In Australia, one standard drink of gin is 30 mL of a 40% ABV spirit, which holds 10 grams of pure alcohol. That is the answer to most versions of “how much gin”: how much to pour, how much is too much, and how many serves you will get from a bottle. A 700 mL bottle gives you roughly 23 pours of 30 mL. A bottle usually costs somewhere between $40 and $100, depending on how it is made.
Below we cover the pour, the mixer, the bottle, the budget for a party and the health guidance, with Australian sources for every figure that matters.
TL;DR
- One standard drink of gin is 30 mL of 40% ABV spirit, or 10 g of pure alcohol. A restaurant or home pour is often 45 to 60 mL, so it is often more than one.
- A good starting point for a gin and tonic is 1 part gin to 3 parts tonic, for example 45 mL gin and 135 mL tonic. Adjust from there.
- A 700 mL bottle holds about 23 pours of 30 mL, or about 15 pours of 45 mL.
- Retail prices for a 700 mL bottle typically start around $40 and can pass $100 for craft and small-batch gin.
- For healthy adults, the guideline is no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 on any one day.
Table of Contents
- What counts as one standard drink of gin
- How many serves are in a bottle
- How much gin goes in a gin and tonic
- How much alcohol is in a G&T
- How much gin is too much
- Sugar and energy: gin versus a ready-made G&T
- How much does a bottle of gin cost in Australia
- What we think about how much gin you need
- Find a gin worth measuring
- Planning gin for a party or event
- Mistakes people make when measuring gin
- FAQ
- Sources
What counts as one standard drink of gin
A standard drink is a unit of measurement, in the same way a metre measures distance. In Australia it always means 10 grams of pure alcohol, whatever the drink. The NHMRC says the type of alcohol makes no difference, and that 10 grams is 10 grams in beer, wine or spirits. Healthdirect puts the spirit equivalent at about 30 mL, or one shot.
That works out neatly for gin at 40% ABV:
| Pour | Gin at 40% ABV | Standard drinks |
|---|---|---|
| Single shot | 30 mL | 1 |
| Typical G&T pour | 45 mL | about 1.5 |
| Generous or “double” pour | 60 mL | 2 |
| Large home-bar pour | 90 mL | 3 |
The mixer does not change any of this. A splash of tonic, a tall glass over ice or a neat sip: the alcohol is the same, because the gin is the same.
Two cautions. First, gin strength varies. Many gins sit around 40%, but plenty of craft bottles are stronger, and a stronger gin means more alcohol in the same 30 mL. Check the label for the number of standard drinks, or the ABV, before you pour. Second, the numbers in the table assume 40% exactly. If your bottle says 43% or 45%, a 30 mL pour is a little more than one standard drink.
How many serves are in a bottle
The standard Australian gin bottle is 700 mL. Simple division gives you the practical numbers:
- 30 mL pours: about 23 serves
- 45 mL pours: about 15 serves
- 60 mL pours: about 11 serves
By alcohol content, a 700 mL bottle of 40% gin holds close to 22 standard drinks. That figure comes from our own arithmetic (700 mL at 40% is 280 mL of pure alcohol, and alcohol weighs about 0.79 g per mL), so treat it as a guide and rely on the label of the bottle in your hand.
If you are choosing between a 700 mL bottle and something smaller, think about how you drink. A bottle that sits in the cupboard for a few months is fine, as gin keeps well when sealed. If you want to try several styles, smaller bottles or a few different gins are more interesting than one large one.
How much gin goes in a gin and tonic
There is no single rule. An Australian distiller interviewed by She Defined suggests 30 to 45 mL of gin with 90 to 120 mL of tonic for a classic serve, and says that personal preference is the guide. The same piece treats 1:3 as a common starting point for a balanced drink.
Here is how the ratios change the glass:
| Ratio (gin:tonic) | Example | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1:2 | 45 mL gin, 90 mL tonic | Bold, gin-forward, little dilution |
| 1:3 | 45 mL gin, 135 mL tonic | Balanced, our usual starting point |
| 1:4 | 30 mL gin, 120 mL tonic | Long, light, easy for a warm afternoon |
A few things matter as much as the ratio.
Ice. Dense, large ice melts slowly. Small flaky ice melts fast and waters the drink down, which weakens it faster than you expect. Fill the glass with good ice, and pour the liquids over it gently so the tonic keeps its fizz.
