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Neutral grain spirit (aka pure grain alcohol (PGA), grain neutral spirit (GNS), or corn liquor) is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid that is distilled from cereal grain and has a very high ethanol content. The term neutral refers to the fact that it lacks any flavor derived from the mash used to distill it, nor does it have any flavor added to it after distillation (as is done, for example, with gin). The grain from which it is produced can be any of the common cereal grains. Other kinds of spirits, such as whisky, are distilled at lower alcohol percentages in order to preserve the flavor of the mash.
Generally, any distilled spirit of 170 proof or higher that does not contain any added flavoring is considered to be neutral. 1
The purity of neutral grain spirit is practically limited to 190 proof due to its becoming an azeotrope at 95.6% ABV
(191.2 proof).
An important use of neutral grain spirits is in the production of blended whiskies. As consumer goods, they are almost always mixed with other beverages to create such drinks as punch and various cocktails.
Everclear and Gem Clear are two brands of neutral grain spirit that are sold in the United States.
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Availability in market areas
Because of their high alcohol content, neutral grain spirits are illegal, unavailable, or hard to find in many areas.
- It is illegal to sell the 190-proof variety of neutral grain spirit in some states of the United States, such as California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,2 New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington. In some of these states, the 151-proof variety may be sold.
- In the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia, grain alcohol lacking distinctive color, odor, and flavor, while not illegal, is not sold at any liquor stores owned by the state (compare, for example, that beverages such as Southern Comfort, a flavored liqueur using grain alcohol as its base, can be found). As the state has a self-legislated monopoly on the sale of hard liquor, independent liquor stores are illegal, and the product is thus mostly unavailable. In some cases, however, liquor stores on U.S. military bases in the state sell grain alcohol, and small quantities may be imported on one’s person from nearby states.3
- In Continental Europe, neutral grain spirit is not sold under that name, but rectified spirit is sold. Since it is usually distilled from grain, it is in fact neutral grain spirit.
See also
External links
References
- ^ Lichine, Alexis. Alexis Lichine’s New Encyclopedia of Wines & Spirits (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1987), 365.
- ^ 340A.506, Minnesota Statutes 2007
- ^ Va. Code. Ann. § 4.1-119
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 25 November 2008, at 23:27.
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