No, Bourbon refers to the region (Madagascar, Reunion Island, etc.) where the vanilla is grown and has no relationship with the alcohol by the same name. Many people use the word Bourbon to refer to the Planifolia species of plant most prevalent in Madagascar, Mexico, Indonesia, and elsewhere. Bourbon refers to the French Bourbons who controlled Madagascar during the first vanilla cultivation there.

Please see our allergen statement by clicking here. Our pure vanilla extracts are gluten-free, corn-free, sesame-free, soy-free, and sugar-free. The alcohol in our Pure Vanilla Extracts comes from sugar cane. The process of making ethyl alcohol begins with yeast converting sugars into ethanol. The next step is a distillation process in which only the ethanol is boiled off and then condensed into concentrated ethanol. This series of steps ensures that no matter what base material you start with, the result is pure ethanol with no sugar, yeast, or other proteins.

The glycerin in our Alcohol-Free Pure Vanilla Flavor comes from rapeseed oil (turnip seed). Glycerin comes from the fat present in the plant material. Proteins are not present during manufacturing, so the final product contains essentially no plant proteins (only trace amounts are possible).

Since food allergies are an immune response to food proteins, there is minimal risk associated with these products, and all of our products are gluten-free. Of course, flavorings in recipes call for small amounts that risk small, but if your allergy is severe, you should consult your doctor before using.  

People commonly confuse rapeseed with canola since they are from mustard and cabbage families. Canola comes from the natural plant breeding of rapeseed. Today, most of the canola on the market is genetically modified.  The rapeseed that our glycerin comes from is not genetically modified, which is why we use it.  You won’t find any GMOs in anything we make. 

The FDA regulates what constitutes strength or fold. Single fold means that 13.4 oz of vanilla pods are extracted into one gallon of alcohol. Only vanilla extracted in 35% alcohol is considered pure by the FDA. Double fold, triple fold, etc., refer to extracts using more vanilla pods. These stronger folds are generally used only by commercial food producers. All home recipes call for single fold, and most bakers and chefs use single fold.

Yes, all of our vanilla beans and vanilla extract are gluten-free. Most people with specific conditions such as Celiac disease (caused by an abnormal reaction to gliadin, a gluten protein found in wheat) are concerned about the possible glutens found in alcohol derived from wheat. In most cases, the alcohol used would not carry gliadin and, therefore, not be a threat to gluten intolerant people. However, we have taken extra precautions by only using sugarcane-based alcohol. Singing Dog Vanilla™ products have also been reviewed and approved by the Feingold Association as safe for consumption by people with Celiac disease. 

We have not been able to find a consistent source of organic rapeseed-based glycerin for our Alcohol-Free Pure Vanilla Flavor. Similarly, it isn’t easy to find a constant source for organic gum tragacanth used in the Vanilla Bean Paste. We are monitoring the situation with these two ingredients and hope to be able to offer organic versions in the future. The vanilla and other ingredients made to make these two products are organically grown (not certified) and are Non-GMO.

The plastic bottle we use for our larger vanilla extracts is made from HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), which is FDA approved for food use. This material is known to be safe for repeated and continuous use and has the added benefit of being easily recyclable (Recycle symbol #2). There are many different types of plastic bottles. Some of them are used because of their higher strength, which allows the bottle to be made with thinner walls, so less plastic is used, or because they can be made in various colors or more easily decorated. Recent research has questioned the safety of some of these materials due to leaching. The plastic we use has been the industry standard for decades because it is safe and reliable for various uses. It may not be the prettiest plastic bottle on the shelf, but it has proven to be a safe choice. Of course, we prefer not to use plastic for our larger commercial sizes.

Whole vanilla beans should be stored in a sealed container in a cool, dry place. They should not be refrigerated or frozen, as this can cause a loss of flavor and quality. Refrigeration can lead to mold growth, and freezing can cause vanillin (the primary flavor compound in vanilla) to migrate to the surface and get lost during handling.

Short answer: Unfortunately, we do not.

Long Answer: Vanilla is the second most expensive flavor/spice (the most costly is real saffron). There is not a lot of room to discount. Discounting our products would also mean we would have to decrease the quality of alcohol we use.  We would then need to pass the discount to our farmer profit share programs. We established a Fair Trade Plus+ program with our farmers and shared profits with our employees. Providing promo codes or deals could prevent fair earnings in the profit share.  We do our best to keep the prices as low as possible without cutting corners on the quality of our processes, ingredients, bottles, or farmers.  We know we are more expensive than the cheap stuff, but we hope you enjoy the difference.