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Home » Answers » Is Fireball Gluten Free?

Published: April 23, 2023 / Updated: April 23, 2023

Is Fireball Gluten Free?

Fireball Whisky is a cinnamon-flavored spirit with a spicy kick. But is Fireball gluten free?

bottle of fireball whisky with a glass of fireball on the rocks

A common sight at bars and at parties, Fireball’s bright yellow and red label is hard to miss. It bills itself as a whisky with natural cinnamon flavors. But does its formula also include gluten?

Whisky is made in part from wheat, which does contain gluten. But like other whiskies, Fireball is also a distilled alcohol. And the distillation process removes gluten proteins. So Fireball is considered gluten free.

But there’s a twist and it has to do with Fireball’s whisky-free product. Read on to find out more.

Jump to:
  • What is Fireball Cinnamon Whisky?
  • What is Fireball Cinnamon?
  • Is Fireball gluten-free?
  • How to tell the different types of Fireball apart
  • FAQ
  • More gluten-related answers

What is Fireball Cinnamon Whisky?

Fireball is made with a blend of Canadian whisky, along with cinnamon for flavor and various sweeteners. But critics argue that this popular alcoholic beverage isn’t really whisky at all.

bottle of fireball cinnamon whisky

That’s because in order to qualify as whisky, the alcohol by volume needs to be at least 40%. Fireball has 33% ABV. Plus, spirits with added flavorings and sugar, such as Fireball, are technically “liqueurs.” And others refer to it as a specialty distilled spirit.

Whatever you choose to call it, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky continues to grow in popularity. So much so that in 2021, the Sazerac Company, which makes it, released a sister product called simply “Fireball Cinnamon.”

What is Fireball Cinnamon?

Fireball Cinnamon has the same sweet flavor and cinnamon taste as the original, but half the alcohol. And it’s classified as a malt beverage instead of a hard liquor. That’s allowed the company to sell it in thousands of more locations across the United States apart from liquor stores, including grocery stores and gas stations.

Unlike its Flagship Cinnamon Whisky, the lower-alcohol variety has no whisky at all. The company describes Fireball Cinnamon as a “malt beverage with natural whisky and other flavors and caramel color.”

The wording implies the addition of whisky, but the drink actually contains whisky flavors.

In fact, the beverage is now the focus of a lawsuit against Sazerac which alleges the company misled consumers into thinking Fireball Cinnamon contained whisky.

But the distinction is important for those with Celiac disease or another gluten intolerance.

Is Fireball gluten-free?

The original Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is considered gluten free. Like other wheat-based distilled spirits, the gluten is removed during the distillation process. And the manufacturer claims no gluten-containing ingredients are added after distillation.

However, some argue that trace amounts of gluten can still make it into the final product, making alcoholic drinks like distilled whiskey off-limits for those with severe gluten sensitivities. So this is something you may want to consider if you have gluten allergies or a gluten intolerance.

While Fireball whisky can be deemed gluten free, Fireball Cinnamon is not. Its maker describes it as a malt-based beverage. And malt beverages are derived from gluten-containing grains, specifically barley.

So Fireball Cinnamon is not compatible with a gluten-free diet.

How to tell the different types of Fireball apart

Both Fireball Cinnamon Whisky and Fireball Cinnamon are similar in taste and packaging, so in order to tell these alcoholic beverages apart, you need to look at the label closely.

The original whisky-based drink will say “Cinnamon Whisky” on the front. The malt-based beverage will simply read “Cinnamon.”

fireball cinnamon
fireball whisky

It’s a minor distinction, but an important one if you have a gluten sensitivity and may not be able to tolerate malt beverages.

FAQ

How much alcohol does Fireball contain?

A bottle of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky has an ABV of 33%. Fireball Cinnamon malt-based beverage has 16.5% alcohol.

Does Fireball contain Propylene Glycol?

Propylene glycol (PG) is a food additive and preservative once used in Fireball. It is also an ingredient in antifreeze, leading to rumors that Fireball contained antifreeze in its formula. Though that isn’t true, Fireball states that all products now sold worldwide are free of PG.

Does Fireball contain real cinnamon?

The company that makes Fireball says it does contain real cinnamon to produce the unique flavor in its whisky-based drink. Though it keeps the rest of its formula secret.

Is it Fireball cinnamon whisky or Fireball cinnamon whiskey?

Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is spelled without an “e”. Fireball uses Canadian whisky in its recipe, and in Canada, the spelling of the word whisky does not include an “e”.


More gluten-related answers

Find out whether other popular foods and beverages contain gluten. Check out these posts.

  • bottle of heineken beer on stone wall outside
    Is Heineken Gluten Free? (A Brewing Controversy)
  • bottle of stella artois beer on stone wall outside
    Is Stella Artois Gluten Free?
  • large glass of guinness beer on bar at guinness brewery
    Is Guinness Beer Gluten Free?
  • kitkat bars on a plate with wrapper
    Are Kit Kats Gluten Free?
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Hi, I'm Alain! I used to be a TV journalist. Then I caught the cooking bug. Now I've blended both of those passions into this site. I dive into all sorts of food and drink-related topics to uncover the answers to common and not-so-common culinary questions. My goal is to make it easy for you to quickly find accurate cooking answers, so you can spend more time making dishes instead of researching them.

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