maximum legal ABV?

[andyakameatloaf]

Been talking to a mate tonight about the UK legal limit for ABV of alcohol, and from a youngish age I've always been under the impression that the UK maximum legal limit was around 60%. He says that there is no limit, and after searching online I cant find any document to suggest that there is.

Anybody care to impart any knowledge on this?
Don't worry, I'm in no way considering distilling anything, purely curious.

 

[Baz Chaz]

Don't think there is a maximum, but don't try drinking pure alcohol :!:

I've tried some pretty strong stuff in my time, some 80% Rum if memory serves me right and some Vodka with some Russian army guys that would be best used for some industrial cleaner :nah: far better sticking to a decent pint of ale anytime .......


unless anyone has any single malt, preferably Lagavulin, that they need disposing of

 

[Megaross]

Never seen anything relating to a max legal abv.

I've drank 90% irish poteen, by the shot, which in hindsight was probably a bit daft because it said on the bottle not to drink neat.
Bought it in the UK so I can't see it being illegal.

Always better off with a pint though, maybe a short with it, but mostly a pint :drink:

 

[PD]

ooh I remember an after pub session with a local gamekeeper drinking 90% irish poteen. and eating roll mop herrings which I can't abide !

that was a night that was....................I think.

 

[Brewtrog]

As far as I know there's no legal limit. I've seen 80% Absinthe on sale recently, so I imagine there won't be a limit.

 

[andyakameatloaf]

Ah fair enough. Was one of those little bits of "knowledge" that you think is 100% true, then someone questions how you know and you think actually... I've no idea where I've got that from :S
Cheers!

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

As far as I know there's no legal limit. I've seen 80% Absinthe on sale recently, so I imagine there won't be a limit.

You can get 95% absinthe in my local. They all think I'm mad, because I sip it rather than necking it :lol:

 

[Megaross]

I actually quite like absinthe, just with a sugar cube and a splash of water, nice aniseedy taste to it.

Last time I did shots of it I threw up into 2 different pint glasses (empty) and managed to puke perfect pints, then fell asleep on the bedroom floor, just never a good idea, especially after 3 bottles of wine :lol:

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

Last time I did shots of it I threw up into 2 different pint glasses (empty) and managed to puke perfect pints, then fell asleep on the bedroom floor, just never a good idea, especially after 3 bottles of wine :lol:

:sick:

I was eating breakfast.

 

[Dack]

I actually quite like absinthe, just with a sugar cube and a splash of water, nice aniseedy taste to it.

Last time I did shots of it I threw up into 2 different pint glasses (empty) and managed to puke perfect pints, then fell asleep on the bedroom floor, just never a good idea, especially after 3 bottles of wine :lol:

Absinthe is an invaluable addition to the armoury of any passive-aggressive drinker. Especially at Hogmanay when some youngster decides they'll match you drink for drink. Get the Parisienne Absinthe out and send them packing!

As far as I know, there's no limit on ABV in the UK, but most people don't go too high for the sake of the duty on it.

 

[jasea3632]

Don't think there is a maximum, but don't try drinking pure alcohol :!:

I've tried some pretty strong stuff in my time, some 80% Rum if memory serves me right and some Vodka with some Russian army guys that would be best used for some industrial cleaner :nah: far better sticking to a decent pint of ale anytime .......


unless anyone has any single malt, preferably Lagavulin, that they need disposing of

+1 on the lagavulin pure Smokey nectar

 

[Megaross]

Last time I did shots of it I threw up into 2 different pint glasses (empty) and managed to puke perfect pints, then fell asleep on the bedroom floor, just never a good idea, especially after 3 bottles of wine :lol:

:sick:

I was eating breakfast.

Porridge with bits of carrot?

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

Last time I did shots of it I threw up into 2 different pint glasses (empty) and managed to puke perfect pints, then fell asleep on the bedroom floor, just never a good idea, especially after 3 bottles of wine :lol:

:sick:

I was eating breakfast.

Porridge with bits of carrot?

No. Toast with some of my home-made marmalade. I couldn't tell what was shreds of peel and what wasn't

 

[Duxuk]

I've had some cracking cask strength malt whiskys at up to 62% alcohol. Just sip and don't ruin them with water or mixers. I once had a bottle of Austrian rum at 80% ABV. It wasn't pleasant.

