how to measure alcohol content in spirits

\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This type of cocktail will only get lighter as you add fruits or ingredients like milk or ice cream. For a simple highball drink, the Tom Collins is a good example. This article has been viewed 27,758 times. This article will focus on the proper use of brewing hydrometers. There are several kinds of distilled spirits, or hard liquors, on the market such as gin, bourbon, whiskey, vodka, tequila, liqueurs, and absinthe. Not all mixed drinks are that strong. Though, at times (such as in this particular brand comparison), you may also be sacrificing quality by going with the lower-proof option. There is, however, a simple formula that can help you estimate the alcohol content of your mixed drinks. When you learn how to estimate a drink's true alcohol content, you can have greater control when making decisions about what to drink when. What to Do: Measuring and Calculating Alcohol Using a Hydrometer Measure out about a cup of wort (or finished beer). Opt for a digital refractometer if you want it to have a built-in light. Unlike a hydrometer, you cannot use a refractometer to test alcohol content if you don’t know the initial gravity before the liquid ferments. These two numbers are then plugged into the cocktail proof formula: The result is that the average gin martini is 30 percent ABV or 60 proof. Since gin is the lone liquor, it is the only ingredient that requires the initial alcohol content calculation. Check this article for info on checking the final alcohol content of moonshine with a proofing hydrometer. As a general rule, shots of liquor are 1 ½ ounces, while a “neat” pour (a spirit served solo in a tumbler) is slightly larger at two ounces. Blended cocktails are among the lightest you can mix up (unless you overpour, which many people do). This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, How to Test Alcohol Content Without a Hydrometer, http://seanterrill.com/2012/01/06/refractometer-calculator/, http://newtobrew.com/2018/07/23/how-to-use-a-refractometer-for-beer/, https://www.misco.com/Downloads/MISCO-TB-BEER.pdf, http://seanterrill.com/2010/06/11/refractometer-estimates-of-final-gravity/, https://www.meadmakr.com/how-to-determine-alcohol-by-volume/, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. X You may be able to find refractometers in specialty home-brewing stores. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Liqueurs are one of the biggest variables in this equation. The two can easily be converted back and forth, though they have different purposes. Hydrometer Alcohol Meter Test Kit: Distilled Alcohol American-Made 0-200 Proof Pro Series Traceable Alcoholmeter Tester Set with Glass Jar for Proofing Distilled Spirits 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,151 $39.99 $ … wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Every professional and home bartender mixes drinks a little differently: The size of the glass, particularly when building drinks, is also going to play a role. Drinks served on the rocks with no or few mixers, such as the. Grand Marnier and Cointreau are both bottled at 40 percent ABV (80 proof). This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Alcohol = (1075-998) / 7.4 = 77 / 7.4 = 10.4 %: This is of course the final alcohol content if your brew has … This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Even two different brands of the same liqueur may have different alcohol contents. Fill a clean container with the alcohol. You can try using a refractometer to measure must, which is crushed fruit used for wine, but you may not get as accurate of a reading. While most people will use a hydrometer to check the alcohol levels, you can also use a refractometer, which measures how light bends through a liquid to determine the density.