Tag: Grain neutral spirit

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a standard drink contains approximately 0.6 ounces of pure ethanol, but Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) is distilled to a purity of 95-96% alcohol by volume (ABV), making it exceptionally potent and dangerous if consumed straight. The very high concentration means that a small amount of ENA contains many times the alcohol of a standard drink, posing a significant risk of rapid and severe alcohol poisoning.

Ethanol is the chemical compound that gives alcoholic beverages their kick; by volume, grain neutral spirits and rectified spirits contain the highest concentration. While most common spirits like vodka and whiskey hover around 40-50% ABV, certain specialized products far exceed this, answering the question of which liquor has the most ethanol.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States is one of the world's largest producers of ethanol, much of which is derived from grains. The purified form of alcohol distilled from fermented wheat is referred to by several names, but is most commonly known as grain neutral spirit (GNS) or simply ethanol.

With a staggering 96% alcohol by volume (ABV), Poland's Spirytus Rektyfikowany is widely regarded as one of the world's strongest commercially available spirits. This rectified grain spirit is distilled multiple times to achieve its near-absolute alcohol concentration, a testament to modern distillation techniques.