What Does Proof Mean In Spirits?
In the context of spirits, proof is a measure of the alcohol content. It is expressed as a percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV) and is double the percentage of pure alcohol in the spirit. For example, a spirit that is 40% ABV is 80 proof. The term originated from the practice of testing alcohol by dampening gunpowder with it, and then lighting it. If the gunpowder ignited, it was “proved” to be of sufficient strength. Today, the proof number is primarily used in the United States, while most other countries solely use ABV as a measure of alcohol content.