<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Hi Pat! Cheers to you on an occasional drink of alcohol.  Enclosed is a
list from a Celiac member who (willingly) did this research.....all the
usual warnings apply--- double check if there are special medical
circumstances /prescriptions which do not mix-- and certain alcohols do
have higher sugar or sweetener contents. Always check YOUR bg levels to
see how your body handles said items.


Armagnac - see Cognac  Brandy - Brandy, I am told, is distilled from
grapes and/or other fruits.  We must be careful, as some of the cheaper
brandy may be made from grain alcohols with flavorings added to give
them the correct flavor.
                           Calvados [Apples]
                           Grand Marnier

Cider - Distilled from apples, presumed to be safe as long as no grain
alcohol has been added.  Be aware that some ciders may contain carmel
color, which may contain gluten. Also in my research, I have found that
some producers use apples and glucose as their base. The glucose may
have been derived from wheat or maize (HPBulmer is one such company that
uses this form of glucose) Cider makers may only choose from a limited
list of colouring materials; Caramel (E152), quinolene yellow (E104),
Sunset Yellow (E110), Carmine (E120), Carmoisine (E122), Tartrazine
(E102), Indigo Carmine (132), Ponceau 4R(E124), Acid Brilliant Green S
(E142).

Cognac - Armagnacs and Cognacs are made from grapes which are grown in a
specific area of France. Each drink is named for the area in which it is
produced. (i.e. Armagnacs are only produced in the Armagnac area of
France) The coloring of Armaganc and Cognac usually comes from the
length of time that it spends in the barrel. All Armagancs and Cognacs
should be fine.


 Grappa - This is a type of alcohol fermented from wine which is
fermented from grapes.  It usually contains approximatly 40% alcohol, so
is not a wine.  Grappa started out as a peasants drink in Italy.  It was
made from what remained of the origional grapes after they had been
spueezed for wine.  The squeezings, leftover peels and pits would be
used.  This would be distilled and stored in kegs.  Recently grappa has
found it's way into being fashionable and expensive.


 Mead - Mead is distilled from honey, so should be alright as long as no
grain alcohols are added to it.

 Ouzo - A clear, aromatic alcohol distilled from grapes and flavored
with aniseed (anise).  Anise belongs to the parsley family and has a
licorice-like flavor.  Anise is one of the earliest aromatic plants to
be mentioned in history and originates in the Mediteranian.


Rum - Rum is distilled from sugar cane.  I am told that light rums
should be free of gluten, however the heavier spiced rums may contain
gluten.  If you prefer spiced rums please contact the company to make
sure that any spices used are GF.  Otherwise it is safest to trust only
white rums.


Sake - A wine distilled from rice, but may actually contain barely, so
be careful.
                   Miso--can be made using wither rice or barley
                   Koji--can contain barley because it comes from Miso
                   Sake--contains Koji (possible barley from the
                             Miso used to make the Koji)


Sherry - Some sherry's should be GF as they are distilled from grapes,
but I am told that some are fortified with grain alcohol to make them
more potent.


 Tequila - Tequila is distilled from agave.  It is only GF if it is
distilled from 100% agave or 100% blue agave, so look on the label.  As
with rum, only the silver (clear) colored tequila is presumed to be safe
as some of the colorings may contain gluten.  Some gold (dark) tequilas
are dark by aging.  These will be labeled as "anejo" on the  bottle and
should also be GF.

 Vermouth - I am told that this is distilled from grapes.

 Vodkas - The majority of Vodka's are now distilled from grain, however
some brands are distilled from gluten free materials.
                           Black Death [Beets] (reported at about $6.00
                              per 750ml in New Mexico)
                           Bushmans [Potato]
                           Chopin [Potato] (reported to be exspensive @
                              30 US dollars per 750ml)
                           Glacier [Potato?]
                           Luksusowa [Potato]
                           Monopolowa [Potato] (reported to be about
                              $7.99 in California)


 Wines -  In theory all wines should be safe for Celiacs.  I have not
heard of any that are not GF, however some people have complaned that
they are sensitive to sulfites or possibly the eggs used to process some
wines.

The following is information I found in the CSA/USA, Inc. Commercial
Products Listing 2nd Listing which was published in April of 1996.  The
dates following the information on each company are the CSA's date their
information was checked.  Listed items are considered to be GF unless
otherwise noted.

              Almaden: All Wines.  10/95
              Bacardi:  All.  1/95
              Bartles & James:  All Wine-Based Beverages and Champagnes
                  are OK.  NOT Malt Beverages - Read Label
                  Carefully and NOT "Hornsby" draft cider.  10/95
              Boones:  Wine-Based Beverages -All.  NOT Malt Beverages -
                  Read Carefully.  10/95
              Carlo Rossi:  All Wines.  11/95
              Franzia:  All Wines.  11/95
              Gallo:  Chamagne and Wine - All EXCEPT Hornsby Draft
                  Cider.  10/95
              Holland House:  All EXCEPT Teriyaki Marinade AND Smooth &
                  Spicy Bloody Mary Mix.                   1/95
              Mr. & Mrs. "T":  All Except Bloody Mary Mix.  1/95
              Royal Mistic:  All Wines.  1/95
              Spice Islands:  Cooking Wines - Burgandy, Sherry and
                  White.  2/96
              Sutter Home:  All Wines.  10/95
              The Wine Group:  All Wines.  11/95

~fran