Vegan Alcohol Ultimate Guide

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Are Vegan Cocktails really Vegan ??



Vegan alcohol includes spirits, beer, wine and cocktails which are free from animal products. Like the food we eat, vegans choose to avoid non-vegan alcohol and any products with animal-derived ingredients. The most common non-vegan ingredients in alcohol are isinglass, made from the dried swim bladders of fish, gelatine, made from boiled bones, flesh and ligaments, casein, a protein derived from cow’s milk, and albumin from egg whites.

You may be surprised to realise that some beers, wine and cocktails include animal products. That’s because many ingredients are hidden, such as isinglass which is used in the filtration process. Producers are under no obligation to list the animal products used in the production process, so you often can’t identify vegan drinks by their labels.

Thankfully, there is lots of ‘accidentally vegan’ alcohol including beers, wine, and other alcoholic drinks – plus some delicious choices from independent vegan retailers. And — as veganism continues gaining popularity — more and more large retailers are proudly displaying the vegan logo on their products, including alcohol. In fact, research conducted in 2018 found that millennials are driving the demand for vegan and gluten-free beers, so we can expect an explosion in vegan-friendly alcohol products in the future.


Why aren't some beers, wines and cocktails vegan?

Beer, wine and cider can be non-vegan due to the products used in the filtration process, such as isinglass, gelatine and casein. Additionally, some non-vegan flavourings such as honey may be added, and some cocktails rely on milk and eggs. More unusually, some drinks use castoreum, a musky flavouring derived from the castor sacs (next to the anal glands) of dead beavers. 

Some producers may also use egg whites, known as albumin, or chitin, made from the shells of crustaceans, to filter their alcoholic drinks instead of isinglass. Some modern craft beers also use lactose, honey and pretty much anything you could think of to create new flavours. The most infamous of these has to be cock-ale; popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, this beer had an entire chicken carcass added during the brewing process.


What are the vegan alternatives?

Many beers, wines and ciders do settle naturally, meaning they do not require an additional filtration agent. This is a more traditional brewing process and is still surprisingly popular. But there are also vegan alternatives to isinglass, such as carrageenan, derived from Irish moss, and pea protein.

In terms of flavourings, there is a whole world of delicious vegan flavours which can spice up your beverage without the added cruelty. Most brewers create unique flavours using different blends of hops and you may find some other special vegan additions such as berries and citrus fruits.


About Cocktail

It may seem obvious now, but some cocktails, such as a White Russian, include animal products. The most common ingredients are milk (Baileys!) egg white (such as in a Whiskey Sour) and honey (often paired with Bourbon). Also, some bars go the cheap ‘n’ nasty route and use cow’s milk or cream in pina Coladas – the classic and by far best is made from fresh pineapple, coconut cream and white rum. But there are still many classics which are always vegan: Cosmopolitan! Mojito! Martini! You can still have a merry ol’ time whilst maintaining your vegan ethics.


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