Many of us have our preferred tipple to toast the end of another day, and among those who enjoy a drop of a distilled spirit, vodka vs. tequila is a popular battle the world over. One hails from north-eastern Europe and the other from the Jaliscan Highlands of western Mexico, and each of these alcoholic beverages has its own legion of fans.
Both vodka and tequila can be enjoyed neat or mixed into classic cocktails, and both are famed for their party-starting abilities. With similar appearances and alcohol content to each other, these two (often) clear spirits sit among the most consumed hard liquors, but which one is best for you?
Read on to discover the key differences as we compare tequila and vodka: how they’re made, how they taste, and, importantly, which is the most hangover-friendly of the two drinks.
Key Takeaways
- Tequila and vodka are two of the world’s best-loved spirits.
- Vodka is mainly produced from grains or potatoes.
- Tequila is made from the blue agave plant.
- The main vodka-producing nations include Russia, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and Belarus.
- Tequila is only produced in a few regions of Mexico.
- You can enjoy both spirits neat or mix up delicious cocktails with them.
What Is Vodka?
Vodka is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage that is traditionally made by distilling the liquid obtained by fermenting cereal grains and potatoes. While many people mind’s automatically link vodka to Russia, the first recorded use of the word ‘vodka’ was from Poland in 1405, and it is widely produced across north-eastern Europe – an area known as the Vodka Belt.
With vodka being produced in a few different countries, there are a few different styles to try:
Grain Vodka
Made primarily from grains such as wheat, barley, rye, or corn, grain vodka is the most common type. Its smooth and neutral flavor profile makes it a popular choice for cocktails and mixed drinks.
Potato Vodka
While vodka is seen as a neutral spirit, vodka made from potatoes tends to be a little creamier than grain vodka and is often consumed neat, but it also works in vodka martinis and other classic cocktails.
Fruit-Based Vodka
Fruit vodka incorporates various fruits, such as grapes, apples, or even pineapple, which leads to it having a sweeter and fruitier flavor profile than grain and potato vodkas.
Flavored Vodka
Flavored vodkas are often used to add extra layers of flavor to cocktails, and popular flavors for vodka include berries, citrus, vanilla, and cucumber. Popular vodka brands such as Smirnoff and Absolut produce a range of flavored vodkas.
What Is Tequila?
Tequila is also a distilled spirit, usually clear, that is made from the Weber blue agave plant and, by law, must be produced in and around the central western Mexican state of Jalisco. The region around the city of Tequila, with its red volcanic soils, is divided between the highlands – Los Altos de Jalisco – and the lowlands – the Tequila Valley – with the two distinct areas allowing the blue agave plant to develop different flavor characteristics.
It comes in five different styles, depending on the length of the aging process, and are as follows:
Joven Tequila
Also known as gold tequila, joven is a new category and is usually a mixto made from silver/blanco mixed with grain alcohols and caramel color. But some higher-end joven tequilas are a blend of unaged blanco tequila and slightly-aged reposado tequila.
Blanco Tequila
Touted as being the purest form of tequila, blanco or silver tequila is unaged after the distillation process, and as the purest form, it retains its clear appearance, and the flavors of the blue agave plant shine through.
Reposado Tequila
The word ‘reposado’ means rested in Spanish, and a reposado tequila is one that has been allowed to rest at the end of the distilling process. The period of rest is between two months and one year, and the resting takes place inside oak barrels.
Añejo Tequila
Tequila that is allowed to rest longer than twelve months but less than three years is called añejo tequila. ‘Añejo’ means ‘aged,’ and during this time spent in oak barrels, the spirit gains color from the wood, and some flavor is also imparted from the barrels to the distilled spirit, making it smoother but a less pure tequila than blanco.
Extra Añejo Tequila
Extra añejo tequila is ‘extra aged’ beyond the three-year period that añejo tequila is aged for. This is also a new category for tequila, with it being established in 2006, and it’s a smooth spirit that makes a great sipping tequila.
How Is Vodka Made?
Vodka is a distilled spirit that is mainly composed of water and ethanol and is made primarily from grain or potato mash. The first step in making vodka is to create the mash, which is then fermented with yeast, allowing the sugars to convert into alcohol. Once fermentation is complete, the liquid is distilled to remove impurities before being filtered and bottled.
How Is Tequila Made?
The production of 100% blue agave tequila is regulated by the Tequila Regulatory Council, known in Spanish as the Consejo Regulador del Tequila or simply the CRT for short, and there is a six-step process.
1. Harvesting the blue agave: Once ready for harvest, the spiky plants have their leaves separated from the subterranean bulbs, which are known as piñas.
2. Baking the agave piña: The agave plant piñas are then baked in ovens made from clay and brick or in large stainless steel ovens.
3. Shredding the piñas: After baking, the piñas are shredded to extract the sweet tequila agave juice inside, which is known as mosto.
4. Fermenting the agave juice: The mosto is then combined with yeast and water and left to ferment in large, stainless steel tanks.
5. Distilling the fermented mosto: A two-phase distillation process follows next. The first distillation produces a turbid liquid called ‘ordinario,’ before the second distillation produces a clear, silver tequila. This may be bottled, after resting for a couple of weeks, as an unaged tequila blanco or be aged further to become a reposado, an anejo, or an extra anejo tequila.
