Bourbon VS Vodka: Bourbon Hurts More the Next Day, Due to Byproducts of Fermenting Process

[The Straight Story]

Bourbon VS Vodka: Bourbon Hurts More the Next Day, Due to Byproducts of Fermenting Process

ScienceDaily (Dec. 18, 2009) — Many alcoholic beverages contain byproducts of the materials used in the fermenting process. These byproducts are called "congeners," complex organic molecules with toxic effects including acetone, acetaldehyde, fusel oil, tannins, and furfural. Bourbon has 37 times the amount of congeners that vodka has. A new study has found that while drinking a lot of bourbon can cause a worse hangover than drinking a lot of vodka, impairment in people's next-day task performance is about the same for both beverages.

Results will be published in the March 2010 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

"While the toxic chemicals called congeners could be poisonous in large amounts, they occur in very small amounts in alcoholic beverages," explained Damaris J. Rohsenow, professor of community health at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University. "There are far more of them in the darker distilled beverages and wines than in the lighter colored ones. While the alcohol alone is enough to make many people feel sick the next day, these toxic natural substances can add to the ill effects as our body reacts to them."

Rohsenow added that few studies have looked at the effects of high- versus low-congener beverages on next-day hangover or performance, and some of those early studies were not careful to wait until breath alcohol levels (BALs) were close to zero before measuring performance, so results may have included some of alcohol's direct effects.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091218083548.htm

I need to go and run some of my own tests now...

[devilgrrl]

1. Awesome! I going to make myself a nice Bloody Mary! Anyone want one?

[virgogal]

2. It's easy to avoid alcohol related hangovers-------avoid alcohol.

[The Straight Story]

3. I need proof of that via study first

:rofl:

[virgogal]

11. I'm sure there's one being worked on somplace. :-)

[The Straight Story]

12. I am working on it in my mouth right now

;)

[virgogal]

22. Good for you----and I'll bet you're doing your study without thousands

of dollars of grant money.

Nice !

[CTyankee]

10. You don't even have to do that. Just don't drink too much!

I don't know what it is about Americans. It's either complete teetotaling or getting drunk. Why can't Americans just drink moderately? Is there something in our genes that we can't do that?

I go to Europe and I see people drinking wine at all times of the day and night but they don't get drunk. Personally, I don't want to go to a wine bar at 11 am in Rome for a glass of wine, but I do like a glass before dinner and one with dinner. I don'thave hangovers but I still enjoy my wine with a meal. I guess something is "wrong" with me...

[virgogal]

16. Parts of Europe maybe,but what about Ireland,Russia,and Iceland to name a few. We

Americans drink no more or less than most of the western world.

[CTyankee]

21. I guess because I go to Italy, Sicily, Spain and Portugal I am just getting the

more southern European attitude. Colder, northern countries seem to have a problem with alcohol, it seems to me.

I don't know what it is...what do you think? :shrug:

[virgogal]

26. I think you hit it right on the button. The Northern Europeans like their booze.

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. I guess "soccer hooliganism" is a product of sobriety then huh? And those pictures of British youth

I saw recently, laying in their own piss and vomit accompanying a story about the increase in binge drinking were false.

And maybe your European winos, who are "drinking wine at all times of the day and night" are just high-functioning alcoholics who don't SEEM drunk because they drink so often.

[CTyankee]

24. Brits seem to have a big alcohol problem, I agree.

AS to your second point, have you ever BEEN to Europe to actually see what I am talking about? I have been in family restaurants in Sicily and in Rome where the whole family is there and that wine bottle is right there in the middle of the table. Nobody is even near drunk. They pick up the babies and walk around with them and you are supposed to admire the baby ("Che bella" or "e carino"). Then they all go out for "passagiata" which is an evening walk after dinner in the neighborhood to talk with friends and neighbors.

