Vodka

“Is Vodka Paleo?” or “Can you drink Vodka on a Paleo Diet” are surprisingly common questions, so I thought I’d address the issue here.

What is Vodka?

Vodka is a distilled alcoholic drink made from grains, potatoes, soybeans, grapes, rice or sugar beets. As vodka is distilled and not brewed, there should not be any gluten left in the final product. However, cross contamination is always a possibility, so it is a good idea to go for a non-grain based spirit, such as a potato vodka instead of a wheat vodka.

Obviously it’s best not to drink, but in the real world it’s best to make the most sensible choice. Compared to beer for example, a vodka and soda or tonic is a much more Paleo diet friendly option. So whilst no spirit is going to be “approved” on a Paleo diet, there are definitely lots of degrees of “Paleoness” in the brand chosen. You might even have found a Paleo recipe calling for a vodka sauce; so which type should you use?

Non Paleo Vodka Brands

Vodkas made with Grains, Barley, Corn, Muscadines, Oats, Rice, Rye, Sugar Beet and Wheat are to be steered clear of on a Paleo diet. These types of Vodkas include the following brands: –

42 BELOW, Absolut, Adnams, Alberta Pure, Artic, Belaya Rus, Belvedere, Biała Dama, Black Dot, Blavod, Bols, Bong Spirit, Boru Vodka, Bowman's, Crystal Head, Danzka, DOT AU, Double Cross, Downunder, Dragon Bleu, Explorer, Finlandia, Firefly, Frïs, Frozen Ghost Vodka, Glen's, Grey Goose, Han, Hangar One, Iceberg, Isensua, Jean-Marc XO, Kauffman, Keglevich, Ketel One, Khortytsa (Хортиця), Koskenkorva, Kryshtal Etalon, Łańcut, L'CHAIM, Level, Lotus, Magic Spirits, Mastermind, Minskaya Kristall, Monte Carlo, Moskovskaya (Московская), Nemiroff (Неміроф), New Amsterdam, Nikolai, Orloff, P.i.n.k, Perfect 1864, Pinnacle, Platinka, Polar Ice, Polonaise, Popov, Rain, Renat, Reyka, Russian Doll, Russian Standard (Русский стандарт), Shustov (Шустов), SKYY , Smirnoff , Snow Queen, Sobieski, Soyuz-Viktan (Союз-Віктан, СВ, SV), Square One Organic, Starka, Stolichnaya (Столичная), Stolnaya (Стольная), Svedka, TAG No. 5, Three Olives, Tito's Handmade, Ultimat, UV, V44, Van Gogh, Viru Valge, Vladivar, Vodka 14, Vox, Wyborowa, Xan, Xellent Swiss, Youri Dolgoruki (Юрий Долгорукий), Żubrówka and Żołądkowa gorzka

Best Paleo Diet Friendly Vodka Brands

Vodkas made of Coconut, Fruits, Grapes, Honey, Horseradish and Potato are far more Paleo diet friendly choices. These brands are the best Paleo options: –

Grape Vodkas:

Bazooka, Binboa, Bombora, Cîroc, Cooranbong, Istanblue and Lokka

Potato Vodkas:

Boyd and Blair, Chase, Chopin, Cirrus, Cracovia, Grand Teton, Heavy Water, Karlsson's, Luksusowa, Monopolowa, Permafrost Vodka and Vikingfjord

Other Paleo friendly vodka options include:

VuQo (Coconut), Siwucha (Fruits), Krupnik (Honey) and Hrenovuha (Хреновуха) (Horseradish)

If you found this useful, please sign up for my newsletter below, and receive my two free, exclusive, Paleo guides!

Navigating Alcohol on a Paleo Diet: Making Sense of Spirits

When you're following a Paleo diet, the question of alcohol can be a tricky one. Technically, alcohol isn’t Paleo — after all, our hunter-gatherer ancestors weren’t distilling spirits or sipping cocktails. But in today’s world, many people following a Paleo lifestyle choose to include the occasional drink — especially for social occasions or celebrations — while still staying as close to their health goals as possible.

So if you’re going to enjoy a drink, it makes sense to ask: what’s the least harmful option? And if you’re choosing vodka, how do you pick the cleanest, most Paleo-friendly version?

Why Vodka Can Be a Better Option Than Beer or Wine

Let’s start with the basics. Most beers are made with gluten-containing grains like barley or wheat, which are completely off-limits on a Paleo diet. Even gluten-free beers are usually highly processed and made with refined carbohydrates and additives.

Wine is a better option, particularly organic red wine — but it still contains natural sugars and is often treated with sulphites and other additives.

Vodka, especially when made from Paleo-friendlier ingredients like potatoes or grapes, is distilled to the point that most of the original source material is removed. This means fewer residual allergens, lower sugar content, and minimal additives — making it a more sensible option in moderation.

Hidden Dangers: Not All Vodka Is Created Equal

Just because vodka is clear doesn’t mean it’s clean. Many vodkas on the market are made from corn, wheat, or other grains that can trigger sensitivities or immune responses in people who are gluten-intolerant or coeliac — despite being technically “gluten-free” after distillation. Cross-contamination is always a possibility, especially in facilities that process other grain-based spirits.

That’s why opting for a potato-based or grape-based vodka is your safest bet. These varieties don’t contain gluten at any point in production, reducing your risk of unwanted reactions. They also tend to have a smoother flavour and are often produced by distilleries with more traditional, small-batch methods.

Tips for Drinking Vodka While Staying Paleo

If you’ve chosen to include the occasional drink in your Paleo lifestyle, here are a few tips to help you keep it as clean and health-supportive as possible:

1. Choose clean mixers: Soda water, fresh citrus juice, or muddled herbs (like mint or basil) are great mixers that won’t compromise your diet. Skip tonic water — it often contains added sugar or artificial sweeteners.

2. Keep it simple: A vodka soda with fresh lime is a minimalist, refreshing, low-toxin drink that’s hard to beat. It’s light, hydrating, and doesn’t overload your system with sugar or chemicals.

3. Avoid cocktails with syrups: Those neon-bright concoctions often contain high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colours, and other additives you definitely don’t want in your glass.

4. Hydrate and recover: Alcohol is dehydrating and can impair sleep. Make sure you drink plenty of water before and after your vodka, and aim for a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory meal the next day (think wild-caught salmon, avocado, and leafy greens).

5. Use vodka in recipes: If you’re making a Paleo-friendly vodka sauce, stick to a potato- or grape-based vodka. It’s a great way to cook with alcohol without worrying about the less Paleo-friendly ingredients of grain-based brands.

The Bottom Line: Is Vodka Paleo?

No alcohol is truly Paleo. But if you’re going to drink, vodka made from Paleo-friendly sources like potato, grape, or coconut is your best bet. It’s lower in sugar, gluten-free, and has fewer additives than most other alcoholic beverages.

As with everything in Paleo, context matters. A small, mindful drink in a social setting or used in a recipe can absolutely fit into a balanced lifestyle — especially if you’re making intentional choices about quality and quantity.

Have a favourite Paleo vodka brand or a clean cocktail recipe you swear by? Share it in the comments — and don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter for more real food tips, recipes, and Paleo-friendly guides.