Alcohol by Volume: A Complete Guide
When you’re re-stocking your bar with spirits, do you consider the amount of alcohol each type of liquor contains? Or are you more guided by the flavor? Whichever camp you fall into, it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of the alcohol levels present in the liquor of your choice.
To help you out, we’ve created a complete guide to the alcohol volume in various types of spirits. Are these figures what you expected? Is the strength of rum a surprise? Let us know in the comments!
What is Alcohol by Volume?
Alcohol by volume (ABV) is a standard measure used globally to quantify the amount of alcohol (ethanol) in an alcoholic drink. It is measured as a percentage of the liquid’s total volume. For example, if a beverage has an ABV of 12%, 12% of the beverage’s volume is pure alcohol. The remaining 88% of the other ingredients include water, flavorings, hops, and malt.
The higher the percentage, the higher the amount of alcohol the spirits contain, so knowing what to look for when buying your moonshine, tequila, or whiskey is essential. In the U.S., alcohol manufacturers must display the alcohol volume of their products clearly, ensuring the font is in contrast to the background so it’s easy for customers to read.
Government regulations require that the information is displayed alongside a beverage’s other key information, such as its brand name and type of alcohol, so you’ll likely find the ABV on the front or side labels of the bottle.
What is Alcohol Proof?
While the rest of the world only really uses ABV, the United States more commonly relies on Alcohol “proof.” Alcohol proof is another method of measuring alcohol that is approximately twice the percentage of ABV. So, our same ABV of 12% is stated as 24 proof.
Alcohol by Volume Contents per Beverage Type
While the exact ABV will differ according to manufacturers, our list contains the average alcohol contents of your go-to spirits.
Whiskey
Tennessee whiskey, bourbon, Japanese, Irish, Canadian, and Scotch whiskey are enjoyed globally. Expertly distilled and aged in oak barrels, whiskey’s alcohol percentage ranges from 36% to 50%.
If you’re looking for a smooth mover at the top of that alcohol range, Old Tennessee’s Straight Bourbon whiskey and Premium American Whiskey are 50% alcohol and 100 proof. Our 13 years aged Straight Bourbon whiskey pushes the scale and is 50.5% alcohol. At 101 proof, it should be the number one choice for those who can handle it.
Gin
Different flavors and mixers work wonders with gin. It’s a chameleon in cocktails, and at 36%-50% ABV, it has a good enough range to appeal to all drinking types.
Vodka
Another jack-of-all-trades, vodka’s subtle base flavor makes it the perfect dancing partner with tons of flavor palettes. Vodka is closer to being pure alcohol, and its ABV usually ranges between 40%-95%.
Tequila
The ultimate party starter, tequila’s alcohol by volume usually hovers around 50-51%.
Rum
Like gin, rum has an ABV between 36% and 50%. It is usually warm, well-rounded, and smooth, making it the perfect base for a cocktail. However, if you’re going for a heavy-hitting rum, make measurement adjustments accordingly!
Moonshine
Moonshine is the liquor of rebels and outlaws, historically distilled in the back forests of Tennessee. By nature, moonshine is a versatile and variable drink; flavors, distillation methods, and alcohol by volume can vary greatly depending on the distiller.
Moonshine starts at 30% and can reach approximately 80% ABV. We’ve created a moonshine range everyone can enjoy, so our spirits come in at 30% ABV. However, if you need something more robust, opt for the Tennessee Frost Moonshine (50%) or the 140.7 Moonshine (70.35%).
Learn More About Alcohol by Volume at Old Tennessee Distillery
Visit our distillery in Kodak, TN, to learn more about the distillation process, our farm-to-bottle techniques, and our wide range of liquors. We’re open seven days a week, making us the ideal stop on an East Tennessee adventure.
