Spirit Proof

When the prinmples to be extracted are insoluble, or only slightly soluble, in water, alcohol is employed, either in the form of rectified spirit, proof spirit, or diluted. These produce eUcohoUc or pnrituous extracts and are generally obtainea by either moesro ion or digestion. 

Spirits are described as so many degrees over proof (OP) or under proof (UP). Sometimes, for alcoholic liquors, spirit strength is given in degrees proof, e.g. proof spirit is 100° proof and 70° proof 30° under proof (i.e. a solution eontaining 70% of proof spirit). 

Alcohol. The number of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUl) cases reflects the enormity of the dmnken driving problem in the United States (9). Tests to measure blood alcohol concentration are conducted on blood, urine, or breath (10). In the case of urine and breath, the alcohol concentration measured is reported in terms of the equivalent blood alcohol concentration. Most states in the United States presume that a person is under the influence of alcohol with respect to driving a motor vehicle at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10%, ie, an ethanol concentration >10 g/100 mL of blood. Some states maintain a lower necessary concentration of 0.08%. In some European countries levels are as low as 0.05%. A blood alcohol concentration of 0.10% in a 68-kg (150-lb) person is the equivalent of about four drinks of 80 proof alcohoHc beverage or four 340-g (12-oz) beers in the body at the time of the test (see Beer Beverage spirits, distilled Wine). Ethanol is metabolized at the equivalent rate of about one drink per hour. 

In England, the Magna Carta provided a standard of measurement for the sale of ale and wine. In 1643, the English Parliament proposed the first tax on distilled spirits. In the American colonies, William Kieft, Director General of New Nethedand, imposed the first liquor tax of two guilders on each half vat of beer in 1640. Alexander Hamilton initiated an excise tax on domestic spirits in 1791. The tax was resented and ultimately repealed in 1800 by Thomas Jefferson. Except during the War of 1812, domestic spirits remained untaxed until 1862. At that time, a tax of 0.02/L was implemented, which has been increased periodically. In January 1991, the Pederal Excise Tax on distilled spirits was raised to 3.56 per titer or 13.50 per proof gallon. In addition, many states have substantially increased the state excise taxes on distilled spirits. 

Bonded Whiskey. Bonded whiskey is whiskey stored at least four years in wooden containers where the spirits have been in contact with the wood surface. It is unaltered from the original character by the addition or subtraction of any substance other than by filtration or chill proofing, is reduced in proof by the addition of water to 100° proof (50 vol %) and botded at 100° proof, and is produced at the same distillery in the same season (January through June or July through December). 

Proof. The alcohoHc concentration of beverage spirits is expressed in terms of proof in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

U.S. regulations define this standard as foUows proof spirit shaU be held to be that alcohoHc Hquor which contains one-half its volume of alcohol of a specific gravity of 0.7939 at 15.6°C ie, the figure for proof is always twice the percent alcohol content by volume. For example, 100° proof means 50% alcohol by volume. In the United Kingdom as weU as Canada, proof spirit is such that at 10.6°C alcohol weighs exactiy twelve-thirteenths of the weight of an equal bulk of distiUed water. A proof of 87.7° indicates an alcohol concentration of 50%. A conversion factor of 1.142 can be used to change British proof to U.S. proof. 

Neutra.1 Spirits. Neutral spirits are produced from any fermentable material and are distiUed at or above 190° proof and bottled at 80° proof or higher. The substrate must be specified unless it is grain. 

Gra.in Spirits. Grain spirits are neutral spirits from grain that are matured in used oak barrels and bottled at 80° proof or higher. The period of aging in oak may be declared on the botde. 

Vodka. Vodka is a neutral spirit made from any fermentable material and distiUed in such a manner that is without any distinctive character, taste, aroma, or color. Charcoal filtration is often used in processing vodka which is bottled at 80° proof or higher. In the United States, the substrate must be specified if it is not grain. Any flavoring, if added, must be stated. The product must be bottled at not less than 70° proof and caUed a flavored vodka. 

Blended Whiskey. Blended whiskey is made with at least 20% of 100° proof straight whiskey either separately or in combination with whiskey or grain neutral spirits. When a blended whiskey contains at least 51% (v/v) of straight whiskey (eg, bourbon), it may be labeled as blended bourbon or bourbon whiskey, a blend. 

