Spirits & Liqueurs · Sat 17 Oct 2026

What does 40% mean on a vodka label? A pour calculator for strength, units and mixers

Vodka is a spirit distilled until most of the flavour of its base, whether grain, potato or grape, is gone, then cut with water to a set strength. In the EU that is at least 37.5% abv, and in the US 40%.

Move the bottle strength, pour size and mixer in the calculator to see the pure alcohol in your glass, in ml, grams, UK units and 10 g standard drinks. The label tells you the strength of the bottle; the pour decides how much alcohol is in the glass.

Picker · 5 min read

A glass with 40 ml of gold alcohol below 60 ml of water, showing what 40% means

More Spirits & Liqueurs

VS, VSOP or XO? What a cognac label really says, with a blend-age builder15 Oct Whisky or whiskey? What the label tells you about Scotch, bourbon, rye and Irish12 Oct White, gold or dark rum: what the colour tells you, and what it doesn't10 Oct What London dry gin means: how the way gin is made sets its label7 Oct Blanco, reposado, añejo: what time in an oak barrel does to tequila5 Oct All Spirits & Liqueurs→

Next round

Why does iced tea go cloudy? A planner for flash-chilled, cold brew and slow-cooled teaprevious Pour me onerandom