Gin vs. Vodka: What’s the Difference?

Unique from whisky and brandy because of the clarity of the resulting liqueur, vodka and gin are among the most popular spirits in the world. Besides their transparent form, however, there is more to vodka and gin than meets the eye. Exactly what do these spirits bring to the table and how do they differ from each other? These are just some of the questions we will attempt to answer, along with where to buy vodka online and how to snag great deals on your favourite Beefeater Pink Gin Asda.

Key Differences

Casual drinkers could care less about what goes on in their glasses, but avid fans of wines and spirits always love to know what their favourite swigs are all about. There is such an artistic process that goes into distilling alcoholic beverages—and gin and vodka are no exception.

All drinks, whether it’s rum, vodka, tequila, bourbon, whiskey, gin, or cognac, have their own unique history. These unique histories also bring striking differences among these brews. But differences notwithstanding, you can still trace some similarities in them, especially when it comes to production.

In general, the main distinction between spirits is the raw materials that are used in their creation. No matter the liquid base, however, spirits must all go through a distillation and aging process in order to achieve the finished product.

Vodka and gin are very closely related and with an almost similar flavour profile, they are popular cocktail bases in many parts of the world. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of differences between the two drinks.

Vodka as a Neutral Spirit

Vodka can trace its origins to 14th century Russia. It can be described as a neutral spirit that traditionally lacked a distinct aroma, taste, color, and character. But recent evolving trends are beginning to give vodka more shape and distinction, with vodka brands experimenting with various fruit flavours and aromas.

The term ‘vodka’ is essentially derived from the word ‘voda,’ which is Russian for water. Vodka literally translates as ‘little stream’—fitting for being a colorless, smooth, and clear liquid, a pure spirit that is neutral in taste. Vodka is generally distilled from potato and grain mixtures, but it can likewise be made from other unconventional items like grapes, corn, and wheat. In terms of alcohol content, vodka is among the heaviest, with up to 40% of alcohol content.

Gin as a Flavoured Spirit

Gin, on the other hand, is a flavoured spirit produced by means of re-distillation of a neutral spirit along with juniper berries (its main component) and other flavouring elements/agents. The origins of gin can be traced as far back as 17th century Holland. It is said to have been developed by ancient monks who used to flavour crude distilled spirits with juniper berries. During that time, gin was also used (although unsuccessfully) as a remedy for the widespread black plague.

Gin was originally named Genievre by Boe relating to the French term for Juniper berry. In the late 17th century, English distillers shortened this name to the now-familiar ‘gin.’

One unique thing about gin is that it takes the flavour of whatever product that the spirit is re-distilled from. There are four distinct gin varieties, namely Dutch, Plymouth, old tom, and London dry.

Summary

The main difference between gin and vodka lies in the raw ingredients that are used in their production. Vodka is made by distillation of crops and grains like potatoes, wheat, or rye, whereas gin is made from grain or malt, and then mixed with juniper berries.

If you are looking to buy gin or vodka online, 365 drinks has an extensive range of spirits, including sought after names like Beefeater Pink Gin, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire,  which many gin drinkers are after for its unique taste.