Comparing Gin Alcohol Levels vs Other Alcoholic Beverages

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Vodka (40-95% ABV) - Vodka is also a strong contender as the lowest ABV you can find for vodka is around the same as that of gin. Both gin and vodka are heavily distilled and are mostly seen as clear liquids with very high alcohol content. However, gin is flavoured by juniper berries, while vodka isn’t. Vodka can also go higher in terms of alcohol percentage, making it a bit harder to drink than gin if you’re going for those with higher ABVs. 

Whiskey (40-68% ABV) - Whiskey is quite popular and is considered a go-to liquor for most people who like stronger drinks. They’re not that different to gin in terms of alcohol content as they start off at around similar ABVs, but whiskey usually tops off just before they hit the 70% mark. 

Rum (37.5-80% ABV) - Lower-end rums start a bit weaker than gin, but they can go as high as 80%. Rum is known for its sweeter flavour is known to be quite a versatile spirit. They’re one of the first liquors to be mixed into drinks, giving birth to some of your favourite rum cocktails. 

Tequila (32-60% ABV) - Tequila is also an excellent base mix for cocktails and margaritas. Many people generally favour them since they’re a little bit weaker than gin in the alcohol department. However, while it contains weaker alcohol, tequila is still known for its quick inebriation-inducing abilities. Its ABV tops out at 60% but starts off relatively low at around 32%.

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.