Are you a regular drinker? Although you visit bars intermittently but have you ever wondered how much alcohol is in your drink. Well, most among you has found the alcohol by volume by seeing the bottle label, it is easy to calculate proof when you are drinking a single drink. But things often become complicated when you just mixed different drinks with juices and ice to prepare the mouth-savoring alcoholic drink. To know the alcohol volume in your drink you can rely on the alcohol proof calculator.
Here are the few following tact’s that help you to know the alcohol percentage and volume simply. It will help you to decrease or increase the level of your drink.
Unit to Measure Alcohol in Drink: ABV and Proof
Two numbers help in knowing the alcohol and strength of alcoholic drink; ABV and Proof. The two numbers although they serve different purposes but can be converted into each other.
Alcohol By Volume
Alcohol proof is defined as twice the volume percentage of ethanol present in an alcoholic beverage. In simple terms, ABV is used to give the percentage and the amount of alcohol in the bottle as compared to other liquid.
For example, an alcoholic drink consisting of 40% ethyl alcohol by volume is 80 proof. Pure alcohol or 100% alcohol by volume is referred to as being 200 proof.
ABV is labeled on every alcoholic beverage including liquor, wine, and beer.
Alcohol Proof Calculator
The proof is the number that is used in the United States that describes the taxes that are required to pay by the distiller on an amount of liquor. Also, the term is being used by Americans to define the potency of alcohol in the given drink.
Unlike alcohol by volume percentage, the proof number is only found labeled on distilled spirits.
Considering the mathematical expression, it is simple to convert ABV into Proof, by multiplying the ABV value by 2.
ABVx2= Proof
There are other methods as well like trig alcohol calculator and proof by induction calculator. One can easily get an idea of alcohol content in the distilled drinks by considering its proof value.
Different Range of Alcohol Content in Different Alcoholic Beverages
| S.No. | Alcoholic Drinks | ABV | Proof |
| 1. | Brandy, Gin, Tequilla, Vodka, and Whiskey | 40% | 80 |
| 2. | Rum | 50% | 100 |
| 3. | Flavored Vodkas | 35% | 75 |
| 4. | Cointreau and Benedictine | 40% | 80 |
| 5. | Wines | 8-14% | 16-28 |
Estimation of Alcohol Content of Mixed Drinks
Have you ever thought of why sometimes drinking two glass of Vodka Martinis make you feel stronger while another day you feel fine with whiskey highballs? Well, the whole answer lies in the alcohol content of cocktails.
If you usually remain concerned about how strong is the alcoholic drink that you had then it is good to know about the ABV of the drink.
Nowadays, many bartenders are adding ABV value to their cocktail menus, but it is not as simple as it seems to be. The biggest reason behind that is the way of how the drink is mixed.
Some bartenders mix the drink by shaking it hard and diluting it more by adding ice.
Other pour 2-ounce shot of liquor or 1.5 ounces of liquor.
Some serve the highball drink with 6 ounces of Ginger ale while others use 4 ounces.
The size of the glass is yet another way that plays a vital role in knowing the drink’s strength. Serving a drink in 7-ounce Collins glass is stronger than the same drink served in 10 ounces highball glass filled with soda to dilute.
If you are concerned about the drink, then it is good to learn a simple way of how to estimate the alcohol content of the different mixed drinks you consume.
Proof Calculation for Cocktails
Although it is difficult to assume the exact alcohol content of the drink you had, there is a basic formula that helps you in estimating a drink’s strength.
(Alcohol Content x Liquor Volume/ Total Drink) x 100= % Alcohol by Volume
Gin Martini: A Drink with Gin and Dry Vermouth
Martini drink is prepared by mixing different alcoholic ingredients like 2.5 ounce Gin (40% ABV or 80 Proof), 0.5-ounce Dry Vermouth (15% ABV or 30 Proof). To calculate alcohol content, multiply the volume of each drink with the strength of alcohol. Also, consider the dilution factor used to make up the final volume of the drink.
For Martini Drink, calculation is as follow:
(0.40×2.5) + (0.15×0.5)/ (2.5+0.5+0.5)
=1.075/3.5
=0.30×100
=30%ABV or 60 Proof
So, the average Gin Martini contain 30 percent ABV or 60 proof that depicts that it is a very strong drink.
Tom Collins: The Highball Drink
It is a casual-sipping drink prepared using juice, syrups and only alcoholic beverage Gin.
With 1.5 ounces of Gin (40% ABV), 1 ounce of Lemon Juice, 0.5 ounces of Simple Syrup, 3 ounces of Club Soda, 0.5 ounces of melted ice, the drink has 9% ABV or 18 proof.
Frozen Cocktails: Lime Margarita
When calculating the proof or ABV of frozen cocktails it is important to consider the amount of ice. Follow the right guidelines to estimate the alcohol content in the frozen cocktails.
The drink is prepared using 1 cup ice (4 ounces), 1.5 ounces tequila (40% ABV), 0.5 ounces Triple Sec (30% ABV), 1-ounce lime juice, 2 ounces sour mix. Applying the formula, ABV of the drink is equal to 8% ABV or 16 proof.
To make a drink lighter, one can add fruits or milk or ice cream to the drink.
One can simplify their calculation with online proof to alcohol percentage calculators that help them to estimate the alcohol content in their drinks.
I hope this blog helps you in understanding the concept and in knowing understanding alcohol proof vs percentage calculator. Use the above calculation to make a stylish drink sensibly. Keep yourself informed about cocktail and enjoy every sip of your favorite liquor.
