![]() Check out this 100 percent barley malt gin, 100 percent wheat gin or this 100 percent potato gin. If you can’t find organic, look for gins made from small, local producers using interesting base alcohols that aren’t corn or a corn blend. ![]() Where is it made? Because of the variety of ingredients that it can be made from, gin is produced all over the world.īest choice: Organic gin. This makes it more complicated to figure out, but the base could include corn, so would likely be GM if it originated in the US. Is it commonly GMO? Many gins are made from a non-specified neutral spirit base. The spirit base is infused/distilled with juniper berries and other botanicals, such as caraway, angelica, cardamom, coriander seed, cassia bark and citrus. But you can find gin made from other ingredients including quinoa and potato among other agricultural products. What is it made from? A neutral spirit base usually made from corn, barley, wheat and/or rye. The Best Options For Non-GMO Alcohol, by Alcoholic Beverage Type Gin If you have the time, do some research and find a good non-GMO alcohol option (and let us know what it is!). Drink brands from Europe where GMOs are (nearly) banned.Avoid flavored and colorful alcohol, which can contain additives, high fructose corn syrup (made from GMO corn), food coloring and more. If you’re still going for corn-based alcohols (not just whiskey, bourbon and rye, but some gins and vodkas, too), pick ones made with non-GMO corn.If that’s not an option, avoid alcohol that is primarily made from GM crops – like corn, soy and sugar beets.As we mentioned, look for a brand that carries the USDA organic label.Four General Tips to Help You Avoid GMO Alcohol Then again, there are strict rules on what goes into Scotch, so it’s a safe choice for various reasons. GMOs are very strictly regulated and nearly entirely banned in the European Union. If you’re a Scotch drinker or choosing a spirit distilled in Europe, there’s good news. As of right now, there are at least two popular whiskey brands on the market that use non-GMO corn - Wild Turkey and Four Roses. Although these tequilas and mezcals are from Mexico, they are certified USDA organic.Įven if it’s not certified organic, some of the larger US whiskey brands are quietly using non-GMO corn. Del Maguey Single Village makes a certified organic mezcal. And don’t forget the tequila, with such certified organic producers as 123 Organic Tequila and 4 Copas. As for rum, look for a bottle made with organic molasses and spices, like Los Angeles’ Crusoe or Minneapolis-based Drake’s. Koval makes a single barrel, certified organic bourbon as does Wigle Pennsylvania Bourbon. Some smaller producers of certified organic spirits in the US include Square One vodka made from rye and Prairie vodka made from corn. For instance, Buffalo Trace Distillery, owned by large producer, Sazerac, has a small-batch, certified organic bourbon. These are typically from smaller producers and can be harder to come by. And, even though you may not encounter many certified organic spirits, it never hurts to ask your local bartender if they carry any certified organic brands. One of the easiest ways to avoid GMO alcohol (as well as GM food) is to buy products that have the certified USDA organic label, a certification that prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms. So, if you’re trying to avoid GMOs, what do you drink? How to Find Non-GMO Alcohol For Your Cocktail And seeing how many domestic whiskeys - as well as some gins - are made from varying quantities of corn, either as part of the whiskey mash or to make a neutral grain spirit, it’s possible that your cocktail is anything but GMO free. In the US, around 90 percent of the corn grown is genetically modified. Because of these concerns, the USDA will begin to implement a GMO label in 2020, which will be mandatory for food companies by 2022. While there’s an ongoing debate about the safety of GMOs for human health, one thing is very clear: herbicide-resistant GMOs are bad for the environment. Why should you care if your cocktail is made with GMO alcohol? Over the last 20 or so years, the use of genetic modification in conventional agriculture has become an industry standard. With the rise in GMO use has come a wave of consumer concern, about both GMO safety and the increasing use of herbicides - like glyphosate - associated with their production.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |