Last Updated on October 25, 2023 by Lydia Martin
There’s nothing more disappointing than leaving your Vodka in your freezer and hoping it would freeze by the end of the day for some chill nights only to find out that it only sloshed around your bottle.
So, does Vodka freeze? Let’s find out in today’s article!
Table of Contents
Vodka: Does it Freeze?
Like water, every alcohol has its freezing point, far lower than what we are all familiar with. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But with pure ethanol alcohol, you must reach -173 degrees Fahrenheit for it to freeze.
So does Vodka freeze? Yes, it does! A Vodka with 40% alcohol (80 proof) will freeze at -16 degree temperature, which is way below what your normal freezer can do.
Putting Vodka in the freezer will only give you the benefit of having an ice-cold drink without even adding ice, but this will not entirely freeze the Vodka.
What Happens When It’s Frozen?
Loses Flavor
When Vodka reaches its freezing point, it loses its flavor and masks some of its best qualities, such as its subtle scents and flavor. But, how long does vodka really last?
Aggressive, Burning Notes
If you are drinking cheap Vodkas, then you are missing out on these drinks’ complex flavors.
Leaving it in the freezer will help mask some of these low-quality Vodka with aggressive notes and taste.
Liquor experts say that the optimum temperature for premium Vodka is around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, so burning these harsh notes can give you a smoother drink while getting your booze on.
What Makes It Difficult to Freeze Vodka?
Vodka is composed of miscible liquids, specifically water, and Ethanol. Both of which have different freezing temperatures.
Water has a 0 degrees Fahrenheit freezing point, and Ethanol has a -114 degree Celsius (-173 degree Fahrenheit).
This mixture creates a phenomenon called “freezing point depression,” which lowers the freezing temperature of water to balance with its other component.
Therefore the temperature of Vodka is lowered to approximately -27 degrees Celsius (-16.5 degrees F), which makes regular house freezers unable to freeze the Vodka.
How to Properly Freeze Vodka?
If you are planning to freeze your Vodka, a typical freezer might not help you by doing so. It might help to keep it ice cold, but it won’t freeze in your traditional freezer.
Putting salt and ice in your bucket can keep your vodka extra cold. Enough to produce a vodka sicle that is slightly less alcoholic.
But how do you properly freeze Vodka? You need to have an industrial freezer or dry ice and liquid nitrogen. As said, Vodka has its freezing points, so surrounding it with dry ice can drop the temperature to -109 Fahrenheit, actually freezing the Vodka.
How Long Will It Take to Freeze Vodka?
Vodka will not freeze solid until it reaches its optimum low temperatures of -16 degrees Fahrenheit. A standard refrigerator is 0 degrees Fahrenheit (but that is still too cold for premium Vodka)
According to the creator of Grey Goose, Francois Thibault, “Final round vodka and other hard liquors will never freeze in the average freezer.” (1)
Even if you put a bottle of Vodka in your freezer for months, it will only slosh around. But if you use a freezer that can be set to -16 degrees F, then you could definitely freezer your Vodka in no less than an hour.
FAQs
Can I freeze Vodka as hard as a popsicle?
No, you can’t. Alcohol has a lower freezing point than fruit juice, and it cuts the alcohol content by adding juice. Even a little liquor can keep the popsicle at its permanent state of slush.
Can I still get drunk on frozen Vodka?
Yes. Alcohol has a lesser state of matter than the other component, which is water. Alcohol is also the reason why it is hard to freeze Vodka. When alcohol freezes, it becomes thicker because the water in it freezes.
Vodka enhances its alcohol concentration which ultimately answers the question, yes; frozen Vodka will still get you drunk.
Key Takeaways
When you leave other alcoholic beverages in a regular freezer, such as beer, wine, and other low-proof liquors, it will freeze solid in an hour, but your vodka won’t. When you store vodka in the freezer, it loses its flavors, and some of its notes burn off, making it a bit difficult to detect its aroma and flavor.
You do not want to drink warm vodka as it releases more volatility, and the smell of vodka on your breath can be overwhelming. Even Thibault doesn’t recommend drinking the stuff at room temperature.
For you to enjoy your vodka without a big mess, it should be at its drinking temperature at 32-39 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures.
Reference:
- https://www.businessinsider.com/why-you-should-never-put-vodka-in-the-freezer-2018-10
