As fall and winter turn the warm days cold, it’s time to gather the loved ones and pop open a bottle of vodka to keep warm. Aw, hell – what are we saying? Vodka is just as easy to drink in the summer as it is in the fall and winter. What’s not easy, however, is the hangover that usually come after. Arguably one of the worst parts of drinking.
So, is there any way to determine whether your drink will leave you waking up clear-headed vs. being hungover? The biology of how alcohol is distilled plays a big hand determining this. It comes down to congeners.
Congeners? What the heck are congeners?
To start, most alcoholic cocktails we consume contain congeners.
WHAT ARE CONGENERS?
Alcohol is made up of many different kinds of chemical compounds which leads to the individual beverage’s specific aroma and flavor.
Of these chemical reactions, toxic compounds known as congeners become present during fermentation or distillation which contribute to hangover symptoms.
These chemicals include:
- Methanol: The biggest contributor to hangover symptoms
- Furfuryl: Stops yeast from metabolizing
- Fusel oil: Known for causing headaches and thirst
- Tannins: Known for causing nausea/stomach pains
- Acetaldehyde: A toxic byproduct of the breakdown of ethanol
WHICH ALCOHOL CONTAINS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CONGENERS?
Darker alcohols (whiskey, bourbon, cognac, and red wine) are ones which contain the highest levels of congeners. Though tequila is lighter, it is also amongst those with the highest levels of congeners.
These kinds of beverages are those you will want to drink much more lightly due to hangovers being more intense and frequent with these alcohols. It should also be known that combining these alcohols with chasers and cocktail mixers can cause the effects of congeners to be much more defined.
Clearer alcohols (vodka, gin, light rum, and light beers) have a much lower amount of congeners. Amongst these alcohols, vodka contains almost no congeners to speak of, making vodka the alcohol with the least congeners (and Switch Vodka even less, due to its distillation process).
Typically, individuals who drink clearer alcohols feel less of the congener’s effects than after drinking darker drinks.
CONGENERS AND HANGOVERS
Dark alcohol is given its deep color through congeners. These congeners are byproducts of certain types of distillation and fermentation.
Congeners are typically impurities which stabilize the alcohol’s taste. These impurities are also known to heighten your hangover.
That said, vodka is one of the best alcohols to produce little to no hangover symptoms. This is due to vodka being 40% alcohol with a large mixture of water.
SWITCH VODKA: VODKA WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CONGENERS
A wiser choice is Switch vodka light. Switch contains no sugar or gluten. It is also very low in both carbs and calories.
Switch is one of Colorado’s favorite vodka brands. This is due to Switch Vodka being distilled cleaner than most other vodkas. Switch was created for people who seek a healthier alcohol alternative. Switch vodka light is produced using all-natural ingredients and real fruit flavors. Switch vodka uses all natural ingredients and flavors and contains no sugar. Switch is lower in alcohol content (30%) and contains none of the crap that contributes to awful hangovers.
SWITCH VODKA DISTILLATION PROCESS
Switch vodka is distilled using a distillation process known as iStill. Switch only uses the “middle” part of each distillate which ensures only the purest of alcohol content. The “head” and the “tail” parts of the distillate are much more saturated in toxins and harmful chemicals.
You can reduce the intensity of your hangover greatly by drinking low-congener alcohol.
Switch Vodka’s congeners are as low as they can get!
IMPORTANCE OF LESS CONGENERS
In the end, congeners have been linked with those who experience terrible hangovers. Congeners are chemical compounds that affect your body’s ability to break down the alcohol which causes the response of your hangover and the symptoms.
So at your next celebration or party, give drinking Switch vodka, a high quality vodka with lower congeners, a chance.
The distillation process speaks for itself.
Try it for yourself today!
