Here’s why vodka doesn’t freeze

Let’s ponder upon an alcoholic anomaly. If we forget to take out a bottle of beer or wine from the freezer, it freezes.

Well, that is what a freezer is supposed to do. Leaving it for even longer could cause the glass bottle to break, wasting an unopened bottle of joy.

But this is not necessary for other drinks. Even though you can store your vodka bottle in the freezer, it will not freeze.

Wondering why? Well, this is what happens to this alcoholic beverage in the freezer.

Vodka can be stored in the freezer forever without getting frozen. If you are concerned about the taste and longevity, it can be stored for about ten years before it starts to evaporate and go bad in taste. So why does vodka not freeze? The answer is simple actually. It does not freeze because of the extremely low freezing point of alcohol. The freezing point of pure ethanol alcohol is -173°F or -114°C. It contains around 40% ethanol and since alcohol and water are both miscible liquids, the freezing point of water reduces from 0°C to -26.95°C after mixing it with vodka. So, now do you realise why it is one of the most preferred alcohol beverages in some of the coldest parts of the planet?

With the overall freezing point of vodka significantly low, it does not mean that it can not be frozen. It simply means that standard freezers are not cold enough to freeze it. The average freezer is set at a temperature of -18°C, so it is not cold enough to freeze vodka. But if you do want to freeze the spirit, grab some liquid nitrogen to do the job. Even bartenders use it to freeze drinks. Another way is to use dry ice, which drops the temperature down to -78°C. There is also a third way to freeze this alcohol, but the method can only be used in extremely cold regions like Siberia or Alaska. Simply go out with the bottle, and voila, you would have a bottle of frozen vodka. Be careful about your body though.

You cannot actually, for an obvious reason. The freezing point of vodka is so low, the temperature of frozen vodka will make it almost impossible to consume. Moreover, freezing vodka subdues the innate flavour and aroma, which is okay for a low quality vodka, but is not recommended for premium vodka drinkers. So avoid trying to freeze the drink for a better drinking experience.

Before storing any drink for consumption, it is important to understand the shelf life of the spirit. Some drinks last longer than others, some drinks should be stored at room temperature and some drinks must be stored in the refrigerator. Learn more about how to best store your drink and how to make your drink taste best. Cheers!