Gin or Whiskey: Which One Should You Choose?

If you have a soft spot for hard liquor, gin and whiskey are sure to be part of your collection and sit in your liquor cabinet. But did you know that these distilled spirits have their own share of differences and similarities?

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Whiskey & Gin Differences

Whiskey and gin are two beverages with different geographical origins and source products. In addition, the two alcoholic beverages have different manufacturing, distillation and aging processes.

Like vodka, whiskey is a spirit-based beverage made from grains such as rye, wheat, barley or corn, depending on the geographic location. Gin, on the other hand, is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash, and juniper berries are its main ingredient.

Geographical origins

Whiskey was originally produced in Ireland and Scotland before making its way to North America and other parts of the world. Gin, on the other hand, was originally produced by alchemists and monks in southern Italy, the Netherlands, and Flanders for medicinal purposes.

Due to their different geographical origins, whiskey and gin have different recipes for the grain mash used to produce spirits/alcohol.

Distillation and production process

Gin producers take different approaches to distillation, but they distill once or twice. In contrast, whiskey is distilled two or three times. Distillation helps to purify the liquid and make it purer and more alcoholic.

Alcohol can be obtained by the methods of steam infusion, steep distillation and vacuum distillation. Whiskey, on the other hand, is distilled in copper pot stills or continuous stills.

Aging process

The aging process of whiskey differs from that of gin, as it is aged in charred oak barrels to obtain a particular flavor and color, while gin is flavored with juniper berries. The aging in barrels and the barrel strength give special flavors to the single malt whiskey and Irish whiskey.

Neutral spirits such as gin, however, do not need to be aged as long as they are made from natural botanicals for aroma and flavor.

Basic products

There are several types of whiskey, each with different starting products. Malt whiskey is made primarily from malted grain (barley), while grain whiskey is made from any grain (corn, rye and wheat).

Gin, on the other hand, is made from grains such as barley or wheat, and after the first distillation, juniper berries give the spirit a unique flavor profile.

Spectrum of flavors

Due to their aging, their starting products and their origin, both beverages have different flavors. The flavors of the whiskey come from the charred American oak barrels, while the gin gets its flavors from juniper berries, spices and herbs.

Whiskey has a wide range of flavors with varying alcohol content and distillation methods. Scotch, Japanese whiskey, bourbon, rye whiskey and blended whiskey are just a few.

In contrast, gin includes distilled gin, Old Tom gin, Bombay Sapphire, London gin, and juniper-flavored spirits.

Cocktails and mixers

Both spirits are excellent for making cocktails. However, there are numerous mixed drinks and recipes prepared with gin. Whiskey likes to be drunk neat and on ice, like wine, rum and scotch, but it also combines well with mixers.

Gin has a versatile flavor that pairs well with flavored vodka and other mixed drinks. Try Clover Club, Bramble and Tom Collins, famous gin cocktail drinks.

Color

Whiskeys generally have a distinct color because they are aged in charred barrels, while gin is colorless, just like vodka. London Dry Gin is a neutral spirit/alcohol and contains no colorants. This is one of the most noticeable main differences between the two spirits.

The final product of whiskey is stored in wooden barrels or bourbon barrels, while distilled gin is bottled directly after redistillation.

Popularity

The latest market report from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association shows that gin is more popular than most whiskeys. Based on combined gin sales online, in supermarkets and liquor stores, gin sales have risen to 22%, breaking the record of the billion pound mark in the UK.

Commercial dominance

In 2020, the gin industry generated more than $13,000 million, and the United Kingdom is the largest consumer of the drink. However, in terms of alcohol’s commercial dominance, whiskey has greater global appeal. The whiskey industry will reach $80,586 million in sales in 2020, with India accounting for a large portion of the business.

Price point

Price is another important difference between spirits. Gin has the upper hand in price because there are cheaper options than other spirits such as rum, tequila, vodka and scotch. London gin is easier to make and therefore cheaper than whiskey and American brandy.

Are there similarities between Gin and Whiskey?

Even though there are numerous differences between the two spirits, they also have similarities that other spirits do not. Both spirits go through the same fermentation and distillation process. In most cases, they are also bottled at 40% ABV, just like vodka. Some exceptions from ABV are the Indian alcohol content of 42.5%.

Also, both spirits are great for mixing cocktails because of their taste, and both contain sugar. Both have been used for medicinal purposes and have had some health benefits when consumed.