Separately, wine and vodka are two of the most popular types of alcohol consumed in the United States. But do they go well together? This article will answer all your questions about mixing wine and vodka and a few cocktail recipes so you can try this appealing combo for yourself.
What Is Wine?
Wine is a type of alcohol derived from fermented grape juice. Various varieties and strains of grapes produce different kinds of wine with different acidity, sweetness, and astringency levels. The most popular wines are white (from green grapes) and red (from red or purple grapes). Some wines are also carbonated or sparkling (like champagne).
Most wines fall between 10% alcohol by volume (ABV) and 15%.
What Is Vodka?
Vodka is a liquor derived from grains or starch, but the most popular vodka brands come from wheat, potatoes, and rye. Most vodkas are between 30% and 40% ABV. It is often consumed neat or as an ingredient in a cocktail, such as cosmopolitans.
Can You Mix Wine And Vodka?
There are some advantages and disadvantages that come with mixing wine and vodka.
Flavor-wise, you might need to add other ingredients to your wine and vodka beverage in order to create a more pleasant flavor for your taste buds. Generally, vodka is a clear, flavorless liquid that tastes like pure alcohol. When mixed with wine (which may be fruity, sweet, dry, earthy, or bitter,) the combination of flavors may not be the most appealing.
However, some people who enjoy the taste of alcohol may find this combination delicious all by itself!
Mixing wine and vodka will raise the alcohol by volume of the beverage, resulting in a stronger drink that will intoxicate you faster. Depending on your alcohol tolerance, this feature may be either a positive or a drawback.
Does Mixing Different Types of Alcohol Give You a Worse Hangover?
There is an urban legend that consuming more than one type of alcohol in an evening will lead to a more severe hangover the next morning. But how far from the truth is this saying, and will mixing wine and vodka give you a worse headache?
If you begin the night drinking either wine or beer and then switch to drinking hard liquor, you are more likely to get drunker because of the difference in alcohol content between the types of beverages. And, of course, being more inebriated will cause a worse hangover the next day.
If you start the night drinking vodka (or another hard liquor) and then switch to wine or beer, this is less likely to significantly affect how you feel the morning after.
Combining wine and vodka will likely get you more intoxicated than drinking either type of alcohol alone. However, as long as you stay hydrated and drink responsibly, you can mitigate the severity of your post-drinking sickness the next day.
There is no one answer to the question “how much wine and vodka mixture will get you drunk?” or “how much wine will get you drunk?” because it will highly depend on your personal tolerance for alcohol, body weight, and other factors. Because vodka has a higher alcohol content than wine, drinking wine and vodka mixture will get you drunk faster than drinking only wine.
Wine And Vodka Cocktails
Traditionally, only a few drinks combine wine and vodka. There is no rule that will prevent you from doing so, and just because it is not a popular combination does not mean you can’t make a tasty drink using these two ingredients. Read on for some ideas about how to mix wine and vodka!
The French 75
The French 75 is a classic cocktail made from either vodka or gin, lemon juice, sugar, and champagne. Champagne is a type of sparkling wine from the Champagne region in the northeast of France. While you traditionally make a French 75 with gin, it is becoming more common to see them with vodka.
To make a French 75, combine vodka, simple syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. The amount of lemon and sugar you use depends on personal preference. You may want to do more or less than ½ an ounce each.
Shake the three ingredients with ice until chilled to your liking. Strain into a champagne flute or other tall glass, and then top off the glass with champagne. To complete the drink, add a lemon twist as a garnish!
Spiced Wine and Vodka
This spiced cocktail is perfect for a cool fall or winter night to get into a seasonal spirit! It contains red wine, vodka, cinnamon syrup, and orange liqueur. If you have any mulled wine on hand, that would also be a great substitute for red wine. Mulled wine incorporates fall spices such as cinnamon, clove, star anise, lemon, and sometimes brandy. These spices add a depth of flavor to the drink that tastes like the holidays.
To make cinnamon syrup:
- Combine equal amounts of water and sugar in a pot, and add 4-6 whole cinnamon sticks.
- Bring to a boil and let cool to infuse the simple syrup with the warm, spicy cinnamon flavor.
- Remove and discard the cinnamon sticks, and bottle your syrup for cocktails and even coffee drinks or desserts.
To make the drink, combine an ounce of vodka, half an ounce of cinnamon simple syrup, and half an ounce of orange liqueur in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice until well-chilled. Strain into a glass and top with red wine or mulled wine. Garnish with an orange peel, and enjoy!
Final Thoughts
While you might not want the powerful intoxicating effects of mixing wine and vodka every day, there is no reason not to try it at least one time. You might discover your new favorite cocktail! Remember to drink responsibly, and let us know if you tried one of these drinks with wine and vodka.