Compounded gin is produced by a dding extracts of juniper berries and other botanicals to high proof neutral spirits. This gin is perceived to be a lower quahty than distiked gin and not much is produced by this method. 

It has been shown that aromatic aldehydes including vanillin, syfingaldehyde, coniferaldehyde, siaapaldehyde, and ethyl lignin come from charred wood, the length of matufing directly affects the amount of aldehydes formed, the lower proof spirits have more aldehydes than higher proof spirits do, and the used and new uncharred barrels produce about one-third of the aromatic aldehydes found ia new charred barrels (Table 3) (8). 

Alcohohc beverages are made up primarily of ethanol, congeners, and water. Congeners are vaporized with the alcohol in distillation below 190° proof and are developed during the maturation process by oxidation and other reactions. These components contribute to palatability and create the characteristic appearance, aroma, and taste of a particular spidt. When the spirit is distilled at a lower proof, more congeners are present and the spirits possess more character. Congeners are usually reported either as grams per 100 Hters at "as is" proof, or as 100° proof at parts per million or parts per billion. 

Distilled spirits are governed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms regulations. Every botde of distilled spirits must contain a specified percent of alcohol or proof as stated on the label. Proof is the ethyl alcohol content of a Hquid at 15.6°C, stated as twice the percent of ethyl alcohol by volume. 

Alethylated spirit, or spirits of wine 60—70 over-proof, may generally replace the more costly absolute alcohol as a solvent after undergoing a process of purification. The methylated spirit must be of the old kind, co-nsisting of a mixture of 9 parts spirit of wine and i part purified wood-spirit, without the... 

Methylated spirit contains, in addition to ethyl and methyl alcohols, water, fusel-oil, acetaldehyde, and acetone. It may be freed from aldehyde by boiling with a—3 per cent, solid caustic potash on the water-bath with an upright condenser for one hour, or if larger quantities are employed, a tin bottle is preferable, which is heated directly over a small flame (see Fig. 38). It is then distilled with the apparatus shown in Fig. 39. The bottle is here surmounted with a T-piece holding a thermometer. The distillation is stopped when most of the spirit has distilled and the thermometer indicates 80°. A further purification may be effected by adding a little powdered permanganate of potash and by a second distillation, but this is rarely necessary. The same method of purification may be applied to over-proof spirit, which will henceforth be called spirit as distinguished from the purified product or absolute alcohol. 

I Not specified Foods generally Generally for food High-proof spirits, desserts,... 

P.R.2 does not show perfect performance in special applications (Sec. 1.6.2.3) in prints, which is also true for a number of other members of this class. In this respect, P.R.2 is inferior to P.R.112. This may have a particular impact on marginal areas of pigment applicability. P.R.112 letterpress proof prints, for instance, tolerate mineral spirits and soap while P.R.2 prints only reach step 4 on the 5 step fastness scale. P.R.2 specimens are also sensitive to clear lacquer coatings and to sterilization. 

Over 90% of alcohol consumed is oxidized in the liver much of the remainder is excreted through the lungs and in the urine. The excretion of a small but consistent proportion of alcohol by the lungs can be quantified with breath alcohol tests that serve as a basis for a legal definition of "driving under the influence" in many countries. At levels of ethanol usually achieved in blood, the rate of oxidation follows zero-order kinetics that is, it is independent of time and concentration of the drug. The typical adult can metabolize 7-10 g (150-220 mmol) of alcohol per hour, the equivalent of approximately one "drink" [10 oz (300 mL) beer, 3.5 oz (105 mL) wine, or 1 oz (30 mL) distilled 80-proof spirits]. 

In Great Britain and throughout the Commonwealth blackpowder was used to prove alcohol. In this test alcohol was poured upon a small heap of blackpowder or proof powder and a light was applied to burn the heap. If the mixture burnt with explosion it was overproof, if it did not burn or burned with difficulty, the alcohol was underproof. If the mixture burned with slight explosion it was proof spirit, i.e. containing 49% alcohol by weight (Tate [8]). 

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