Gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people choosing to avoid gluten for medical or lifestyle reasons. For those following a gluten-free diet, knowing which alcohols are safe to drink can be confusing. One popular holiday liquor is peppermint schnapps, particularly the Dekuyper brand. But is Dekuyper peppermint schnapps gluten-free?
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. For most people, gluten does not cause any issues. However, for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten can cause serious health problems. When someone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity consumes gluten, it causes damage to the small intestine and impairs the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. This can lead to symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, and more.
The only treatment for celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity is following a strict lifelong gluten-free diet. This means avoiding any foods, drinks or products that contain gluten. With gluten lurking in many unexpected products, from soy sauce to lip balms, sticking to a gluten-free diet can be challenging. That’s why it’s important for those avoiding gluten to understand whether their favorite alcoholic beverages, like peppermint schnapps, are safe to drink.
What is Peppermint Schnapps?
Peppermint schnapps is a popular alcoholic liquor usually consumed around the holidays. It has a minty flavor, derived from peppermint oils. Traditional peppermint schnapps contains a base spirit, like grain alcohol, that is infused with peppermint extractives. Popular brands of peppermint schnapps include Rumple Minze, Yukon Jack, and Dekuyper.
There are a few different ways that peppermint schnapps can be produced:
- Grain alcohol base infused with peppermint extractives
- Vodka base infused with peppermint extractives
- Mix of grain alcohol and vodka infused with peppermint extractives
- Artificial peppermint flavor added to a base spirit
The ingredients and methods used to produce peppermint schnapps can impact whether or not the final product is gluten-free. So to determine if a particular brand of peppermint schnapps is safe when avoiding gluten, we need to look at the production methods for that specific brand.
Is Dekuyper Peppermint Schnapps Gluten-Free?
When looking at the Dekuyper brand specifically, the answer is yes – Dekuyper peppermint schnapps is considered gluten-free. Here are the key facts:
- Dekuyper peppermint schnapps is distilled from grain neutral spirits. The distillation process removes the gluten protein from the base grains.
- According to Dekuyper, their peppermint schnapps contains “less than 20ppm of gluten from the fermentation process”. This is well below the FDA limit of less than 20ppm for foods to be labelled as “gluten-free”.
- Dekuyper peppermint schnapps is certified gluten-free by the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), an independent certification organization. The GIG label means the product has been tested to verify the gluten-free claim.
- The formula for Dekuyper peppermint schnapps contains peppermint extractives added to the distilled spirit, but does NOT contain any ingredients with gluten sources like wheat, barley, rye or malt.
Based on this information from the manufacturer and independent certification, Dekuyper peppermint schnapps can be considered safe to consume on a gluten-free diet. The distillation process removes gluten proteins from the grain alcohol base, and testing verifies there is less than 20ppm of gluten in the final peppermint schnapps product.
Cross-Contamination Risks
While Dekuyper peppermint schnapps itself is gluten-free, there are some risks of cross-contamination to be aware of. Cross-contamination occurs when a gluten-free product comes into contact with sources of gluten during production, packaging or handling.
Here are a few cross-contamination risks to keep in mind with Dekuyper peppermint schnapps:
- Being made in facilities that also handle sources of gluten like wheat, barley, rye
- Shared equipment with other products containing gluten
- Shared storage and transportation with gluten-containing products
- Errors in bottling facilities causing gluten-containing products to be incorrectly labelled as gluten-free
The most likely area for cross-contamination would be in a shared production facility that handles multiple different products. Dekuyper produces a wide range of alcoholic beverages, liqueurs, shots, and cordials. So even though their peppermint schnapps may be gluten-free, other products they make contain gluten sources.
Those with celiac disease or who are highly sensitive should use caution and evaluate their own tolerance levels for risk. While the Dekuyper peppermint schnapps itself is gluten-free, the potential for cross-contamination means there could be trace amounts of gluten present. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about cross-contamination with alcoholic beverages and make sure to check the gluten-free certifications.
Other Minty Gluten-Free Schnapps Options
If you enjoy peppermint schnapps but want to avoid any risk of cross-contamination from the Dekuyper brand, there are some other gluten-free minty options to consider:
| Brand | Product | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit Hound | Peppermint Spirit | Colorado-made spirit distilled from sugarcane with natural peppermint flavor |
| St. George Spirits | Peppermint Bark Liqueur | Blend of vodka and brandy infused with bittersweet chocolate and peppermint |
| Vincent Van Gogh | Double Espresso Vodka | Double-distilled vodka made in the Netherlands infused with vanilla and espresso |
| Prairie Organic | Peppermint Vodka | Small-batch organic vodka distilled from corn and infused with peppermint |
These brands offer peppermint-flavored spirits that are certified gluten-free. So they can give the minty flavor of schnapps while avoiding any risk of gluten cross-contamination. Just be sure to always check labels and certifications, since production processes can change over time.
Enjoying Dekuyper Schnapps Safely on a Gluten-Free Diet
So in summary – yes, Dekuyper peppermint schnapps is considered gluten-free, based on the distillation process and independent lab testing. For those following a strict gluten-free diet, enjoying the occasional holiday cocktail made with Dekuyper schnapps should be fine as the liquor itself does not contain gluten. However, those highly sensitive should take some precautions:
- Drink in moderation – don’t overdo it with gluten-free cocktails.
- Check the gluten-free certifications are up-to-date for the current year’s bottling.
- Rinse glasses thoroughly before using to avoid cross-contamination.
- Use freshly opened bottles instead of ones opened previously to avoid any contamination from pouring.
- Have your own designated gluten-free spirits shelf separate from other household liquor.
While being gluten-free cuts out many beloved foods and drinks, you can still enjoy gluten-free minty cocktails using Dekuyper or other schnapps brands. Just take a few minor precautions to minimize any risk of cross-contamination. Be sure to thoroughly enjoy your holiday drinks and flavors while staying healthy on your gluten-free diet!
