Basics
ABV
ABV stands for alcohol by volume: the percentage of a drink that is pure alcohol. A 40% ABV spirit is 40% alcohol.
- Also: Alcohol by volume
In practice
Spirits are usually 35 to 50% ABV, liqueurs 15 to 30% and wine around 12%. A cocktail's ABV is lower than its spirit's, because juice, mixers and melted ice dilute it. The ABV on each Drinky-Drink recipe is an estimate after dilution, not a lab test.
ABV, in short
What does ABV mean?
ABV stands for alcohol by volume: the percentage of a drink that is pure alcohol. A 40% ABV spirit is 40% alcohol.