Document Alcohol Blending.

Alcohol Blending.By Anthony Spinelli. Did you ever mix a drink,such as a rum coke,or a vodka tonic? These drinks are called mixed drinks,and you also can make bottled liquors such as annisette or almond rum liquor,and many other blended alcohol liquors. Most liquors have an alcohol strength of 22 to 40 percent alcohol or a proof of 44 to 80. Most liquors have sugar added to the alcohol plus some form of liquid flavored extract such as rum,anise,almond,orange,and several others.. Vodka is a spirit that can be blended with simple syrup and flavored extract to produce many sweet liquors.Use a alcohol level testing hydrometer to blend your 40 percent alcohol down to an alcohol strength of 22 to 30 percent total alcohol content for a smoother tasting liquor. Usually most liquors contain 22 to 35 percent alcohol. You also can make brandy from distilling certain wines. Distilling alcohol is not permitted without a special permit. Also,distilling can be very dangerous and the first and the last heat should not be used for human consumption,and is mostly used in cleaning solutions. The first heat in distilling produces methanol alcohol {aka} methyl alcohol that is very bad for drinking. Methanol can cause a person to become blind or even produce death in a human being. The second heat is called ethanol {aka} ethyl alcohol. This alcohol can be consumed by a person. Always remember that alcohol can become habit forming and it should be consumed in moderation only. Simple syrup is made by adding equal parts of sugar and water and heating it on a stove to dissolve the sugar and create a syrup that will be used for blending alcohol into a more pleasant drink. Alwayscheck your alcohol strength with a alcohol test hydrometer to bring it to the correct alcohol strength for any special mix that you are blending. A simple recipe for an italian liquor called annisetta is made by adding 13 ounces of vodka 40 percent alcohol strenth to 10 ounces of simple syrup and two ounces of anise flavor extract that will make a .750 litre of 30 percent alcohol annisetta or italian licorice flavoed liquor. Enjoy your blending.Anthony Spinelli. Winemaker and baker.