 

[fbsf]

Now that's an interesting one.

I have a few cask strength malts (including a lovely Lagavulin at 57-ish%) and I find that whilst they are wonderful neat, a drop of room temperature spring water can release a whole different set of flavours to your tastebuds.

However, I agree that ice/mixers are a big no-no. Just use a blended scotch if that's your thing and save your cash!

 

[ScottM]

Remember not to confuse ABV with proof.

Original absinthe (the strong one) was 75%. You can buy fake stuff up to 90% or something around that figure, but it's not absinthe.... it's effectively coloured alcohol with a similar name (usually absinth). I've never seen 95% so I'm guessing that's probably Proof rather than ABV.

100% ABV isn't illegal (although it's impossible to distil IIRC). You can make alcohol to any level you wish if you have the correct license.

The strongest thing I have tried and enjoyed is probably poitin. Lovely stuff, the illegal stuff has crazy strength though.

Upwards of 50% is just a numbers game as I doubt there's anything actually gained.... other than a sore face from the landing lol.

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

Remember not to confuse ABV with proof.

Original absinthe (the strong one) was 75%. You can buy fake stuff up to 90% or something around that figure, but it's not absinthe.... it's effectively coloured alcohol with a similar name (usually absinth). I've never seen 95% so I'm guessing that's probably Proof rather than ABV.

100% ABV isn't illegal (although it's impossible to distil IIRC). You can make alcohol to any level you wish if you have the correct license.

The strongest thing I have tried and enjoyed is probably poitin. Lovely stuff, the illegal stuff has crazy strength though.

Upwards of 50% is just a numbers game as I doubt there's anything actually gained.... other than a sore face from the landing lol.

I'm pretty sure that under EU law you're not allowed to advertise alcohol content as degrees proof, it has to be in %age ABV.

My guess is that it's partly because there are at least two different for % proof, so what's marked on a bottle might be misleading. In the UK it's roughly 175% of ABV, but in the USA it's exactly double the ABV. This can be an issue when you need to know the %age of alcohol being used, e.g. if you're making rumptopf or brandytopf (a minimum %age is needed to preserve the fruit properly) are fortifying wine (so you can work out the proportions to reach the desired %age) or are making a flambe dish like Christmas pudding or crepe suzette (if the %age is too low it won't burn; if it's too high it'll burn too fiercely and could be dangerous).

 

[rpt]

I thought it was degrees proof and not % proof. So if it's a % then it will be ABV. Does anyone ever use ABW?

 

[ScottM]

Remember not to confuse ABV with proof.

Original absinthe (the strong one) was 75%. You can buy fake stuff up to 90% or something around that figure, but it's not absinthe.... it's effectively coloured alcohol with a similar name (usually absinth). I've never seen 95% so I'm guessing that's probably Proof rather than ABV.

100% ABV isn't illegal (although it's impossible to distil IIRC). You can make alcohol to any level you wish if you have the correct license.

The strongest thing I have tried and enjoyed is probably poitin. Lovely stuff, the illegal stuff has crazy strength though.

Upwards of 50% is just a numbers game as I doubt there's anything actually gained.... other than a sore face from the landing lol.

I'm pretty sure that under EU law you're not allowed to advertise alcohol content as degrees proof, it has to be in %age ABV.

My guess is that it's partly because there are at least two different for % proof, so what's marked on a bottle might be misleading. In the UK it's roughly 175% of ABV, but in the USA it's exactly double the ABV. This can be an issue when you need to know the %age of alcohol being used, e.g. if you're making rumptopf or brandytopf (a minimum %age is needed to preserve the fruit properly) are fortifying wine (so you can work out the proportions to reach the desired %age) or are making a flambe dish like Christmas pudding or crepe suzette (if the %age is too low it won't burn; if it's too high it'll burn too fiercely and could be dangerous).

You'll need to take a pic of this 95% ABV absinthe then, up until now I thought the strongest ever made was 85%.... and that was special stuff that's around £200 a bottle. The cheap copies are available up to 89% ABV but they aren't really absinthe.

 

[Redcar]

My Dad had an imported Bacardi that was so high it had a metal Davey lamp type filter in it's neck. But it wasn't that great as it evaporated as soon as you poured it, and there wasn't much left by the time it hit the back of your throat.