ABV Dilution Calculator

How ABV Dilution Works

When you dilute a spirit, the total amount of pure alcohol stays the same — only the volume changes. The relationship is governed by the simple formula:

C₁ × V₁ = C₂ × V₂

Where C₁ is your starting ABV, V₁ is your starting volume, C₂ is your target ABV, and V₂ is the final volume after adding water. The amount of water to add is simply V₂ − V₁.

This math is simple, but mistakes are common — especially when sugar syrup is involved. Syrup adds volume without adding alcohol, which means your final ABV drops slightly more than water alone would cause. The calculator's optional sugar correction applies a standard rule of thumb (≈0.2% ABV drop per 10 g/L of sugar) to keep your batches accurate.

If you want to dive deeper into the frameworks behind these calculations, you'll find full appendices in The Art of Aperitivo — along with recipes, botanical guides, and techniques for building balanced low-ABV drinks from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the ABV dilution calculator work?

It uses the standard dilution formula C₁×V₁ = C₂×V₂. You enter your starting ABV and volume, plus your target ABV. The calculator tells you exactly how much water to add. You can also include a sugar correction, since adding sugar syrup slightly lowers the final ABV.

Can I use this calculator for liqueurs and amari?

Yes. Any time you need to lower the ABV of a high-proof spirit, infusion, or maceration by adding water or syrup, this calculator will give you an accurate result.

Why is there a sugar correction option?

Sugar syrup adds volume but not alcohol. The calculator applies a rule-of-thumb correction of approximately 0.2% ABV drop per 10 g/L of sugar added, giving you a more accurate target when sweetening bitters or aperitivi.

Related Tools

If you're working with recipes rather than single spirits, try the Recipe Scaling Calculator — it scales entire ingredient lists from a base batch size to any target volume.