Diluting the Spirits
Adding distilled water to the alcohol to bring down the % and blending the spirits and liqueurs.
Float a Spirit Hydrometer or Alcometer in the spirit and read at the line where the level of the spirit cuts across the hydrometer. Spirit hydrometers should only be used to test spirit in the following conditions: • before any additives such as flavouring or liquid glucose are mixed; • at a temperature of 20 C or refer to the Temperature Correction Chart below for other liquid temperatures
Float the spirit hydrometer in the spirit to measure the alcohol content. As alcohol is thinner than water, the higher in strength the alcohol is the further down the hydrometer floats.
Temperature Correction for Spirit Hydrometer 20 C Alcohol %/Volume
20c -
(68 F) Alcohol %Volume
Temp.3040506070809098
10 c – 50 f4.12 3.98 3.67 3.42 3.19 2.92 2.45 2.06
15 c – 59 f2.032.00 1.85 1.73 1.61 1.47 1.251.06
20 c – 68 f0000 0000 00 00 0000
25 c- -77 f - 2,01 - 1.95 - 1.88 - 1.76 - 1.65 - 1.51 - 1.31 - 1.12
30 c - 86 f - 4.06 - 3.94 - 3.78 - 3.55 - 3.33 - 3.05 - 2.67 - 2.31
35 c – 95 f - 6.15 - 5.98 - 5.82 - 5.4 - 5.13 - 4.67 - 4.07 - 3.54
40 c –104 f - 8.29 - 8.05 - 7.92 - 7.41 - 7.03 - 6.35 - 5.5 - 4.8
If your Spirit Hydrometer reads 50%V at a temperature of 25 Celsius, then you should read the Correction Adjustment from the chart and subtract 1.88 to give a realistic reading of 48.12% V (50% Alc minus 1.88).
Take good care of your Spirit Hydrometer as it is very fragile. Wash & sterilise with cold water only.
After carbon purifying, the spirit should be watered down in strength to 40 % by volume prior to drinking
Calculation of Distilled Water to Add for the dilution of 60% Alc. to 40% Alc. Pure Water and Alcohol only.
Remember, additives such as flavouring and Liquid Glucose will distort the hydrometer readings.
Total Collected. Alc Content. Alc Required. Distilled Water to Add.
700 ml 60% 40% 350 ml.
Therefore: - Amount Collected 700 ml. multiplied by Alc Content 60% = 42000 ml. @ 60 % Alc
divided by Alc required 40% = 1050 ml. minus the original collected 700mls of Alc
Therefore: - 350 ml. Distilled water to Add.
800mls 60% 40% 800 ml 400 ml
Therefore: - Amount Collected 800 ml Multiplied by Alc Content 60% = 48000 ml @ 60 % Alc
Divided by Alc required 40% = 1200 ml minus the original collected 800mls of Alc
Therefore: - 400 ml Distilled water to Add.
This formula can be used for any variable – Alcohol, Distilled Water or Quantity.
Hope this helps, it worked for me.
Regards, Ian
the temp adjustment table didn't paste well here but I can e-mail if you want itStatistics: Posted by quietman — Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:11 am
]]>