2006-07-26 07:22:02 · 12 answers · asked by wonderer<3 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
I'm not sure exactly where the term "proof" came from. You figure it out though by taking the percentage of alcohol, and multiplying it by 2. 80 proof liquor is 40% alcohol.
2006-07-26 07:26:15 · answer #1 · answered by Bill K Atheist Goodfella 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the days before modern scientific testing alcohol was graded by poring the liquid over gunpowder and attempting to light the powder. Apparently it was a litmus test to determine if a liquid should be qualified as a spirit or not for taxation and sales. A proven spirit is 50% alcohol or more. There must be some formula to determine the difference between an 80 and 100 proof liquid however I cannot find it. I think that the higher the proof the less powder was needed but I am unsure of the actual process.
The testing process gave rise to the term 'fire water'.
80 proof is equivalent to 40% alcohol by volume.
2006-07-26 11:23:01 · answer #2 · answered by Limey 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
80 proof is 40% alcohol. Just divide the proof by 2 to get the percent alcohol contained in the drink.
2006-07-26 07:28:26 · answer #3 · answered by whhjunior 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something that's 80 Proof is 40% alcohol (just divide the "Proof" by 2). The alcohol content is usually on the bottle.
2006-07-26 07:27:13 · answer #4 · answered by braingamer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
measure of alcoholic content. 80 proof means 40 percent alcohol, the rest water, et al.
2006-07-26 07:25:13 · answer #5 · answered by Mike is me 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many proof scales, including the Canadian and British "Sikes Scale" systems. They can get complicated and rely on ambiant temperature.
The American proof system simply takes the alcohol by volume and doubles it. Very simple and fairly close to the traditional methods employed before actual alcohol by volume could be determined.
2006-07-26 14:20:33 · answer #6 · answered by famousblue11 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
80 proof mean the percentage of alcohol is in that particular bottle.
2006-07-26 07:52:08 · answer #7 · answered by AngelBaby 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
simple rule, proof is a standarized measure that means it has half that percentage of alcohol....in this case 80 proof means that spirit has 40% alcohol
2006-07-26 17:00:19 · answer #8 · answered by Sam A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
80% alcohol
2006-07-26 07:24:55 · answer #9 · answered by brandon8020 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The higher the proof, the stronger the liquor. Look out for the 100+ !!
2006-07-26 07:27:36 · answer #10 · answered by GP 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