Tonic. The same distiller recommends trying softer, lighter tonics, such as Mediterranean styles, rather than defaulting to a heavy Indian tonic, so the botanicals are not drowned. We agree: a strong tonic can flatten a delicate gin. If you want a considered pairing, our tonics collection is a good place to start.
Garnish. A slice of citrus or a sprig of herb is enough for most gins. If you are stocking a home bar, these cocktail garnish ideas show how a handful of versatile garnishes can cover many drinks.
Glass. A large wine-style glass gives you room for ice and tonic, so you can use the 1:3 ratio without it overflowing. A small tumbler tempts you to pour more gin and less mixer.
How much alcohol is in a G&T
It depends only on the gin. A G&T with 30 mL of gin is one standard drink. With 45 mL it is about 1.5, and with 60 mL it is 2. Making the drink taller does not reduce the alcohol, it only dilutes the taste.
This is a useful habit when you order out. A venue may pour a 30 mL nip or a larger measure, and you can ask. At home, use a jigger or a measuring cup for a week and you will quickly learn what your usual pour looks like. Most people discover it is bigger than they thought.
How much gin is too much
The Australian guidance is clear. For healthy adults, healthdirect lists no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 on any single occasion, to lower the risk of alcohol-related disease or injury. Based on the table above, 4 standard drinks is only about 120 mL of 40% gin, which is two generous G&Ts and a bit more.
Some points worth knowing:
- Your body sets the pace. Healthdirect says the liver processes about one standard drink an hour, and that how alcohol affects you depends on age, sex, weight, muscle mass, liver health and experience with alcohol. Sipping slowly is safer than drinking fast.
- Nothing speeds it up. Coffee, a cold shower and similar tricks do not lower blood alcohol. Time is the only thing that does.
- Some people should not drink at all or should drink less. If you are pregnant, taking medication, managing a health condition or deciding whether to drive, talk to your GP or pharmacist. Do not rely on a rule of thumb.
- Counting is easy to get wrong. The plimsoll line on a wine glass at many venues marks 150 mL, which is more than the 100 mL standard drink for wine. The same gap between what is served and what is counted shows up at home with spirits, so measure.
If you are worried about your drinking, or someone else’s, your GP is a good first call.
Sugar and energy: gin versus a ready-made G&T
Many readers ask this because they are watching what they consume. Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s retail data for 2021 to 2023 found that standard gin averages 0.1 g of sugar per 100 mL and about 856 kJ per 100 mL. Premixed gin and tonic drinks in the same data averaged 4.5 g of sugar per 100 mL, although a lower energy figure per 100 mL (202 kJ) because they are diluted.
What does that mean in practice? Neat gin is nearly sugar-free, and its energy comes almost entirely from the alcohol. The sugar in a G&T comes mostly from the tonic. A lighter or low-sugar tonic reduces it, and so does a longer glass of soda water with a squeeze of citrus.
It is also worth knowing that, since the FSANZ decision, packaged alcohol will carry energy labelling, including kilojoules per serve and the number of standard drinks per serve. That makes it simpler to compare bottles and cans at a glance.
Flavoured gins vary. Some add sugar after distillation, so check the label. Ours does not rely on additives. We colour our gins naturally with botanicals, and our range is vegan, gluten free and sugar free.
How much does a bottle of gin cost in Australia
A 700 mL bottle at the bottom of the market starts at about $40, according to Australian price listings, and small-batch craft gins can pass $100. The same source shows listings from around $24 right up to collector bottles over $1,300, but 94% of active listings are under $100.
Here is how to think about the price bands:
| Band | What you usually get |
|---|---|
| Under $40 | Large-volume gin, often at lower strength, simpler botanicals |
| $40 to $70 | Good everyday and gifting gins, many Australian distilleries |
| $70 to $100 | Small-batch and craft, often with local botanicals and distinctive profiles |
| Over $100 | Limited releases, special editions, collector bottles |
The bands are our own grouping of the price range above, not a published scale. Price per standard drink is a more honest comparison than price per bottle. A $60 bottle with around 22 standard drinks costs under $3 per standard drink in gin, before mixers, ice and garnish.
We do not publish a price in this article, because prices on our site can change with releases and bundles. You can see the current price of each gin on its page.
