Gin vs Vodka
Gin is vodka rerun through a garden: same neutral spirit base, then redistilled with botanicals. The base chemistry is essentially identical. Differences come from botanical residue and any post-distillation flavoring.
Gin vs Vodka: the differences
| Attribute | Gin | Vodka |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Grain neutral spirit | Grain, potato, corn, grape |
| How it is made | Redistilled with botanicals | Column, multiple passes |
| Aging | Usually unaged | Unaged |
| Typical strength | 37.5 to 47% ABV (75 to 94 proof) | 37.5 to 50% ABV (75 to 100 proof) |
| Calories | 98 to 115 kcal per 1.5oz | 98 to 104 kcal per 1.5oz |
| Gluten | Naturally gluten-free | Some bottlings from gluten grains |
| Hangover Index | 3/10 | 2/10 |
Gin
Vodka rerun through a garden
- Congeners
- Low
- Histamines
- Very Low
- Polyphenols
- Low
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Very Low
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Low
Vodka
Closest to neutral alcohol you can drink
- Congeners
- Very Low
- Histamines
- Very Low
- Polyphenols
- Very Low
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Very Low
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Low
Vodka wins narrowly. Both are in the lightest-load tier. London Dry gin is within rounding error of vodka; contemporary gins with post-distillation flavoring lose a small amount of ground.
Which one for which situation
FAQ
Is gin healthier than vodka? ▾
Effectively the same. Both are clean neutral spirits with very low congener content. London Dry gin without added sugar is functionally identical to vodka on hangover-load metrics.
Does gin have fewer calories than vodka? ▾
No. Same calories per 1.5oz at the same ABV. Gin's flavor is from oils, not sugar.
Why does gin sometimes cause headaches when vodka doesn't? ▾
Botanical oils carry trace compounds (particularly citrus oils, juniper terpenes, and post-distillation rose/cucumber essences in modern gins) that can trigger histamine-style reactions in sensitive drinkers.