If you're drinking alcohol, I figure you're already compromising the paleo diet, but you might as well do it safely. By safely I mostly mean gluten-free (sorry beer). I stick to the following:

Wine

Tequila (Distilled from agave)

Vodka (Find brands that are distilled from grapes or potatoes. My favorite is Ciroc - distilled entirely from grapes. Warning, cheaper brands no longer distill from potatoes, be cognizant of what you are buying)

Gin (All include some sort of botanical. Some are distilled from sugars, others from cereal grains, so be on the lookout)

Veev (Just sampled a new liquor called Veev which is from Acai berries. Very tasty.)

And finally, as the closest substitute for beer:

Hard Cider (Typically high in sugar, so this is really just a rare treat vs. an everynight sipper. Stick to organic brands lower in sugar)

"Are there any alcoholic drinks that are likely to be less allergenic?"

I think what I would do is get myself to an allergist right away and try to pinpoint what is going on. I work in the beer industry and I have seen a lot of odd allergies out there. A former business parter was allergic to a strain of hops. A STRAIN, there are over 200 out there, she was allergic to one of them. Once you get checked out, you can make an educated choice about your alcohol intake, instead of just stabs in the dark and risking your health.

http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/truth-about-alcohol-fat-loss-and-muscle.html

a lot of hard liquors have sugary additives and other garbage. but pure stuff like tequila is good. most margarita mixes are just high fructose corn syrups and fake ingredients, so you need to make your own version if you want it to qualify.

red wine is good in moderation

and i don't give a rip what anybody says about beer. i don't drink cheap beers, but unless i develop a severe reaction to grain glutens, i will always be down for an occasional micro brew from a quality source. there's just nothing like a frosty glass of good brew, like a pale ale or a bitey IPA. Paleo or not, I just don't care.

cheers (yes, i know)

Jack Kronk

Isnt beer made from Grains? So maybe you had an underlying Grain allergy...

I usually drink a weak gin & soda, with 2 limes. I actually tell the bartender to make it WEAK! haha

This concoction is similar to Robb Wolf's NorCal Margarita, but with more of a "ginny" taste. To me, it tastes much better than my previous default, vodka & soda (bland!).

(Full disclosure: ricechek = heavy-drinking paleo)

http://www.paleonu.com/panu-weblog/2009/6/17/panu-approved-booze.html

I am a very social person as well, and often it's for professional purposes that I go out. I've found that Robb Wolf's NorCal Margarita is ridiculously strong (he recommends two shots per drink), and it gets expensive. Instead, I just ask for a shot of tequila with soda water and a lime. Because I'm trying to drink less than I used to, I also ask for it in a tall glass (most often a pint glass). This allows me to have a drink, and to keep being social, but drink slowly as the soda water makes the tequila last quite a while.

Also, I can then alternate between just soda waters, too. If I don't want to be the guy "not drinking" I order one tequila drink, then the next just a soda water. People ask what you're having the first time, and assume all your drinks are that. For me, it's trying to be able to go out, enjoy myself, and not overconsume... for the sake of calories, sobriety, and health.

In terms of your sensitivities, I'd keep trying different liquors. And try different qualities. Usually, the more expensive liquors have fewer impurities and thus fewer things to upset your reactions.

And if nothing else, have you tried red wines?

Cheers.

Ripe marula fruits!!!!!

It does not get more paleo than this, I guess. Now, who knows where to get these fruits?

;-)

Robb Wolf talks about a "NorCal Margarita" that is pretty good. I think it's 2 oz of tequila, the juice of one lime and a splash of soda water. It's not nearly as sweet as a traditional margarita, but it works.

I go with the NorCal Margarita (or just straight SIPPING tequila - Herradura anejo is my personal favorite), either that or red wine.

i do cognac or tequila straight. however, i must warn from experience, watch you're alcohol intake if you're IF'ing. learned that one the hard way. almost blacked out on 2 shots of hennessy.

There are some good suggestions. Gin is made from Juniper berries, tequila agave, potato vodka. A good red wine is supposed to be beneficial. What about bloody maries? I happen to like them and have been known to use Gin in place of Vodka.

At my football club, they only sell packaged alcohol. I don't drink the beer because of gluten and I don't drink the spirits with cola mix because of the caffeine. I compared the sugar content of various brands of whiskey or rum with dry, and asked them to stock the one with the least sugar.

Whiskey. Jameson's.

I find that all alcohol except vodka and tequila give me a bad hangover. Vodka is supposedly a very "clean" alchohol.

THE KIND THAT YOU LIKE IS THE BEST CHOICE

You only live once.

Lususowa potato vodka from Poland. 12.99/liter and so smooth. Blows Chopin out of the water. If you're on the east coast, check out LIV vodka from Long Island, made 100% from locally grown potatoes!

I tend to stick with good tequila on the rocks or with soda. Brandy is another favorite. Dry ciders are a personal favorite as well.

Red or white wines are great to drink too. My favorite grape is Gamay, from the Loire valley. Some of the best quaffing wine there is, and can also be incredibly complex. For white, I just bought a case of Keuka Villages by Ravines up in the Finger Lakes. It's made with indigenous American grapes, and it's like no other white wine I've ever tasted. It's AMAZING, and if you can find it, I highly recommend checking it out.

As you can see, being a bartender, I'm not too strict with myself when it comes to booze. I will have gin and whiskey when I feel the urge, or when tasting the drinks I make for others (gotta make sure I'm not poisoning you!) The only thing I don't drink anymore is beer, but even then, if I want a Tripel Karmeliet...well I'm gonna have a Tripel Karmeliet.

I have recently developed an allergy to beer which culminated in a nights stay in hospital to investigate my breathing problems. We found that I had an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in beer - possibly hops, barley or yeast. Fortunately I was not allergic to the alcohol so I simply switched to Whisky & Dry ginger. A nice long drink which gave me no problems (except I keep falling over !) I read an article somewhere that said not all beers are brewed the same so try a different brand. I went for my favourite English Real Ales - same result but this time I was prepared, no need to attend hospital I counteracted the hot flush & breathing probs by standing outside in a freezing cold garden, took antihistamines (chlorphenamine maleate is best) washed down with iced water. These ales are very "Hoppy" so I went for a beer recommended in the article - Budweiser - which contains 30% rice & is triple filtered. No reaction to one bottle. Great! so decided to leave it a few more days before trying out the same quntity as my Real Ales. Up to now after several "Tests" over a couple of months I've had no reaction to 4 bottles. Now I'm looking for alternative beers (although I'm happy with Bud) Anyone got any other suggestions ? Cheers, Geoff

Wine and beer can both cause histamine release. I love wine but notice I'll start sneezing at times. Look for a new vodka called High Roller. Made from sweet potatoes. It's very pure and smooth tasting. Goes for about $50/bottle though.

Grey Goose               :)    

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_(cocktail). Popular here in Canada. My go to drink. Nice and spicy too and I like to add a pickled bean even if its not paleo, (like alcohol is anyway :)). If you can find Clamato juice I would give this a try.

Organic Apple Cider. It is alkaline forming.

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