What Are The Differences Between Vodka & Whiskey?

 Vodka Vs. Whiskey - What Are The Differences? 

Vodka and whiskey are at opposite ends of the spirits spectrum in many ways. Whiskey is always aged, vodka is not. Vodka is clear with less complexity than whiskey’s amber hue and multi-layered notes. Vodka is the workhorse of mixed drinks and also consumed as shots, while whiskey is often sipped and less versatile in cocktails due to its more pronounced flavor profile. 

What Are The Similarities Between Whiskey and Vodka?

Vodka and whiskey are both distilled alcoholic spirits that can be made anywhere in the world.  They can even be made with the same fermented grains like wheat and rye. Both are fermented with yeast and distilled but the similarities end there. 

What Are The Differences In How Vodka & Whiskey Are Made? 

Whiskey is made from cereal grains such as wheat, rye, malted barley, and corn. Vodka is also typically made from grains but can also be made from potatoes, molasses, fruit, rice, barley, and soybeans. Vodka goes through multiple distillations and is then bottled but whiskey is barrel aged after distillation, which gives each brand its unique character and distinctive amber color. Whiskey may be Scotch, Bourbon, or Rye, blended or single malt, each made according to specific guidelines. It’s unusual for a vodka to be blended but blends do exist.

Due to its clear, subtle character, vodka is the ideal spirit for cocktails, complementing the other ingredients. While less versatile, whiskey has a number of signature cocktails that feature the spirit itself but generally, whiskey is sipped neat, on-the-rocks, or with a splash of water.

Are Whiskey Hangovers Worse Than Vodka?  

Hangovers are predominantly caused by how much you drink, rather than what you drink. However, congeners, which are impurities in the spirit from the distillation process are believed to also contribute to feeling hungover. Although it can vary by brand, vodka has fewer congeners than whiskey. <h2> How Does Vodka Taste Different Than Whiskey? Vodka tastes like the grain or crop it was distilled from, but in a subtle way that may not be discernable to everyone. Whisky on the other hand has a pronounced taste of both the original cereal grain enhanced by the aging process and notes from the barrel aging process, which may be oaky, earthy, or smokey.

What Are The Calorie Differences Between Vodka and Whiskey? 

The calories in vodka and rum are the same, 64 calories/oz but it may vary depending on brand and proof. If the rum is spiced or tastes discernibly sweeter than others, it likely has additional calories.

Does Rum Get You More Drunk Than Vodka? 

Rum does not get you more drunk than vodka. It’s the amount of alcohol you consume in a given period of time, not the spirit per se that determines how drunk you get. For example a shot of vodka or rum (1.5 oz) will obviously enter the bloodstream faster than a cocktail sipped slowly. The effects of alcohol and speed of intoxication varies between people, but even in the same person, factors such as weight, gender, food intake, and effervescence will have an impact.

Is Vodka or Rum More Popular? 

Vodka is the most popular, top selling spirit today. Rum is often thought of as the most misunderstood spirit. This dubious designation may be the result of loose regulation and misleading labeling compared with spirits like Scotch or Tequila. Both quality and composition can vary widely even among the same types of rum.

What Is the Alcohol Difference Between Vodka and Rum? 

Most vodka and rum is 40 to 50% ABV, which is 80 to 100 proof. Some brands of Overproof Rum are 57.5% to 87% ABV, the equivalent of 115 to 174 proof.

Is Vodka or Rum Healthier? 

Although some people claim to get less hungover from Vodka, there is little factual evidence to suggest that vodka is healthier than rum or vice versa. It is the quality of the specific brand and lack of additives, not the spirit itself, that determines which is better for you.