Having a glass of gin and tonic to unwind after work can be a refreshing pastime for many people. However, after a couple of glasses, it can leave your head spinning, and you’ll feel a little tipsy already. That’s because you just drank a glass of gin that probably has quite a high percentage of alcohol. If you’ve always wondered just how much alcohol there is in a typical bottle of gin compared to other liquors, then this guide is for you.
Determining the Alcohol Level of Gin
Gin isn’t exactly for the faint-hearted. Like most liquors, they contain about 40% alcohol, which is already relatively high compared to any other alcoholic beverage. Generally speaking, the alcohol by volume (ABV) of gin starts at 40% and can go way higher than that. However, you’ll find it common to see that most gin brands top off at 50% ABV. However, if you’re really looking for something strong, there are brands out there that offer way more than the average ABV. In fact, one distillery launched its own brand of gin that boasts of a 95% ABV, which is considered the strongest gin in the world. While that may sound fun to taste, you probably want to stay away from that if you just want to have a good time.
How Strong is Gin as a Liquor?
The weakest gins already come at 40% ABV, which is much higher than your standard canned or bottled beer that only goes for around 5% alcohol. If you compare it with, let’s say, wine, then a bottle of gin still outplays a bottle of wine that only has 12% ABV. This is because the restrictions on just how high ABV can be in gin are less severe; that’s why most distilleries can get away with some bottles of gin that possess an absurdly high level of alcohol. If you know someone who’s only starting to drink and are not yet accustomed to liquor, we wouldn’t recommend gin for them as they’re clearly not for beginners.
Gin vs Common Distilled Spirits
After comparing gin with other alcoholic beverages like beer and wine, we can try comparing it with its fellow spirits. Let’s see just how gin stacks up against some other common spirits.
Conclusion
Of all the known liquors today, gin is considered the driest of them all and contains quite a strong type and percentage of alcohol. While they’re also considered a good base for mixing drinks, you need to be well aware of just how strong gin can be.
Jim and Tonic is an independent craft gin company with its own micro-distilleries and gin cocktail bar in London. We’re not just your ordinary distillery and bar, as we offer sustainable urban gin products to all our customers. If you’re looking for the best gin and tonic gift set, check out our online gin shop to order.
