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Gin

Vodka rerun through a garden

Neutral spirit redistilled with juniper and botanicals. Low in congeners but botanical oils can carry trace allergens.

Typical ABV
37.5–47%
Base
Grain neutral spirit
Distillation
Redistilled with botanicals
Category hangover index
3/10
Light
Chemistry profile
Congeners
Low
Histamines
Very Low
Polyphenols
Low
Sulfites
Very Low
Tannins
Very Low
Sugar
Very Low
Additives
Low

Gin starts where vodka ends: a clean neutral spirit redistilled with juniper, coriander, citrus peels, and other botanicals. The base is clean, but the botanical oils are why some drinkers get headaches from gin and not vodka.

What changes the chemistry

  • Botanical load and method (vapor vs maceration)
  • London Dry vs Old Tom (added sugar)
  • Barrel-aged gins pick up tannins
Common allergens: junipercoriandercitrus
See the healthiest gin ranked