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LIQUID SCIENCE

Understanding Cocktail ABV: How Shaking Drops 40% Spirits to 18%

A mathematical look at how ice thermodynamics transform high-proof liquor into a balanced drink.

Why an Old Fashioned feels stronger than a Daiquiri even though both contain 2 ounces of base spirit.

Thermal Physics of Shaking

Dave Arnold documented in Liquid Intelligence that cooling cannot occur without ice melting. To cool 100ml of warm liquid down below freezing, an exact thermodynamic quantity of ice must absorb latent heat of fusion and melt into water. That is why vigorous shaking instantly adds 30ml+ of pure water to a 90ml cocktail, reducing serving ABV from ~35% down to ~18%–22%.