6. Aging the tequila: The tequila is placed in oak barrels to age, and the amount of time it is aged will determine which type of aged tequila it will be when bottled.
Taste Difference in Vodka Vs. Tequila
Both of these alcoholic beverages have their own distinct flavor. While bartenders praise the versatility of the subtle and neutral flavors of vodka, tequila drinkers savor the sweet agave flavor of their favorite tipple.
Vodka producers can also incorporate different ingredients into their flavors to add subtle flavor notes, with lemon peel, berries, and peppercorns being common. Technically “flavorless,” there are slight variations in the taste depending on which base ingredient the vodka is made from and which notes have been added.
Tequila drinks tend to be characterized by sweet agave flavors, similar to mezcal, which is also made from the agave plant, but not necessarily from the Weber blue agave plant. It’s more flavorsome than vodka, with the younger tequila having a stronger alcoholic kick than an aged tequila.
Which Has Fewer Calories?
If you’re aiming to lose a few pounds but still like to drink alcohol now and again, it’s good to know which alcoholic drinks contain more calories than others so you can gauge your calorie intake better.
Vodka and tequila, as alcoholic beverages, both contain calories in similar quantities, with a one-fluid-ounce serving of neat, 80-proof tequila or vodka containing around 69 calories. Bear in mind, though, for either tequila or vodka; calories will increase if you add in any other ingredients, especially fruity mixers, such as lime juice, sweet cranberry juice, or any sugary soft drinks.
Is Vodka or Tequila More Popular
Tequila and vodka are two of the most popular spirits across the planet. In the US, vodka has been top dog in terms of sales for a while, but the spirits category of ‘tequila and mezcal’ has recently become the second-fastest growing in the drinks industry behind pre-made drinks and has caught up a little.
Popular brands of vodka include Smirnoff, Absolut, Finlandia, Stolichnaya, and Soplica.
The more popular tequila brands include Don Julio, Ocho, Patrón, Jose Cuervo, and Espolòn.
Which Gives the Worst Hangover
As clear spirits, many claim vodka and tequila produce hangovers that are less severe than those induced by other alcoholic beverages. The hangover differences between the two will depend on a few factors, though, including the alcohol percentage and what else you have been drinking.
Vodka and tequila tend to be bottled at 80 proof, or 40% alcohol by volume (ABV). However, this alcohol content can vary from brand to brand and can even be different within a brand’s range. If buying a bottle of either, it’s a good idea to check the label to find out how much alcohol it contains, as this will affect your hangover.
While a stronger spirit will probably induce a worse hangover, the alcoholic content alone does not determine how you will feel the next day. Mixing drinks with different mixers, especially those heavy on sugar can also have an effect.
We are also all different physiologically, so the best way to determine which gives you the worst hangover is to buy a bottle of each and put it to the test, but please drink responsibly!
How To Drink Vodka & Tequila
How To Drink Vodka
While there are no hard and fast rules, the main ways to enjoy vodka are to drink it straight, chilled, or mixed into a cocktail:
Straight: You can sip high-quality vodka neat at room temperature. Just add a little to the glass; a standard shot is enough, and enjoy. The better the quality of the vodka, the smoother the taste tends to be.
Chilled: Chilling the vodka, either in the freezer or with ice, takes the edge of the alcoholic kick and makes the vodka feel thicker in the mouth.
Cocktails: Vodka is one of the most versatile spirits, and it features many classic cocktail recipes. From a simple vodka shot with lime juice to a more complex bloody Mary, there are plenty of options. Fancy experimenting? Try a white Russian or a Moscow mule, or maybe a classic vodka martini.
How To Drink Tequila
There are also a few different ways of drinking tequila, and for some, the way they enjoy theirs depends on which type they have.
Sipping Neat: Aged tequilas tend to be smoother in the mouth, and if you fancy a sipping tequila, these tend to be the better choices.
Shooters: The classic party starter, the tequila slammer, is another option, one favored by college students. You can also take a straight shot without the citrus juice and salt, and a silver tequila is often the choice for shots and slammers.
Tequila Cocktails: Blanco or silver tequilas also lend themselves well to drinks. Some classic cocktails to try include tequila sunrise, the Paloma, and traditional margaritas. You could also float a layer of red wine atop a classic margarita for a Devil’s margarita!
FAQs
Is tequila better for you than vodka?
The alcohol content of distilled spirits means they tend not to be seen as healthy drinks, as they contain sugars. Tequila and vodka, generally speaking, have the same alcohol content and the same amount of calories.
Does tequila get you drunker than vodka?
Not necessarily, but it will depend on the alcohol by volume (ABV) noted on the bottles. Most tequilas and vodkas come in at 40% ABV, but you can find stronger bottles of both.
Is vodka or tequila better for a hangover?
While the severity of your hangover will depend on other factors, such as your blood sugar levels and what else you have been eating, you can expect a similar hangover from either of these distilled spirits.
What is the healthiest alcohol?
Clear distilled spirits tend to come with the health benefits of being low in sugar content and containing fewer calories. Vodka and tequila are both clear spirits and can be seen as relatively healthy options compared with other distilled spirits.
