Proof spirit

Proof Spirit is a historical term used in the United Kingdom and the United States to denote the alcohol content in alcoholic beverages. The term originated in the 18th century and was used to measure the tax on distilled spirits.

History

The term 'proof spirit' was first used in the 18th century in England. The British government would tax the distillers based on the alcohol content of their products. To determine this, they would 'proof' the spirit, meaning they would test its alcohol content. The method involved soaking a pellet of gunpowder in the spirit. If the gunpowder could still burn, the spirit was considered 'above proof' and taxed at a higher rate. If it could not, it was 'under proof'.

In the United States, a different system was used. The proof was defined as double the alcohol by volume (ABV). Therefore, a 100 proof spirit would be 50% alcohol by volume.

Modern Usage

Today, the term 'proof spirit' is rarely used in the UK, having been replaced by the more straightforward measure of alcohol by volume (ABV). However, in the United States, the term 'proof' is still commonly used to denote alcohol content. The US system of proof is still defined as double the ABV.

See Also

• Alcohol by volume
• Distilled spirits
• Alcoholic beverages

References

• Britannica: Proof Spirit
• Alcohol.org: Proof of Alcohol