Does adding maple syrup reduce abv

[Corps012588]

Hiya guys.
Probably going to get some grief over this but
I've got a demijohn of neutral aging on jd chips in my brew shed
And when it went into the the demijohn it was at 45%
I then added 5ml of genuine maple syrup.
That was on the 7th of this month. Tested for leaks and all was good.
Checked abv today and it's reading just below 40%
Would 5ml of maple really take 5% from 4ltrs of spirit or
Is the reading out due to viscosity?
I use the neutral on jd with maple as a put me on while I'm waiting for
My ujssm to age.

[Almanac]

Your Alcometer is accurate for measuring a liquid made up of Ethanol and Water only. The Oak Sugars, Vanillin and other compounds extracted from the chips, plus the Maple Syrup all upset the density of the liquid so the Alcometer gives a false reading.

And if anyone ever gives you grief for asking a question here you just refer them to me

AM

[packapoo]

Viscosity.

I often revert to a standard hydrometer in situations like yours; can be. quite revealing

[Easydrinker]

In my experience,once you add any sweetener to a spirit,you cannot rely upon your spirit hydrometer.OK,I've not tried artificial sweeteners!
Although your results of 5ml in 5000 does sound a little odd to me.
I think I have to disagree with aidanmac here though,(why does it seem that I often do?),I don't believe your wood chips will disrupt your hydrometer by very much at all.
Every bottle of commercialy produced whisky I have ever dropped my hydrometer in reads bang on the stated percentage.
Wait,be honest,maybe AM is correct,the whisky is diluted to bottle strength,after aging in barrels.
A more sugar rich solution would cause the hydrometer to sit higher,indicating a lower abv product.
I struggle to believe that commercial distillers and HMRC haven't got this covered,in an age of chemical spectrometers and the like,which I know the big distillers use.Apparently at around £30 a go.
Wish I could afford to do that.
HTH.
Robert

[Capt-Cudellez]

As already pointed out, the hydrometer is no use once you add any sort of additives - sugar especially.

Its always good to measure the ABV and volume accurately before you add anything, and just use a calculator to work out the ending ABV. Mark it on the DJ or bottle and keep good notes separately.
I've lost count of the about of times I've only written the ABV on a DJ, if ageing for an extended period this gets wiped off, usually by spilling alcohol on it

[packapoo]

[quote="Capt-Cudellez"]As already pointed out, the hydrometer is no use once you add any sort of additives - sugar especially.

Can we clarify 'hydrometer' here please?

Some may get confused between two tools.
The regular hydrometer and the spirit hydrometer - this tool may also be known as alcometer? I say may, as depending on where you read, not all agree.

The regular hydrometer is a most useful tool, especially when adding sugar at different ferment stages, whether it be with wine or a spirit wash.

[Capt-Cudellez]

Good point packapoo, I WAS referring to an alcometer. I believe technically both these devices are actually hydrometers, but it seems in this hobby we refer to the one calibrated for distilled alcohol as an alcometer to emphasise the difference.

I knew what I meant, I think

[packapoo]