The freezing temperature of a liquid depends largely on the amount of alcohol in it. Alcohol has a much lower freezing temperature than water. This means that spirits, which contain a high alcohol content, need a much lower temperature to freeze than ordinary liquids like water or juice. But does this apply to all spirits, and does it make sense to freeze your favourite spirit at all? You can read about it here!
At what temperatures do spirits freeze?
Spirits such as whisky, vodka, and rum contain between 40% and 50% alcohol. The freezing temperature for these drinks is usually around -20°C to -30°C. So in a standard household freezer, which is usually around -18°C, these spirits will not freeze. So you can put your bottle in the freezer without worry if you want to serve the drink nice and cold.
Exceptions
However, there are exceptions. If a drink has an extremely high alcohol content, such as some specially bottled liqueurs or pure alcohol, the freezing temperature may be even lower. For drinks with an alcohol content of 70% or more, the freezing temperature can be below -40°C, which is much colder than what you can achieve in an ordinary freezer. Such drinks will therefore not freeze even at extremely low temperatures.
What happens when you freeze spirits?
Although in most cases it is not necessary to put your spirits in the freezer, it may happen that the drink thickens when you put it in a freezer. This happens especially if the alcohol concentration is slightly lower than normal. The flavours and texture of the drink may change if you store it at such low temperatures.
Benefits of spirits in the freezer
While it is of purely informational interest to know whether alcohol can freeze, it is also important to consider whether it is really useful to put your spirits in the freezer. Let's get to the heart of the matter!
There are indeed a number of benefits associated with putting certain spirits in the freezer.
Cooling
The main benefit is that the spirits get nice and cold. This can be especially desirable for drinks like vodka that are often served chilled.
Texture
For some drinks, such as vodka, freezing can create a thick, almost syrupy texture. This can give an interesting change in mouthfeel and can be nice for certain cocktails.
Limitations and considerations
Freezing temperature
As discussed earlier, the freezing temperature for spirits is much lower than that of a household freezer (-18°C). Therefore, they will usually not freeze, just get very cold.
Flavour and aroma
In some cases, extremely cold temperature can affect the flavour and aroma of the drink.
Impact on glass
Important to know - if you choose to put your spirits in the freezer, don't forget to transfer the drink into a plastic bottle. This is because at very low temperatures, the glass bottle can break due to the expansion of the liquid.
Specific drinks
Vodka
This is a popular drink to place in the freezer as it is often served chilled. It can improve its texture and flavour without actually freezing.
Whisky and rum
These drinks are often served at room temperature to fully bring out their aromas and flavours. Therefore, putting your favourite whisky or rum in the freezer will not provide much extra benefit.
One of the most famous examples of whisky that you did have to put in the freezer was Snow Grouse.
Limoncello, Orancello, Jägermeister
There are a number of liqueurs, aperitifs and digestives that are traditionally kept in the freezer. Most will then immediately think of Limoncello, Orancello and Jägermeister as drinks usually served straight from the freezer.
After all, Jägermeister's slogan is not for nothing"Only when it's ice cold."
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Marketing • Blogger
As a creative jack-of-all-trades in the marketing world, I also bring that imaginative flair to my drink choices. Whether on a night out, sunny vacation or social gathering with girlfriends, I'm always in my element with a refreshing cocktail in hand. Cocktails have stolen my heart because of the endless possibilities to experiment and explore. My favorite cocktail of the moment is the "Lazy Red Cheeks"! A delicious cocktail using vodka as a base. I love vodka because it mixes perfectly with non-alcoholic drinks. My favorite spirit? Rum!
