The taste also hugely differs between the two spirits. As we've mentioned, vodka is relatively tasteless and odourless, and any taste or scent depends on its alcoholic strength. Gin, however, is known for its distinct herbal and pine tastes, thanks to the presence of juniper berries and any other botanicals.
Vodka and gin have the same number of calories weighing in at 96 calories per 1.5 oz. Since all of those calories come from the alcohol itself (7 calories per . 035 oz) the higher the proof, the more calories per oz.
Alcohol Content
The standard ABV (alcohol by volume) content for vodka is around 40% but can be as high as 90%, while the minimum ABV for gin in the United States is 40%, but it rarely climbs above 60% on average.
Gin has less sugar and fewer calories than some other liquors. If you already consume alcohol, gin may be a slightly healthier option. Be careful with mixers, however. They can make the sugar content of your drink skyrocket.
Gin is one of the common alcoholic drinks that can get you drunk quickly. It has a high percentage of alcohol content (usually at least 40% ABV, sometimes as strong as 60%, dubbed 'Navy Stremgth') which makes it rank as one of the contenders to get you drunk within a very short period of time.
There's also something to say about sticking to gin and vodka. When Supercall spoke with food scientists, gin and vodka proved to be the best alcohol to avoid the 17 stages of a hangover because they lack other dehydration-causing additives.
So I went digging to find where this widespread and seemingly nonsensical gin myths came from. Gincredibly, I found that there absolutely no basis for the myth that gin is any more a depressant than any other spirit.
Gin had become the poor man's drink as it was cheap, and some workers were given gin as part of their wages. Duty paid on gin was 2 pence a gallon, as opposed to 4 shillings and nine pence on strong beer.
It can help fight kidney and liver disease
Gin is the best natural remedy for kidney and liver disease. Juniper berries help stop water retention in your body, allowing you to pass more water than any other alcohol. This means that more harmful toxins and bacteria are flushed out your system.
Would you drink gin to try and lose weight? Those who were given gin showed an increase in their metabolic rate by an incredible 17 percent, meaning they burned many more calories than those who stuck to water. In fact, the mice who consumed water saw no changes in their metabolism.
Getting "gin drunk" is often associated with crazy or mean behavior. Some people feel the spirit makes them "sad" or "weepy." In this narrative, gin is cast in the role of emotional instigator.
The answer is yes – gin is a great sipping spirit! But you'll need to choose the right gin to avoid that abrasive 'mouth full of pine' feeling that poor quality bottles can leave.
There's no evidence that different types of alcohol cause different mood states. People aren't even very good at recognising their mood states when they have been drinking. So where does the myth come from?
Gin martini drinkers know how to hold their liquor, and approach drinking as refined aficionados. Classic gin martini drinkers are also quite mysterious, intellectual, and have a way of capturing your attention, according to Brown, an admittedly biased source.
Red Wine. Red wine is widely recognized as one of the healthiest alcoholic drinks out there. Poon notes that it's "relatively low in calories and also offers some health benefits."9 She adds that red wine is rich in antioxidants such as resveratrol and proanthocyanidins and can promote cardiovascular health.
There is a simple answer to the question - is it OK to drink gin every day? No, it's not recommended to drink alcohol every day! The World Health Organisation (WHO) and NHS recommend that all drinkers have at least one day 'dry' day each week.
However, gin can cause your breath to smell faintly of juniper berries, which is the main flavor ingredient in gin. If you are concerned about your breath smelling like gin, you can try drinking it with a slice of lemon or lime, which can help to mask the juniper berry flavor.
So, now on to the all-important question, which alcohol is easiest on the liver? The quick answer is, none of them. The reason is that the main liver-damaging ingredient in all types of alcohol is ethanol. It doesn't matter which alcohol you chose, be it weak beer or grain alcohol.
Nope. It's clear that alcohol's sedative effects are temporary, and drinking it before bed as a “sleep aid” will backfire. Not only will you get less sleep and miss out on the restorative power of REM sleep, but you'll also put yourself at risk for some of the other side effects discussed in this article.
As more women became hooked on gin between 1720 and 1757, this led to the mistreatment of their children and a rise in prostitution. Women became more addicted to gin than their male counterparts – gaining the juniper-based spirit the nickname 'Mother's Ruin'.
Conclusions: Both wine and gin showed anti-inflammatory effects by reducing plasma fibrinogen and IL-1alpha levels.
This is also thought to be where the term 'Dutch courage' comes from, referencing Dutch soldiers reportedly enjoying a stiff drink of gin before a battle to bolster their morale.
Most people get hit by this strong taste that lingers in their mouth when they drink it. Some say it is too bitter and has a weird taste, which is usually if they taste a traditional, dry gin that will have a strong juniper aroma.
The results, published in the British Medical Journal, revealed that drinking spirits, like gin, were more likely to induce negative feelings than any other type of alcohol. Over half the respondents in the study claimed that after drinking spirits they were more likely to feel aggressive, restless or tearful.
One of the great things about gin is that it is highly versatile and really quite exciting. Depending on the manner of which it is distilled and processed, it can take on many different strengths, tones and tastes. Gin's flavour can also be easily transformed by adding various botanical infusions.