Identifying Vegan Spirits
Scan the label for the vegan symbol. The symbol for a vegan product is the letter “V” inside of a circle. Although many spirit manufacturers are not required to list their ingredients on their labels, many will include the vegan symbol to identify their product as being vegan-friendly. The label may also say something like “Vegan-Friendly” or “This product is cruelty-free” to indicate that animal products were not used to make it.
Check for honey in the product’s name. Spirits that contain honey are often easily identified simply by looking at the name of the product on the bottle. If the name includes the word honey, then the spirit isn’t vegan and you can avoid it. For example, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Smirnoff Wild Honey contain real honey, so they aren’t vegan. Check the label for a description that includes the word honey or honey-flavored. For example, Barenjager doesn’t have honey in the name, but the label describes it as “Honey Liqueur.” In the US, spirits are not required to list their ingredients on the bottle, but some still do and many international spirits will list them. Check for an ingredient list, which may be in fine print, and look to see if honey is listed.
Avoid cream-based liqueurs. Cream-based liquors such as Bailey’s Irish cream and Advocaat are pretty easy to identify and steer clear of. They contain dairy so they aren’t vegan, and they often include the word “cream” on the label. You can also identify cream-based liquors by their thick and milky consistency. Some cream-based liqueurs use plant-based milk such as coconut milk or almond milk. Check the label to be sure. For example, Baileys Almande, Bom Bom, and Besos De Oro are cream-based liqueurs and they all used plant-based milk!
Look up the spirit online to see if it’s vegan-friendly. If you’re unsure of whether or not a spirit is vegan-friendly, search online to find out. Check the website of the company that makes the spirit or run a Google search using keywords. For example, you could enter something like, “Johnny Walker scotch vegan” and you’ll pull up results that confirm that it is or is not vegan. Most major name-brands will state that they’re vegan-friendly on their websites if they are.Tip: Use Barnivore, an online directory of vegan beer, wine, and spirits that is regularly updated. Visit www.barnivore.com/ to look up a spirit to find out if it’s vegan-friendly.
Download an app that will help you identify vegan spirits. Use an application on your smartphone or tablet that will allow you to quickly lookup a spirit or a cocktail to make sure it’s vegan before you choose it. Visit your app store and download a vegan alcohol guide that you can pull up whenever you need it. Popular vegan alcohol guide apps include Vegaholic, VegeTipple, and Drink Vegan. Having an app handy is especially useful if you frequently attend events or go to restaurants where spirits are being served.
Ordering Vegan Cocktails
Request plant-based milk for cocktails with cream or milk. Substitute dairy for almond, soy, oat, or any other plant-based milk when you’re ordering cocktails that use cream or milk as part of their ingredients, such as a White Russian or a Grasshopper. Additionally, stay away from liqueurs that contain cream or milk, such as Bailey’s Irish cream or Rumchata. Some cream liqueurs have vegan alternatives as well! For example, Bailey’s makes an almond milk version that is vegan-friendly. Ask your bartender if they have plant-based milk options you can use for a vegan alternative.
Substitute simple syrup for honey for a vegan alternative. Cocktails such as a Gold Rush or a Bee’s Knees are traditionally made with fresh honey. Ask the bartender to swap the honey for something sweet like simple syrup or agave nectar. In addition, some cocktails use spirits that contain real honey, such as honey-flavored whiskey or Barenjager liqueur, so ask your bartender to substitute it for a spirit without honey.
Check to make sure any cocktails with foam are vegan. Cocktails with a foam on top or a frothy texture often use egg whites to create the foam, so use caution when you’re ordering one. Ask the bartender what ingredients they use, and whether or not they use egg whites in their foamy cocktails. Whisky Sours, Amaretto Sours, and other “Sours” often use egg whites to achieve their foamy consistency.Tip: Ask your bartender if they can use an egg white alternative, such as Aquafaba or soy lecithin based foam to make you a foamy cocktail.
Ask about the Worcestershire sauce in your Bloody Mary. Many tomato-juice based cocktails, such as a Bloody Mary, use Worcestershire sauce as one of the ingredients, which is traditionally made with anchovies. Before you order your tomato-juice based cocktail, ask your bartender if the Worcestershire sauce they use is vegan. If the sauce isn’t vegan, you can always order the drink without it! Some Worcestershire sauces are vegan and will have the letter “V” inside of a circle, or will say something like “Vegan-Friendly” to indicate that they’re vegan.
Make sure the eggnog is vegan before you order it. Eggnog, as the name implies, is made of several animal products including cream and eggs. However, there are plenty of vegan versions of eggnog out there, so ask the bartender if their eggnog is vegan or if they have a vegan alternative that you can order. If you aren’t sure, avoid the eggnog to be on the safe side.
Avoid cocktails that include fat washing. Fat washing refers to the practice of infusing animal fats such as bacon fat or butter into a cocktail. It’s primarily done at higher-end cocktail bars and is less common nowadays. However, if you see a cocktail that is fat washed, avoid ordering it or ask if you can order your drink without it. If you aren’t sure if your cocktail includes fat washing, ask your bartender.
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