ABV stands for Alcohol by Volume. It tells you what percentage of a drink is pure alcohol.
For example
Dryad Gin is 40% ABV meaning 40% is alcohol and 60% is water and Sea Centaur Gin is 45% ABV this means 45% alcohol and 55% water.
ABV is the standard way of measuring alcoholic strength and must be displayed on every bottle sold in the UK.
Why Does ABV Matter?
ABV influences much more than how strong a drink is. It also affects flavour, aroma and texture. A higher-strength gin often carries more of the botanical oils released during distillation, creating a fuller mouthfeel and a more intense aroma. Lower-strength gins can feel lighter and softer, making them easier to sip for some people.
Choosing the right ABV is one of the most important decisions a distiller makes. It’s about finding the balance where the botanicals shine without the alcohol overpowering them. We tend to use a higher ABV in Martini based gins as these will be consumed almost as neat gin.
Does a Higher ABV Mean a Better Gin?
Not necessarily. A higher ABV doesn’t automatically make a gin better; it simply creates a different drinking experience.
Many classic London Dry gins are bottled at 40% ABV, while others are bottled at 43% or 45% to give greater intensity. Navy Strength Gin is even stronger at 57% ABV or above.
Bottles of Gin can be judged on their ABV. We won Best Traditional Gin over 45% at The Gin Guide this year with our Sea Centaur Gin.
The quality of a gin depends on the ingredients, the distillation and the skill of the distiller, not simply the number on the label. At Dryad Gin, we don’t choose an ABV because it sounds impressive. We taste the gin at different strengths until we find the point where the botanicals are in harmony.
Everything I’ve written here comes from my own experience as the founder and distiller of Dryad Gin in Somerset. Every bottle is distilled, blended and bottled by hand in what is probably Britain’s smallest gin distillery.
If you’d like to discover more about traditional distilling, explore our range of London Dry gins or visit the distillery, you’re always welcome.