Soda
- Citrus
6. French 75
- Gin
- Lemon
- Simple syrup
- Champagne
7. Long Island Iced Tea
- Gin
- Rum
- Vodka
- Tequila
- Triple sec
- Simple syrup
- Lemon juice
- Cola
Related Questions
What is the World’s Strongest Gin?
More of a fun fact. While most gins on this list fall in the 40 to 50% range, Anno Extreme 95 Gin has an alcohol by volume of 95%. Truly for gin connoisseurs.
How does Gin get its Flavor?
Gin is either made from diffusing botanicals into the spirit during the distillation process, or by adding flavors at the end.
Where do all these Juniper Berries come from?
Juniper berries are not widely cultivated. Independent workers pick juniper berries in the wild and sell them to distributors who get them to the gin manufacturers.
Where did the Gin & Tonic originate?
The most popular drink is gin and tonic. During exploration days, sailors were given tonic with quinine to prevent malaria. This drink was nasty tasting, so the sailors would mix it with their gin rations.