Spirits and Distillation

Question 1

What is the boiling point of ethyl alcohol at sea level?

Answer 1

173°F (78°C)

vs Water - 212°F (100°C)

Question 2

Who originally used fractional distillation for perfumes?

Answer 2

Babylonians

Question 3

Who can modern distillation be traced to?

Answer 3

Jabir ibn Hayyan

8th c. Arabic chemist/alchemist

Question 4

What was ‘proof’ originally?

Answer 4

Until 1980, Britain based its legal calculation of alcohol strength of liquor on a simple test, or ‘proof’: the ability of gunpowder to combust when doused in the spirit

Question 5

Where does the word alcohol come from?

Answer 5

from the Arabic word ‘al-koh’l’

• a cosmetic powder purified through distillation

Question 6

What is a Coffey?

Answer 6

Continuous Still

Question 7

What is a patent still?

Answer 7

Continuous still

Question 8

What two columns does the continuous still have?

Answer 8

Analyzer and Rectifier

Question 9

What form of heating does a continuous still use?

Answer 9

Steam, rather than direct heat

Question 10

How is the product of a continuous still different from a pot still?

Answer 10

The alcohol is condensed in a purer fashion, stripping the alcohol of excess congeners and flavors, creating a higher-alcohol spirit

Question 11

What is ‘proof’ today?

Answer 11

Today, in the US and EU it is stated as a % of alcohol by volume at 20 degrees C

Question 12

What is the range of ABV for liqueurs?

Answer 12

15-30%