Determination of Proof of Distilled Alcoholic Beverages, Using an Oscillating U-Tube Density Meter

Abstract

Abstract A simple, rapid, and accurate method is described for determining the concentration of alcohol in ethanol solutions using a density meter. With this instrument, the U-tube is suctionfilled with 0.7 mL sample, and the results are displayed on a digital read-out in specific gravity units. These values are converted by tables to per cent ethanol or proof. For samples under 40° proof, the instrument is standardized on air and water. When testing samples between 40 and 193° proof, the instrument is standardized on air and an ethanol standard having a proof within ±30° of the sample tested. Thus, large corrections for the nonlinearity of the plot of the specific gravity of ethanol vs. proof are avoided. An equation is presented that corrects for this non-linearity, and the result is obtained in per cent ethanol rather than specific gravity. Proof results obtained with this instrument are in good agreement with the values obtained by a pycnometer and/or refractometer for 1–190° proof ethanol-water solutions, vodkas, whiskeys, brandies, and liqueurs.