Proof of alcohol

[Noah930]

Why is alcoholic "proof" double its percentage (alcohol by volume)? I've read a few different explanations, and they make no sense to me. Why not call 50 percent ABV just 50 proof? Why is 50 percent ABV quantified as 100 proof? I've read a bunch of explanations that all point me back to 1848 when this standard was created (at least in America). By why concoct a more confusing system of measurement?

[Gogar]

I think it had something to do with "proof" meant it would light on fire. 100 proof or higher would burn and lower wouldnt. Booze that passed "proof" was taxable and beer/wine other "under proof" was not taxed.

[Noah930]

Yeah, I read that. They would dunk a pellet of gunpowder in the alcohol and try to light it. If it ignited, that was "proof" of a higher alcohol content, and it would be taxed higher. But I guess why create a metric that's exactly double an already established convention (alcohol by volume)? Why not just continue to use ABV? Or is that government bureaucracy for you, even in 1848?

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Yeah, I read that. They would dunk a pellet of gunpowder in the alcohol and try to light it. If it ignited, that was "proof" of a higher alcohol content, and it would be taxed higher. But I guess why create a metric that's exactly double an already established convention (alcohol by volume)? Why not just continue to use ABV? Or is that government bureaucracy for you, even in 1848?

That method didn't take into account that temperature effects the flammability of the alcohol. If temperature isn't standard then the method is flawed.

England standardized or tried to standardize proofing. They said a proof liquor had an alcohol level 12⁄13 the weight of an equal volume of distilled water at 11 °C (51 °F).
This method made the proofing system more confusing.

The USA came up with something different. Here, a liquor’s proof is two times the ABV. So this means that a beverage with 30% ABV is 60 proof. A “proof spirit” has to be at least 100 proof. So the 60 means it's only 60% of a fully proof booze. Huh?

French scientist Joseph-Louis Gay-Lussac took 100% ABV to equal 100 proof and 100% water by volume to be 0 proof. This means that the ABV percentage number is the same as the proof number.

The three proof scales arean alcohol with 45% ABV is about 78.9 proof in Great Britain, 90 proof in the U.S., and 45 proof in France.

Now you know...I think.

[KFC911]

^^^^ LOL..I think I understand now .... and need a shot of 300 proof .

[john70t]

Whatever it is, you can be assured that the people at the head of any organizations in charge will create a new system of standards and nomenclature, which the layman is unaccustomed to. These may or may not make sense.

[Racerbvd]

Something we whipped up..

[tabs]

What does the word "proof" mean?

[ltusler]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

Something we whipped up..

Nice run. Refluxed?

[herr_oberst]