Talk:Grain spirit

Difference between NGS and rectified spirit?
Okay, so what's the difference between a Neutral grain spirit and a rectified spirit?

What types of problems will happen to people who consume lots of neutral grain spirits?

~ender 2005-10-04 22:24:MST

Azeotropes?
Are all neutral grain spirits azeotropes? I get the feeling that the original author was talking about azeotropes but didn't know the word, though I could be wrong... —Keenan Pepper 22:12, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

"Azeotrope" is the chemical concept for two liquids with different evaporation/boiling temperatures reaching a common boiling point in certain combinations. Alcohol has a lower boiling temperature than water, which is the basis for distilling spirits from wine or beer. The two substances reach an azeotropic point at about (off the cuff, don't quote me on this) 95% ethanol, at which point the remaining water cannot be separated from the alcohol (with heat). So GNS is as pure a form of ethanol as can be obtained by distillation. --Tbeckett (talk) 15:06, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Southern Comfort?
I was under the impression a neutral grain spirit referred to an unflavored, undiluted version, like Everclear. Southern Comfort is a spirit whose base is a neutral grain spirit, and thus shouldn't be listed as an example. Am I right? 72.196.104.129 13:31, 4 March 2007 (UTC)

I believe you are correct. Even if your personal impression of a neutral grain spirit is mistaken, the article specifically defines it as being clear and odorless; thus, listing Southern Comfort as a neutral grain spirit is a contradiction within the article itself. Changing it now. 192.200.128.45

Health effects?
"It is often used to mix into other beverages because drinking undiluted neutral grain spirits in shots can be harmful over a period of time." -- A doctor told me that alcohol at that level of purity can burn the esophogus, but I was unable to find a source. I found this link that suggests the feeling of a burn, but it's not the same. Either way, we need sources for such statements.--Thatnewguy 04:56, 17 March 2007 (UTC)

Requested move
The page title should be Neutral spirit because it can also be made from potatoes. Badagnani 03:42, 24 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Perhaps there should just be a different page for such products. This page should be uniquely about that product commonly referred to as "grain alcohol" -- very-high-proof alcohol made specifically from grain. Jkatzen 04:34, 24 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Okay, I'm open to your suggestions. What title should that article be under? Badagnani 22:57, 24 June 2007 (UTC)


 * This company makes 190-proof ethyl alcohol (neutral spirits) from Idaho potatoes. But it wouldn't fit into this article because potatoes are not a grain. Badagnani 23:05, 24 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I don't pretend to be an expert on this, so I'm not sure of the best way to go. I'd like to let this question sit for a while and get more feedback.  I feel like, in the US at least, "grain alcohol" is known specifically as such, and that's why I have trepidations about changing this.  But perhaps you're right, and it should be made more generic, with just specific sections about the different varieties?  Let's let it sit for a while? Jkatzen 23:40, 24 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I've never heard of anything drinkable called "neutral spirit" - in which country is this a common term in English? 70.95.168.25 10:55, 27 July 2007 (UTC)


 * From my understanding of the topic, this page is called "neutral grain spirit" because that's what the substance is commonly called, not because what it is made of (down here it tends to be called "grain neutral spirit" instead but it's the same deal). In some parts of the world, the chemical ethanol is also known as grain alcohol, to distinguish it from wood alcohol (i.e. methanol) not because it has to be derived from grain (or methanol from wood for that matter). A mixture of ethanol and water derived from potato would fit into this catagory becase of the very fact that it is neutral.


 * There already is a page about "neutral spirits" and its name is rectified spirit because that's the right name. However, the term is more common in Europe, especially since there is no special term for neutral grain spirit in most European languages. Neutral grain spirit is just a type of rectified spirit. In Western Europe it's generally made from wheat and in Eastern Europe from rye. Cheaper European brands of rectified spirit are made from potatoes or even sugar beet. - In my opinion, this page should not be renamed. 86.56.43.1 (talk) 18:10, 25 December 2007 (UTC)


 * We should keep the current title. Rectified spirits made from potatoes or beets would never be labelled "grain spirit," so no confusion can arise on this point. Morris K. (talk) 03:22, 8 May 2008 (UTC)

Corn/wheat Allergies
Hi, Just a comment. I am allergic to corn, even alcohol made from corn. There are also a lot of people who have allergies to gluten which would be transferred to the NGS. The word 'neutral' can therefore be misleading. I have to write to each manufacturer to ask the source of the NGS. People need to be aware of the source of the NGS.

Jamalily 22:59, 19 October 2007 (UTC)Jamalily

I don't doubt you, Jamalily, with respect to your reaction to corn in spirits. This is an interesting problem, because gluten and other allergy-implicated substances are proteins. And proteins are certainly separated from the alcohols in the distillation process - particularly when you get to the strength of GNS. And yet people do react allergically. Kind of gives credibility to the concepts of homeopathy. --Tbeckett (talk) 15:15, 22 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Yeah the placebo-type concepts. Gigs (talk) 22:23, 25 July 2008 (UTC)
 * "Certainly separated" is pretty strong language. By the abstract definition of distillation, sure, but I've seen large production distillers, and it's not hard for me to believe they might splash a bit. Is there any analysis available on how much congener actually makes it into the bottle? Sounds like something the FDA or BATF might require; do they? Jackrepenning (talk) 17:42, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

This is very interesting because I've had this conversation regarding essential oils. I have many allergies (defined by wiki as a type I hypersensitivity) including many plants. I have experienced hypersensitivities (the word chosen by my allergist) to some oils like peppermint, clove, and tea tree. I cannot use products such as toothpaste, lip balms, or even toothpicks infused with them. Perhaps you have an allergy (type I hypersensitivity) to the corn and a hypersensitivity (perhaps type IV, see contact dermatitis) to the essence. I will note that I'm not convinced about homeopathy. Evysolis (talk) 07:38, 10 October 2009 (UTC)