Updated May 2026.
Gin is juniper-forward by law. Vodka is built to be neutral. Gin (27 CFR 5.144) is distilled or compounded with juniper berries as the main characteristic flavor and bottled at ≥40% ABV. Vodka (27 CFR 5.142) is a neutral spirit distilled at 95%+ and bottled at ≥40% without wood aging. A 1.5-ounce 80-proof pour is one NIAAA standard drink — unless the gin is 47.3% (US Tanqueray), which is 1.18 drinks.
London Dry is a gin process term, not a vodka. Related: gin guide, Tanqueray, Bombay.
The legal split
| Rule | Gin (5.144) | Vodka (5.142) |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Main characteristic = juniper | Neutral; extra flavor = flavored vodka |
| How it’s made | Original distillation, redistillation, or mixing with juniper | High-proof distillation + optional tiny sugar/citric |
| US bottle floor | 40% | 40% |
| Common US bottles | Beefeater 40%; Tanqueray 47.3%; Bombay Sapphire 47% | Tito’s / Grey Goose / Smirnoff typically 40% |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 drinks; 47.3% is about 20. Four 1.5-ounce 40% pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. G&T: gin for a G&T.
Sources
- 27 CFR 5.144 gin; 27 CFR 5.142 vodka (LII).
- US Tanqueray 47.3% from brand US page (prior Batch 8b). Bombay US 47% (prior). Beefeater US 40% (prior). Confirm the neck.
- NIAAA standard drink (December 2025).