What we think about how much gin you need
We make gin because we love flavour, and we think the question “how much” starts with “which gin”. A gin built on carefully chosen botanicals does not need to be poured heavy. A balanced 1:3 serve with a good gin tastes full, and it lets you enjoy a second drink slowly rather than rushing through a stronger first.
Our approach is simple. We use natural, locally sourced botanicals and meticulous distillation, and we skip additives, so the flavour you taste is the flavour of the ingredients. That is why we suggest starting at 30 to 45 mL, tasting it, and only then deciding whether you want more gin or more tonic. If the gin is vibrant, a smaller pour still carries.
If you are not sure where to begin, our quiz points you to a gin that suits your palate. Tell us what you like and it suggests a match, so you do not have to buy three bottles to find the one you love. Tailor-made spirits, naturally vibrant.
— Winston
Find a gin worth measuring
If you want to try what we have been describing, start with the Denim Collection. Dry Cut is the one we point classic G&T drinkers to, and Slim Crop suits those who want something more expressive. You can browse everything in our gin range, or look at limited editions if you are buying a gift. Venues and retailers can also order from us wholesale.
Planning gin for a party or event
The arithmetic gets easier once you know your pour. Here is a simple way to plan for guests:
- Decide the pour. Use 45 mL for a standard G&T. That gives about 15 serves from each 700 mL bottle.
- Estimate the drinks per guest. For a three-hour gathering, plan on about two G&Ts for each gin drinker, and then add a buffer if gin is the main drink.
- Work out bottles. For 20 gin drinkers at two drinks each, that is 40 serves, so three bottles (about 45 serves) with a small spare.
- Match the mixer. At 1:3, each 45 mL pour needs about 135 mL of tonic, so 40 serves needs about 5.4 litres. Buy a little more than you think, and keep some soda water for guests who want a lighter drink.
- Do not forget ice. Dense ice dilutes less, and it takes more than you expect. Buy bags, not trays.
- Offer other options. Water, soft drinks and low or no-alcohol drinks matter, as do food and a way home. A host who plans for this has a better night.
The quantities in steps two and three are our own planning suggestions, not official guidance. Adjust them to your guests and your venue. If you are buying for a bar, restaurant or venue, our wholesale team can talk through volumes.
Mistakes people make when measuring gin
- Free pouring. Most home pours land between 50 and 60 mL without anyone noticing. Use a jigger.
- Assuming all gins are 40%. Check the label.
- Counting the mixer. The tonic adds sugar and volume, not extra alcohol, and does not make the drink “lighter” in alcohol terms.
- Using small ice. It melts and weakens the drink, so you end up adding more gin to fix it.
- Ignoring strength differences between bottles. A 43% gin and a 37.5% gin in the same pour are not the same number of standard drinks.
FAQ
How much gin is one standard drink in Australia?
One standard drink of gin is 30 mL of 40% ABV gin, which contains 10 grams of pure alcohol. If your gin is stronger than 40%, a 30 mL pour contains slightly more. Check your bottle’s label, which may show standard drinks.
How much gin should I put in a gin and tonic?
Most people use 30 to 45 mL of gin with 90 to 135 mL of tonic. Start with 1 part gin to 3 parts tonic, then move to 1:2 for a bolder drink or 1:4 for a longer one. Use plenty of good ice so the drink does not dilute quickly.
How much does gin normally cost in Australia?
A 700 mL bottle typically starts at about $40, and craft or small-batch gins can pass $100. Most listings tracked by one price comparison site are under $100. Limited releases and special editions can cost more.
How many drinks can I get from a bottle of gin?
A 700 mL bottle gives about 23 pours of 30 mL, about 15 pours of 45 mL or about 11 pours of 60 mL. Plan with the pour you actually use, since home pours tend to be larger than people think.
Does gin get you drunk fast?
It can if you drink it quickly, because gin is a spirit and a pour holds a lot of alcohol. Healthdirect says the liver clears about one standard drink an hour, so the pace you drink at matters most. Sip slowly, eat food and count your drinks.
Sources
- Alcohol | NHMRC
- Tips for safe and responsible drinking | healthdirect
- How alcohol affects your health | healthdirect
- How to make the perfect gin and tonic | She Defined
- Know your standards toolkit
- Carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages | FSANZ
- Energy labelling on packaged alcohol approved | FSANZ
- Gin prices | Whisky Marketplace AU