Wine is part of food and life to these people. I am amazed and stupefied by Americans who call them "European winos." It's a calumny against people who have a refined culture that (I can see) is just not understood in this country, evidently. That is sad. Everyone could learn a few cultural lessons from these people who respect fresh, slow food (you don't get a check from the waiter until you ask for it...and their meal times take a long time), great taste and beautiful wines.

OK, you have your culture and I'll have mine, deal?

[chatnoir]

35. American puritanism

Having lived in Europe I can attest to what you're saying. They enjoy good food and wine - wine enhances food. It's just a part of life, not a way to get hammered.

[CTyankee]

38. Thank you!. I am amazed that I don't have more support on DU for this.

Folks here just don't get it! It's a problem here at DU...not good culturally, tho,...

[cherokeeprogressive]

40. Believe it or not, as uncultured as I am, I HAVE actually been to Europe.

Four Mediterranean/Indian Ocean deployments with the US Navy in the 80's, and two trips with my first in-laws, who both emigrated from Italy.

Lisbon, Portsmouth, Palma, Malaga, Athens, Paris, Nice, Sigonella, Naples, and Genoa.

[CTyankee]

41. "Uncultured" is your term, not mine. So tell me, what did you learn fromyour voyages?

I would be interested in your views and how they shaped your ideas about that part of Europe.

P.S. Did you have a good experience at Sigonella? I have such a fond memory of Sicily...Catania (Sigonella) is not one of them, but Palerma and so much else is.

Lisbon was not my fave city, to say the least. Paris was a long time ago and I haven't been to Naples and certainly not Athens. But I will tell you that I went to towns in northern Italy and in Spain that were fabulous. Bilbao a revelation...a city transformed by art in our lifetime...my god...amazing.

[madokie]

39. Thats what I've learned too

[mitchtv]

4. the dark ones taste better

all things considered

[spanone]

5. i had some doozies on vodka....and some doozies on bourbon....

hurt is hurt

[LostInAnomie]

6. Meh...

I'd rather drink something that tases good (whiskey) than something that tastes like shit (vodka).

[The Straight Story]

9. Vodka is good when mixed with Mt. Dew (nt)

[LostInAnomie]

23. I love Mt. Dew too much to ever do that to it.

I used to drink vodka when I was in high school. I would always mix it with either gatorade or hawaiian punch. To this day, I cannot drink gatorade or hawaiian punch without winching after every drink waiting for the bite.

[theoldman]

7. If you want to get the facts, ask an alcoholic.

They will tell you that vodka is the way to go.

[Xipe Totec]

8. Make me a drink of grain alcohol and rainwater, and help yourself to whatever you'd like.

Ripper: Mandrake. Mandrake, have you never wondered why I drink only distilled water, or rain water, and only pure-grain alcohol?
Mandrake: Well, it did occur to me, Jack, yes.
Ripper: Have you ever heard of a thing called fluoridation. Fluoridation of water?
Mandrake: Uh? Yes, I-I have heard of that, Jack, yes. Yes.
Ripper: Well, do you know what it is?
Mandrake: No, no I don't know what it is, no.
Ripper: Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face?

[Bluebear]

13. Well, that explains it.

:)

[xchrom]

14. I always thought small production bourbon

Was way better than vodka.

[DemoTex]

15. I learned that as a freshman in college (on Old Grand Gag) almost 45 years ago.

To this day I cannot stand the smell of bourbon.

[jmowreader]

36. I think I know your problem, DemoTex...

it has to do with the cheap whiskey you were drinking. Try some Maker's Mark or George Dickel.

[Ildem09]

17. Bourbon and Whisky are better!

Vodka tastes bad

[cherokeeprogressive]

18. You sure dig up some interesting shit. Dontcha ever change!

I shall join you in your research.

[lunatica]

20. And it's vitally important interesting shit too

I may join y'all too, but it's still kinda early in California. Later.

[The Straight Story]

29. One of my hobbies is reading news, check out:

http://www.usnpl.com/

And of course google news, using the right keywords you can find some interesting stuff (Though I prefer usnpl so that I can read all the papers/stations in one state at a time, some of them are a hoot!)

