One characteristic of alcohol brewed in wooden barrels is a high tannin content.
They are usually found in red wine, although white wines also pick up tannins from being aged in wooden barrels.
Spirits such as whiskey also have higher tannins than clearer spirits such as vodka and gin.
The problem with tannins is that they can cause a histamine reaction, or intensify an existing one (i.e. from alcohol flush reaction).
For this reason, a lot of people tend to avoid beer, wine and whisky and opt for clear spirit mixers such as vodka sodas or gin and tonics.
Please discuss if you have noticed whether your symptoms vary according to the kind of alcohol you consume.