10 Best Alcoholic Drinks For A Hangover (Hair of The Dog)
Last Updated on August 22, 2023 by Lydia Martin
For generations, bartenders and expert researchers have been looking for ways to ease your regret (and that terrible ache in your head) after a night of drinking.
One of our most tried and tested techniques to cure a nasty hangover is to start drinking again or the “hair of the dog” method. Yes, you read that right.
Now the question is – what’s the best alcoholic drink for a hangover? Let’s find out.
Top 10 Hair of the Dog Drinks To Kill a Hangover
10. Pimm’s Cup
Pimm’s Cup aims to soothe your upset stomach after a night of alcohol overindulgence. The traditional mint, cucumber, and strawberry garnishes also provide a hint of refreshment to keep you on your toes all day.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Pimm’s No. 1
- 4.5 oz Sparkling lemonade
- Cucumber peel or slice (garnish)
- Fresh mint sprig, strawberry, or orange slices for garnish.
Instructions:
Pour Pimm’s No. 1 into a tall glass filled with ice, add the lemonade the stir to combine. Top it off with cucumber, mint, orange, or strawberry slices, then serve.
Serving: 1
9. Espresso Martini
A caffeinated cocktail like this Espresso Martini is our ultimate pick-me-up in the middle of the day. Concocted by the late master bartender Dick Bradsell, this classic cocktail includes vodka, coffee liqueur, and freshly brewed espresso.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 0.5 oz coffee liqueur (Kahlua)
- 1 oz freshly brewed espresso
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- Coffee beans (garnish)
Instructions:
Mix coffee liqueur, vodkas, espresso, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, then shake well. Strain in a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with espresso beans on top for extra caffeine.
Serving: 1
8. Bloody Maria
While we like the classic Bloody Mary, something about its counterpart – the Bloody Maria – makes it the real winner as a hangover killer. We think the definitive character is its tequila base compared to Mary’s vodka.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 oz tequila
- 0.5 oz lemon juice
- 0.5 tbsp horseradish
- 4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- 4 oz tomato juice
- 2 dashes of tabasco sauce
- 1 pinch of black pepper (ground)
- 2 dashes of hot sauce
- 1 pinch of celery salt
- lemon wedge (garnish)
- Sweet and jalapeno pepper slices (garnish)
- Queso fresco
Instructions:
Combine tequila, lemon juice, tomato juice, tabasco, Worcestershire and hot sauce, black pepper, and celery salt in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain in a pint glass with fresh ice. Serve with lemon wedges, cucumber spear, queso fresco, and vegetables sweet and jalapeno pepper slices like Bloody Mary.
Serving: 1
7. The Dead Rabbit Irish Coffee
This house recipe from one of our favorite top bars can get you back in fighting form in no time. It’s quick, simple, and delectable, too. Check out some simple mixed drinks you can order at a bar here.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Clontarf Irish whiskey
- 4 oz brewed espresso
- 0.75 oz demerara syrup
- Lightly whipped heavy cream
- Freshly grated nutmeg (garnish)
Instructions:
Get an Irish glass, fill it with hot water and let it stand for 2 minutes. Remove the water, then pour the whiskey, demerara syrup, and espresso. Blend well, then top it off with heavy cream and freshly grated nutmeg.
Serving: 1
6. Michelada
Michelada is popular in Mexico and is often available in bars or sold by street vendors. This strong Mexican drink is easy to make since you’ll only be needing ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 Mexican beer bottle
- 2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- 2 dashes tabasco
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 pinch of celery salt
- 1 pinch of black pepper (ground)
- 0.5 lime juice
- Lime wedges
Instructions:
Get a shallow bowl and combine equal parts of cayenne pepper and salt. Rub a piece of the lime wedge on the rim of a pint glass, then dip the rim into the cayenne-salt mixture. Pour the liquid ingredients, then top it off with beer and citrus wedge for Vitamin C.
Serving: 1
5. Beer
Alcohol like beer can mask the symptoms of a hangover since it provides a temporary increase in endorphin levels. We recommend you drink light beer because darker ones contain more congeners.
A congener can irritate the brain tissues and blood vessels, making your hangover worse [1]. Since light beers have low levels of congeners, they can be a temporary cure for alcohol hangovers.
4. Light Rum
Rum is widely used in making the “hair of the dog” if you’re dealing with alcohol intoxication and other residual effects. It is a distilled spirit with a low congener content, so it can effectively help you recover from your hangover symptoms.
However, dark rum might worsen your hangover symptoms, so opt for lighter-colored rums.
3. White Wine
White wine contains an average of 10% ABV and has almost no congeners, which is why many people believe it’s good booze for hangovers. If you like drinking wine but hate the terrible headache and overall unwell feeling, try swapping your red wine for white.
2. Gin
Although gin contains an average of 40% alcohol content, drinking this clear spirit may reduce the risk of getting hungover. Try mixing gin with some tonic and lime for a low-calorie drink that can still pack a lot of punch.
Since gin is low in additives, you can expect a headache-free morning the following day.
1. Vodka
Vodka is an alcoholic drink that will least likely cause hangovers because it is pure and almost tasteless. [2].
Unlike dark spirits like whiskey and wine that undergoes distillation, fermentation, and aging, vodkas are clear and do not virtually contain congeners.
However, when mixed with fruit juices, vodka may not help cure dehydration and hangover because of the added sugar. It will be ideal to combine it with low-sugar mixers.
FAQs
What alcoholic drink gives you the least hangover?
Vodka is the alcoholic drink that gives you the least hangover. It is because it does not contain sugar nor congener that affects your body, especially your brain and liver.
However, when mixed with sugary cocktail drinks, it may contribute to nasty headaches. So why do hangovers make you nauseous?
What’s the worst alcoholic drink that would give you a hangover?
Bourbon mixed with sugary drinks is the worst alcoholic drink that could give you a hangover. The congeners present in bourbon make it hard for the body to digest alcohol (alcohol metabolism). But what are some cheap drinks to order at a bar?
Final Thoughts
Keeping yourself hydrated can help you recover from symptoms of hangovers. Many people find relief in vegetable juices, herbs, fruits, vitamins, and caffeine.
However, drinking alcoholic liquors may help, too. Spirits such as vodkas and light rum can help ease that horrible headache, so you can survive the next day.
References:
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hangover-cure-drink#prevention-tips
- https://www.stylist.co.uk/food-drink/how-avoid-hangover-headache-vodka-wine-gin-spirits-champagne-congeners/42420
