Gin has a distinctive herbal flavor, while vodka is generally unflavored and neutral. Vodka is water-based, while gin is distilled with juniper berries and botanicals that give them their distinctive flavors. It's a common misconception that gin tastes like vodka. While spirits are similar, the ingredients and distillation processes are different.
Gin is a little more complicated in its production, as Brian O'Rourke, a culinary journalist, rightly said: “Gin is the Disneyland of liquor. There is a rich history of the creation, modification and exploitation of gin. BBC Good Food explains that the distillation of gin begins with a neutral grain alcohol, but the flavors are improved by the addition of juniper berries and other botanical ingredients. In fact, gin gets its name from genever, the Dutch word for juniper (via The Manual).
Smithsonian magazine explains that the flavor of juniper berries is reminiscent of pine, with hints of fruit and pepper. On the other hand, the word vodka comes from voda, the Russian word for water (via Britannica). Gin is known for its pine and herbal flavors, while vodka is famous for its odourless and tasteless profile. Both are very different beverages, but they also share a lot of similarities.
However, in Russia and Eastern Europe, where liquor originated, people consume more than triple that amount. Modern gins tend to be fragrant and floral with a minimal juniper flavor, while London Dry Gin is at the other end of the spectrum with a juniper flavor profile. However, gin is known for its distinctive herbal and pine flavors, thanks to the presence of juniper berries and other botanical ingredients. Interestingly, gin can be considered a flavored vodka, since it can be made with redistilled vodka mixed with juniper berries and a personalized combination of herbs, spices and botanicals.
One of the best things about a gin and tonic is the simplicity and freedom to dress it however you want. Popular cocktails with gin include Negroni, the classic Martini (originally always made with gin) and Gin Tonic. However, unlike vodka, there are actually legal definitions of what constitutes a gin, with specific legislation governing aspects such as production and alcohol content. So, there are some key differences between vodka and gin, and we like to think of them as cousins, similar but by no means the same.
Gin remains a popular choice among alcohol drinkers, although vodka has far surpassed its popularity among modern audiences. Gin is a liquor with a certain level of juniper flavor that is bottled with at least 40 percent alcohol by volume. This gives them less than the 37.5% alcohol needed to be classified as gin, making them a gin-based liqueur. While these gin brands might not sound as familiar to you as vodka brands, they're just as delicious and consistent from batch to batch.
Both vodka and gin are considered key ingredients in a martini, and drinkers often have a preferred base liquor between the two. However, gin can be preserved and served cold or at room temperature, as neither has a drastic impact on the overall flavor of the liquor.