[janx]

31. In any case, I too enjoy the articles you post, though I comment on them!

I keep wondering where you find them! :hi:

[cherokeeprogressive]

34. Wow. That link is kind of like Refdesk.com for News Junkies. Added to my Favorites list.

Thanks!

[dysfunctional press]

25. acetaldehyde is one of the bad ones- and one of my migraine triggers-

and it's not just found in alcohol.

i don't drink ANY liquor of any kind- but i can get a 'hangover' from eating ripe fruit.

[goldcanyonaz]

27. I discovered "Drinkin' Mate" and have yet to get a hangover since.

[Edweird]

28. Yes, I know this. I figured that out on my own over 20 years ago.

I just assumed it was common knowledge.

FWIW, in my own experience, potato based vodkas are much better than grain based vodkas. I don't need a stupid study for that. Unless I'm getting the grant money. Then a study is absolutely required for the better of society.

[Karenina]

30. I was a 15 yr-old wanting to go out on New Year's Eve...

Mom said, No Way Jose, so I threatened to consume something from her cocktail cabinet and she told me to go right ahead. I hit her "Old Crow" and consumed enough that when she returned she found me in a rather sorry state. Despite my incapacitation, I do clearly recall these decades later, her plopping down on the couch and laughing uncontrollably.
"That'll teach ya."

Indeed it did. I don't do brown liquids with screw caps. A rare Fernet Branca maybe. Good for digestion, they say. ;-)

Vodka I learned from the Soviet dissidents studying at NYU. I became the Black Russian. Ah, the folly of youth!
There were many offerings at this dingy basement locale, we're talking all manner of flavourings. But the flavour of the hour-long discussions were much more heady. It was there I was told, "You Americans are so silly with your Cold War fantasies. The Soviets cannot threaten America. Harvard Business School will destroy America."

[valerief]

32. Right, but vodka tastes awful. Drink light rum, tequila, or gin instead. nt

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

33. This is absolutely correct, no doubt about it.

I tend to drink one drink for a long time...

Was on Lemon Drops (vodka) for about a year straight, recently switched to Manhattans (whiskey or bourbon).

Not that I drink all the time, but when I do, yup, more pain the next day with the dark stuff......

:beer:

[madokie]

37. Went to a christmas party last night where liquor was flowing

I stretched out a wine cooler to cover the whole evening as I was our designated driver and I made an observation I hadn't paid much attention to back when I used to drink and that is a lot of over expressions going on. the more they drank the more animated they became. To tell you the truth I'm tickled pink that I don't drink like I used to anymore. We all had a great time but I feel that if there were no alcohol there it would have been even more enjoyable. Hopefully by this time next year this will be a non drinking home, my wife and I.

Once you stay sober where others are getting inebriated and see how your friends act under the influence it makes it much easier to not drink.

[CTyankee]

42. I sometimes join my husband at a localsports bar but I just cannot handle the noise.

My head hurts when I go to join him for just one drink. I cannotstand the loudness.

It's a problem...I don't usually go with him on Friday evenings...really not interested in getting even a little drunk...

[Fuzz]

45. Try earplugs

[Synicus Maximus]

43. I have personally sent over 45 years studying the properties of

various alcoholic drinks. I have concluded that dark liquors are better over all than clear liquors and wines. I have fewer hangovers with bourbon. Some clear liquors have their place. Vodka is excellent for Bloody Marys to get over your hanger with and by the pool on a nice summer day a nice screwdriver is good,the vodka is important to keep the orange juice going bad. Gin is of course necessary for a decent Martini, and white liquor for just getting hammered. I did get a jar of very fine white liquor for Christmas. But for just drinking you need something with flavor and nuance. I used to like Cognac when I could afford it, but now I settle for a nice Bourbon.

[Fuzz]

44. I knew this from personal experience. However, in the winter, I prefer whiskey.