There are several types of alcohol available for making cocktails all over the world, the most popular being gin and vodka.
If you find yourself in a situation where you don’t know which liquor to choose, you could find yourself very disappointed in the resulting cocktail. So, you need to be sure that you are adding the right liquor for the right flavor. The last thing you want is to take a sip of your drink to find that it has an odd taste to it.
Continue reading to learn the difference between vodka and gin.
What Is Vodka?
Vodka is a type of alcohol linked to 14th century Russia. The term vodka stems from the Russian word “voda” meaning “water”. This means that “vodka” refers to a “little stream”.
Vodka is a clear, smooth liquid that doesn’t have a distinctive taste. It’s distilled from a mixture of potatoes or grains (rye and wheat). There are types of vodka infused with other food products to give it a flavor.
Some popular types of vodka are Absolut, Ciroc, Smirnoff, and Svedka. With vodka, you can make several drinks including Bloody Marys, Screwdrivers, Cosmopolitans, and Moscow Mules. It can even be mixed with soda in a pinch.
Vodka, when properly chilled, has a different mouthfeel to it, so it makes sense that it is a liquor best served as a chilled beverage. So plan to mix it over ice or store it in a cooler environment.
If you are looking to learn more about the distillation process and how vodka is made, be sure to add distillery tours to your bucket list.
What Is Gin?
Gin can be linked to 17th century Holland. The name “gin” was a shortened version of Genièvre by Boe. Rather than being distilled from potatoes, gin is generally distilled from malts or grains with juniper berries. You can also get gin by redistilling other spirits.
Gin is also a clear liquor, but it has an herbal taste to it and gets its other flavors from whatever is being distilled/redistilled.
Popular types of gin include Old Tom, London Dry, Plymouth, and Dutch. Some popular drinks made with gin include your basic gin and tonic, along with Gin Rickey, Martini, Tom Collins, and Ramos Gin Fizz. While vodka is best served chilled, gin doesn’t need refrigerated or served over ice.
Difference Between Vodka and Gin
It’s important to know the difference between vodka and gin before you drink it. When your bartender asks whether you want your drink to be made with gin or vodka, you’ll be better prepared to give the right answer.
If you add vodka to a drink, it’s not going to change the flavor of your drink too much. If you add gin, you may be surprised when your drink doesn’t taste quite right. This makes vodka more versatile as the right alcohol to add to a cocktail.
If you found this post to be helpful, check out our other food and health sections for more valuable information.
