Alcoholometry

Reduction of spirits

Dilution of strong spirit to the required

alcoholic strength by addition of a weak spirit
or water is called reduction of spirit.
Blending of spirits

The blending of spirit means admixing of two

or more different spirits or liquor essences and
other ingredients to the spirit in such a way
that they lose their original identity and
acquire an entirely different identity.
Obscuration

The obscuration is apparent reduction in

alcohol strength of liquor due to increase in
specific gravity of liquor on adding caramel,
etc., to it.
Shrinkage
The shrinkage is the apparent reduction in
volume of liquor by dilution of spirit with
water.
The difference between final volume of spirit
after reduction and sum total volume of spirit
and water used for reduction is called
shrinkage; the former being less than latter due
to entrapment of some water molecules in
ethanol molecules.
Denatured spirit

It is a spirit rendered unfit for human

consumption by addition of some chemicals
causing headache, vomiting and hang over.
It is used as a solvent, fuel and for other
miscellaneous small uses. The main
denaturants used are – pyridine, acetaldehyde,
catcouchicine, acetone, methylene blue.
Potable liquor

It is liquor that is suitable for human

consumption.
Country liquor

Country liquor is a distilled alcoholic beverage

made from locally available cheap raw
materials.
It is mostly consumed in rural areas and by
low income groups in urban areas.
Indian Made Foreign Liquors

Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) is the

official term used by governments, businesses
and media in India to refer to all types of hard
liquor manufactured in the country other
than indigenous alcoholic beverages.
They are liquors made by using extra neutral
alcohol as base and diluted with water up to
42.8% v/v, matured and blended with the help
of caramel and synthetic essences.