Is Beefeater Light a healthy drink?

Although the term “light” has been beaten on numerous occasions, at first we do not know if this gin is low in calories, sugars or contains less alcohol. If we really care about our fitness and don’t want to ingest too many empty calories, maybe this is our option.

For now, Beefeater Light has more calories than a beer, but less than a normal glass . They have created a drink with natural flavors and half the calories. But this is not so remarkable if we think that it is normal to have half the alcohol. However, there are already several who want more versions of this type, but Pink or 24.

Why is it a light drink?

Low-alcohol and non-alcoholic gins are made in different ways. Many of them are being produced by gin distillers and use many of the same processes that are involved in creating real gin. However, there are some differences in the way that light alcohol or non-alcoholic ‘gins’ are produced.

Light gin is usually made using a classic distillation process , which is the way gins are made undiluted. During this process, a neutral grain distillate, a simple alcohol, is added to a copper alembic along with a variety of botanical ingredients.

Botanicals are all the different herbs, spices, fruits, and other natural flavors that artisanal distillers use to produce the unique flavor of their spirits. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why gin is such a versatile drink, as its flavor options are endless.

It is the use of these botanical ingredients, specifically juniper, which is legally the dominant flavor of gin, that helps the final product taste similar to the real one. So once the base spirit and botanicals have been added to the alembic, the liquid is heated and the alcohol vapor created from the heating is separated from the water, capturing the flavors of the herbs. Then the vapor cools down and becomes liquid again; the still captures this liquid and dilutes it with water.

And this is where the process changes from the traditional gin. While a standard strength gin will dilute about half, in these situations the distiller will further dilute the liquid by adding much more water. This makes the overall alcohol content much lower in Beefeater Light.

The herbs that make up Beefeater Light

Beefeater Light contains 20% alcoholic volume and is developed in the heart of London. They reiterate that it is made with natural ingredients, among which nine herbs from the original recipe stand out.

• Juniper. As we have seen before, this herb is what gives gin the main flavor. It is a medicinal plant known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its consumption is not recommended in pregnant women. And much less in gin. To enjoy its benefits we should take it in tea.
• Lemon peel. It is known that the lemon peel favors digestion and prevents constipation problems, although in a gin and tonic it does not have the same positive effects. However, it provides the characteristic aroma of this drink.
• Seville orange peel. The orange peel is not recommended to take bites, but its zest is widely consumed in recipes for desserts and infusions. Those of Seville are famous throughout the world due to their bitterness and availability throughout the city. Despite being used primarily for jams, it is also a critical component in Beefeater Light.
• Almond. This is one of the best nuts, whether eaten raw or roasted. It has a large amount of protein and healthy fats, although only the aromas remain in the gin.
• Angelica root and seed. This plant is also famous for its medicinal properties. It has primarily been used to relieve heartburn, and the producers of this distilled beverage boast of its benefits. It is common to find it in supplements in the form of capsules, liquids and teas.
• Coriander seed. They have antioxidant, antibacterial, anthelmintic and antimicrobial qualities. All these qualities favor the prevention of diseases, although Beefeater Light is not an adequate option to consume it.
• Lily root. This is a diuretic, cathartic and expectorant root, which has been used for perfumery or ointments since ancient times.
• Licorice root. Without a doubt, it is another of the key herbs to give the flavor so characteristic to this product. Although many think of licorice as a candy, the truth is that there is a plant with a delicious aroma and flavor.

It must be remembered that, although they are natural ingredients, taking them in spirits does not provide any health benefits. If you want to get the benefits of these spices, it is recommended to add them to your diet regularly.

Can it be taken on a diet?

This new product offers an alternative with half the alcohol and calories. Its objective is to be able to continue enjoying a more balanced consumption at certain times, without having to give up the enjoyment of a drink.

In addition, a large part of this problem is that it is often mixed with soft drinks with added sugar or sweeteners, which increase the intake of empty calories. Remember that we refer to this term of calories when they do not provide more nutrients, apart from energy. That is, they are drinks that lack protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, etc. However, they significantly influence our weight. If we ingest a large amount of energy and do not burn it, our body will begin to interrupt the oxidation of fats and carbohydrates, producing that instead of burning them we store them.

On the other hand, think that has a lower intake of alcohol may encourage it is consumed in greater quantities. As with some sugar-free soft drinks, its intake is not recommended, much less in large quantities. It does not matter if it contains less alcohol, its effects on the body are not healthy.

Can Beefeater Light be a good idea if we are on a weight loss diet? In no case is it a healthier option, but it is true that it provides half the calories of a normal drink. It is under our responsibility to drink this type of drink.

Differences with Beefeater London Dry Gin

If we compare it with the classic Beefeater London Dry gin, the calorie intake is notably lower. In the classic bottle we get 69 calories per 30ml of product, while in the new Beefeater Light we get 33 calories for the same amount . It should be noted that most of the time, alcohol consumption is much higher than 30 ml, being usual to take about 45 ml. With which, we should not relax with the caloric content.

The taste is completely the same in both, so there will be no big differences when taking a Gin and tonic. However, the alcohol content is remarkable. In Beefeater London Dry Gin we find 40º of alcohol, while in its Light version there is 20º. This impacts our senses in a less damaging way, although it does not imply that we avoid testing positive for a breathalyzer test.

Also, the price is exactly the same. So there will be no excuses for choosing a drink with half the alcohol. This will also make the hangover much less, in the case of moderate consumption. It is important to drink water to stay hydrated and reduce the negative effects of alcohol.

Gin and tonic light vs normal

The really important thing is to know the calories of a Gin and tonic with normal gin and with Beefeater Light. As more and more people decide to take care of themselves, the drink when going out is decisive. Until a few years ago, the Tonic Light or Zero did not exist either, but now the possibilities of taking less sugar are endless.

La Tónica is the main companion of gins. There are two types preferred by most consumers:

• Premium tonics . Most of the tonics in this category find values that range from 90 calories and 20 grams of sugar per 250 ml bottle. This means that they are calories that are added to the glass.
• Light tonics . In these, the values are dramatically reduced, replacing sugars with sweeteners. In these cases, for the same amount we find about 30 calories and about 7 grams of sugar.
• Zero tonics . These seem to be the best option, since their content is drastically reduced, providing only 5 calories and 0 grams of sugar.

As for the calories in gin, you need to use an equation to figure them out. It must be clear that each gram of alcohol provides 7 calories and that the density is 0.789 gr / ml. In addition, depending on your graduation, we will find 40º or 20º of alcohol. The standard measure of a Gin-tonic is 50 ml, so we will do the following formula to obtain the grams of alcohol:

• Beefeater London Dry Gin: (40 x 0.789 x 50) / 100 = 15.78 grams of alcohol
• Beefeater Light: (20 x 0.789 x 50) / 100 = 7.89 grams of alcohol

Now we will have to multiply the grams of alcohol by 7, which are the calories that the gin provides. Alcohol contributes 110.25 calories to our classic Gin-tonic. On the other hand, in the Beefeater Light version, the combined would provide 55.23 calories. Just half.

We would only have to add the calories of the tonic. If we choose the less caloric version, a Gin-Tonic with Beefeater Light and Zero Tonic provides 60.23 calories . So far, this spirit drink, with its original products, provides 200.25 calories.