Travellers looking for a gluten-free bourbon
If you want the familiar cocoa sandwich-biscuit format, start with a bourbon-style product that explicitly says gluten-free. Check the supplied pack before eating it away from home.
Who are these options for?
Travellers who prefer sealed portions
If opening a whole box during the journey is inconvenient, a portion-packed gluten-free sandwich biscuit may suit you, provided a different flavour is acceptable. Schär describes its Custard Creams as portion-packed; they are vanilla, not bourbon.
What should you check before packing?
Decide whether bourbon flavour or separate portions matter most, then check the exact pack against every dietary requirement that applies to you.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Look for an explicit gluten-free statement; read the supplied ingredients and allergen panel. A vegan statement answers a different question. | I want a bourbon-style biscuit I can identify as gluten-free, rather than assuming an ordinary bourbon qualifies. The ordinary Asda, Waitrose and M&S products checked list wheat. |
| Pack format | Confirm whether the exact product has separately sealed portions. Follow its stated storage directions during the journey. | If separate portions matter more to me than cocoa filling, I could consider Schär's portion-packed, vanilla Custard Creams instead of a boxed bourbon-style biscuit. |
| Other allergens | Check milk and any other relevant declarations separately from the gluten-free claim. Read the supplied pack even if you have seen an online listing. | I also need to check ingredients other than gluten; a gluten-free label does not answer every allergy question. |
| Nutrition and quantity | Compare nutrition figures on the same stated basis, such as per biscuit or per serving, and check the pack's net weight. | I want to know what a serving contains without treating “gluten-free” as a sugar claim. I also need a reliable pack weight if I am comparing quantities. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming an ordinary or vegan bourbon is gluten-free
The ordinary bourbons checked from Asda, Waitrose and M&S list wheat. Vegan suitability does not establish gluten-free suitability.
Choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and read its supplied ingredients and allergen panel.
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Assuming every gluten-free sandwich biscuit is a bourbon
Schär describes its Custard Creams as portion-packed, but their filling is vanilla. The checked free-from bourbon listings do not establish that their biscuits are individually sealed.
Check both the flavour and packaging format of the exact pack before deciding what to take.
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Using a conflicting listing to compare pack sizes
Asda's Free From bourbon listing displays both 150 g and 160 g, so it cannot settle a precise size comparison on its own.
Check the net weight printed on the supplied pack when quantity matters.
Relevant brand ranges
These brand references concern the particular product lines described, not every biscuit carrying the same brand name.
Tesco Free From
A bourbon-style option for shoppers seeking a cocoa sandwich biscuit.
- Tesco labels its 150 g Free From Bourbon Creams gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans.
- Check the supplied pack because ingredients and allergen information can change.
Sainsbury's Free From
A listed 150 g bourbon-style biscuit with a cocoa filling.
- Sainsbury's labels this product gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for coeliacs.
- Sainsbury's advises checking the supplied label for current details.
Morrisons Free From
A listed 145 g bourbon-style biscuit with a cocoa filling.
- Morrisons describes this product as free from gluten and milk.
- Its listed storage direction is to keep the product in a cool, dry place.
Asda Free From
A bourbon-style product whose Asda listing states that it is gluten-free.
- The gluten-free statement applies to the listed Free From product, not Asda's ordinary bourbon biscuits.
- The listing shows conflicting 150 g and 160 g sizes; check the supplied pack for its net weight.
Schär
An alternative when separate portions matter more than bourbon flavour.
- Schär describes its gluten- and wheat-free Custard Creams as portion-packed.
- Their vanilla filling makes them a different biscuit from a bourbon.
McVitie's
A reminder to distinguish a gluten-free biscuit line from a bourbon-style product.
- The listed Gluten Free Hobnobs are oat biscuits.
- Their gluten-free description does not establish that a separate bourbon-style product is gluten-free; check that product's own label.
Joybuy biscuit alternatives
These are gluten-free biscuit alternatives for the road-trip scenario, not bourbon biscuits. Choose by the biscuit type and pack format you would actually use, then check the supplied label.
No image availableSchär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
Consider these when separate portions matter more than bourbon flavour: Schär describes its Custard Creams as portion-packed.
They are gluten- and wheat-free vanilla sandwich biscuits, not cocoa-filled bourbons. Check the supplied pack against any other dietary requirements.
No image availableSchär Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers 125g
These provide a vanilla wafer option if you do not need a bourbon-style biscuit or confirmed separate portions.
The product is described as gluten-free, but the supplied information notes US labelling and warns that ingredients and allergen warnings may differ from similar products sold elsewhere. Check the actual pack before eating, particularly for milk, soya and nut warnings.
No image availableSchär Gluten Free Digestive Biscuits 150g
Choose the digestive-biscuit format only if a cocoa-filled sandwich biscuit is not important to your trip.
This 150 g product is described as gluten-free; it is not a bourbon. Check the supplied pack for its ingredients and other allergen declarations, including soya and any lupin warning.
No image availableMcVitie's Gluten Free Hobnobs 150g
These suit someone willing to take an oat biscuit instead of a bourbon-style sandwich biscuit.
The listed 150 g Hobnobs are labelled gluten-free. Check the supplied pack for other allergen information, including warnings concerning nuts, milk, egg and soya.
Frequently asked questions
Does gluten-free also mean milk-free?
No. Gluten and milk are separate considerations. Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons make milk-free statements about their listed free-from bourbons, but you should check both declarations on the exact pack you intend to eat.
What if the online allergen details differ from the supplied box?
Read the supplied label before eating. Product information can change; if that label does not resolve your dietary question, ask the retailer or manufacturer rather than relying on the earlier online description.
How should I store free-from bourbons during a road trip?
Follow the directions on your particular pack. Tesco and Morrisons specify cool, dry storage for their listed free-from bourbon products.
Does gluten-free mean low in sugar?
No. In UK labelling, a gluten-free claim concerns gluten content, not sugar. Read the product's nutrition information and use the same stated basis, such as per biscuit or per serving, when comparing packs.