Alcohol proof
Alcohol proof is a measure of the amount of ethanol (alcohol) contained in an alcoholic beverage. The term was first used in the 18th century and is still used today in certain countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
Pronunciation
Alcohol proof: /ˈælkəhɒl pruːf/
Etymology
The term "proof" comes from the way distillers would "prove" the alcohol content of a spirit. They would soak a pellet of gunpowder in it. If it could still burn, the spirit was rated above proof and taxed at a higher rate.
Definition
In the United States, alcohol proof is defined as twice the volume percentage of alcohol (ethanol) in the solution. This means that a beverage that is 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) is 80 proof.
In the United Kingdom, alcohol proof is 1.75 times the number of volume percent of alcohol. Therefore, a beverage that is 40% ABV is 70 proof in the UK.
Related Terms
- Alcohol by volume (ABV): A standard measure used worldwide to quantify the amount of alcohol (ethanol) contained in an alcoholic beverage, expressed as a percentage of total volume.
- Distillation: The process of purifying a liquid by heating and cooling, used to create alcoholic beverages.
- Ethanol: A volatile, flammable, colorless liquid that is the intoxicating agent in fermented and distilled liquors.
See Also
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