Updated April 2026.
US gin is a juniper-flavored distilled spirit bottled at no less than 40% ABV / 80 proof under TTB’s standard of identity. A 1.5-ounce pour of 40% gin is one NIAAA standard drink (14 g alcohol). London Dry is a production style (juniper-forward, no added sweetening after distillation in the classic definition), not a city of bottling. Plymouth, Old Tom, and contemporary “Western” gins are still gin if they meet the identity and the juniper is dominant.
Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, Hendrick’s, and Beefeater US flagships are typically 40–47% — read that bottle. Hendrick’s common US bottling is 44% (88 proof). We will not reprint a 2021 price list. See does gin go bad.
What changes in the glass
| Style | What the words usually mean | ABV note |
|---|---|---|
| Distilled gin / London Dry | Juniper and botanicals redistilled; London Dry is not sweetened after | US floor 40% |
| Compound gin | Flavor added to spirit without redistillation (allowed but must be labeled honestly) | Same floor |
| Old Tom | Historically slightly sweeter | Read sugar and proof |
| Navy strength | High proof (often ~57% historically) | Not 80 proof; do the math |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 standard drinks; at 47% it is about 20. A martini is not “one shot” — see shots in a martini. G&T calories are mostly the tonic. Four 80-proof pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target.
Common fills match other spirits: 375 mL, 750 mL, 1 L, 1.75 L. “Small batch” and “10-times distilled” are not a second legal class. If the label says flavored gin or a liqueur, it may sit below 40%.
Sources
- TTB distilled-spirits standard of identity for gin: juniper; US bottling ≥40% ABV.
- NIAAA standard drink (December 2025).
- Brand ABVs: confirm the US label (Hendrick’s commonly 44% US). any SKU not in hand.