Many people mistakenly believe that alcohol cannot freeze because common liquors remain liquid in a standard home freezer. Any solution containing alcohol and water will freeze, but the required temperature is far below the freezing point of pure water. The temperature at which an alcohol-water mixture solidifies depends entirely on the percentage of alcohol it contains.
The Mechanism of Freezing Point Depression
The resistance of alcohol-water solutions to freezing is explained by freezing point depression. This effect occurs because the presence of a dissolved substance (solute) interferes with the solvent molecules’ ability to organize into a solid structure. In beverages, water is the solvent and ethanol is the solute. As water molecules cool, they attempt to form the rigid, crystalline lattice structure of ice. Ethanol molecules are interspersed throughout the liquid and physically disrupt the formation of these stable bonds, requiring a much lower temperature for solidification.
The Relationship Between Concentration and Freezing Temperature
The greater the percentage of ethanol by volume (% ABV), the lower the freezing point. Pure water freezes at 0°C (32°F), while pure ethanol freezes at approximately -114°C (-173°F). Solutions freeze somewhere between these two extremes.
Low-proof beverages, such as beer (5% ABV), freeze around -2°C (28°F). Wine (12% to 14% ABV) freezes slightly lower, usually -5°C to -7°C (23°F to 20°F). These temperatures are easily reached in a typical residential freezer, causing these drinks to freeze solid.
Standard spirits (40% ABV) like vodka or whiskey have a freezing point of about -23°C to -27°C (-9°F to -17°F). Since most household freezers maintain a temperature around -18°C (0°F), these spirits remain liquid.
Freezing Points of Common Alcohol Products
Applying the concentration relationship shows clear differences in cold-storage behavior. Beer and wine, due to high water content, pose a risk in the freezer. As water freezes first and expands, glass bottles or aluminum cans of these low-ABV beverages can easily burst. Standard 40% ABV spirits, including gin, rum, and tequila, are safe for indefinite storage in a home freezer. Their freezing point is well below the temperature achievable by typical residential cooling units.
Non-Beverage Products
The same principles apply to non-beverage products. Rubbing alcohol, often 70% isopropyl alcohol by volume, has a freezing point of approximately -62°C (-79°F). This low freezing point ensures that high-concentration products, including many hand sanitizers, maintain their liquid state even in severe cold.