The main distinction between clear and dark liquor lies in their purity levels. Although all alcohol contains impurities known as congeners, dark liquors generally have a higher concentration compared to clear alcohols (via Medical Daily). Congeners are chemical substances formed during the fermentation and distillation process, contributing to the unique color, aroma, and flavor of specific liquors.
How does this occur? Interestingly, all alcohol begins as clear. It’s only when certain types, like whiskey, rum, and brandy, undergo fermentation and aging in wooden barrels that more congeners are generated, resulting in a darker hue. Examples of congeners include tannins, methanol, esters, aldehydes, and acetone. Although the congener content in any given liquor can vary, alcohols that undergo more distillation generally contain fewer congeners.
Which one is better for you?
While no alcohol is truly beneficial for your health, clear liquor usually has fewer impurities and allergens, and is less likely to result in hangovers (via Bustle). Unlike dark liquors, clear alcohols contain minimal to no congeners. Since congeners can increase the severity of hangovers, drinking clear liquors might reduce the likelihood of experiencing a severe headache the following morning compared to dark liquors.
Of course, this doesn’t guarantee that consuming clear alcohols, such as gin or vodka, won’t lead to a hangover the next day. If you consume enough alcohol, a hangover can occur regardless of the drink’s color. “A good rule of thumb for liquors is that the clearer they are, the fewer substances they contain,” Dr. Duy Nguyen, a psychiatrist at Beachway Therapy, told Bustle. “While light-colored drinks may lessen a hangover, drinking them is not a license to become impaired and unsafe.”
Interestingly, clear alcohol also contains fewer allergens than dark liquor. This is because they have fewer impurities and are generally lower in histamine — a chemical produced in the body in response to allergies (via VinePair). Thus, consuming clear liquor is less likely to trigger an allergic response from your immune system. However, this doesn’t mean vodka or any other clear liquor can’t cause an allergic reaction. It depends on the individual. How your body reacts to liquor, whether dark or clear, is unique to you. As long as you drink responsibly and in moderation, there is no definitive benefit to choosing one type of alcohol over another.
