Is Whisky Vegan? – Unveiling the Truth About Your Favourite Spirit
With the rise of veganism, especially among the younger generation of whisky enthusiasts, a new wave of questions surrounding the production and ingredients of this beloved spirit has emerged.
Many individuals are not only concerned with the taste and quality of their whisky but also with ensuring that it aligns with their ethical and dietary values. This blog post delves into the intricacies of whisky production, examining whether it can truly be considered vegan-friendly and what to look out for when selecting your next bottle.
Is Whisky Vegan?
The short answer – yes. The vast majority of single malt whisky is plant-based and vegan, as the three main ingredients used in its production are grain, yeast and water. At no stage in the production process are animal products used from milling and fermenting the grain to distillation and cask ageing. For the same reasons, most if not all spirits are suitable for vegan consumption.
However, some whisky variants and maturation methods may pose issues for certain vegans due to the way in which their made.
Are All Whiskies Vegan?
No – not all whisky can be considered vegan friendly, especially some American whiskeys which include additives. For example, whisky liqueurs which use bee honey as flavouring may not be suitable for ethical vegans. Another example are whisky cream liqueurs which use dairy from cows which, for obvious reasons are totally unsuitable.
In addition to these exceptions, there’s also the issue of beer, wine or sherry casks used to age whisky. Typically, these alcohols are filtered, sometimes using gelatine from fish bladders (isinglass) which is then stored in casks which are later used to cask-finish certain whiskies.
For certain vegans, the use of gelatine to filter a cask’s previous contents may be considered unethical and unsuitable for consumption.
How Do I Know if Whisky Is Vegan?
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to determine if a whisky is vegan or not. With no mandatory labelling requirements for alcoholic beverages in most countries, the best way to find out is by doing some research on the brand and its production methods.
However, a great tool for knowing if whisky is vegan-friendly is the Barnivore website.
Quick fact: After malted barley has been mashed several times over, it’s released all of its starches and sugars. This ‘spent grain’ is then sold to local farmers as ‘draff’ which can be used as animal feed.
Hopefully you found this article helpful. Keep in mind, while many whiskies are vegan-friendly, it’s always best to double check and do your own research to ensure you’re consuming a product that aligns with your ethical beliefs.
