Tag: Alcohol congeners

A 2010 study found that alcoholic drinks with a higher concentration of congeners—chemical byproducts of fermentation—can cause more severe hangover symptoms. This is a key reason why does port give you a hangover, as it's packed with these compounds from both red wine and added brandy.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, consuming darker-colored spirits containing higher levels of congeners can worsen hangover symptoms. This may be why you get hungover with wine, especially red wine, more than with other types of alcohol, due to various compounds created during fermentation.

While many believe drinking whiskey causes a different type of intoxication than vodka, scientific consensus confirms that all alcoholic beverages contain the same intoxicating molecule, ethanol. The perception that whiskey affects you differently than vodka is actually a product of both chemical nuances and powerful psychological factors, not the alcohol itself.

While moderate drinking may offer some health benefits, experts widely agree that no alcohol is truly "healthy". The idea that rum is healthier than other liquors is a popular misconception rooted in a misunderstanding of how the body processes alcohol.