Restaurants may offer a slew of gluten-free menu items, but
let’s face it?the cocktail list leaves a lot to be desired. And while
wheat-based vodka is traditionally distilled, that doesn’t always mean it
doesn’t contain gluten. “If something is wheat-based, you’re inherently having
wheat,” says Nicole Cogan, founder of NOBREAD, a popular blog that features
pin-worthy gluten-free dishes at restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, and
Washington, D.C.
That’s why she teamed up with Stolichnaya for the launch of
Stoli Gluten-Free ($23; arlingtonwine.net), the Russian brand’s first-ever
gluten-free offering. Below, she talks about the merits of gluten-free
drinking.
What
cocktails aren't gluten-free?
Spirits with wheat, rye,
or barley should be avoided. (Ed note: That means whiskey, bourbon, and beer
are a no-go.) Mixers are typically gluten-free.
Stoli Gluten-Free is made
of 88 percent corn and 12 percent buckwheat. For the uninitiated, what makes
that gluten-free? Corn and buckwheat are both naturally gluten-free ingredients?even though
buckwheat includes the word “wheat,” it doesn’t contain wheat or gluten.
Does this vodka taste
different than regular vodka? Unlike most other vodkas, it has a clean finish?I drink it straight (no joke!),
but of course, it tastes even better in mixed drinks. The added buckwheat lends
a smoother taste.
For non-vodka drinkers,
what are some hard liquor alternatives? Tequila, rum, or wine. Cider is another great option for those who long for
their beer-drinking days. |