Alcohol has been consumed worldwide for thousands of years. It is present in many cultures and is often used during celebrations, special events, or simply moments of relaxation, like playing pétanque in France. There are many types of alcohol, such as beer, wine, champagne, and spirits. In this article, we will focus on strong alcohols and discover which is the alcohol with the highest alcohol content in the world.

What is Strong Alcohol?

Before diving into the details, it is important to understand what we mean by strong alcohol. Strong alcohol is a type of alcohol that contains a high amount of ethanol compared to other types of alcohol.

Unlike beer and wine, strong alcohols are generally distilled several times to increase their alcohol content. Strong alcohols are also often consumed in smaller quantities than other types of alcohol.

The Most Popular Strong Alcohols

Before discovering the strongest alcohol in the world, it is important to understand the different types of strong alcohols that are most often found around us, each with its own history and traditions. Here is a list of the most popular spirits in our country and other countries in the world:

Whisky: is a type of strong alcohol of about 40%, which is made from fermented grains such as wheat, rye, barley, or corn. Whisky is usually aged in oak barrels for several years to develop its unique flavors and aromas.

Vodka: is a type of white alcohol that is made from grains, potatoes, or beets. Unlike whisky, vodka is not aged in oak barrels but is instead distilled several times to increase its alcohol content, which is often around 40%.

Rum: is a type of strong alcohol that is made from the residues of cane, molasses, or fermented sugar cane juice. Rum is often aged in oak barrels to develop its taste and aroma, and it is generally found between 40% and 60% degrees for some products.

Gin: is a strong white alcohol that is made from neutral alcohol and aromatic herbs such as juniper, coriander, and angelica. Gin is also often distilled several times to increase its alcohol content.

Korean Soju: is a Korean alcohol usually made from rice, barley, or sweet potato. It has an alcohol content of 16 to 53% depending on the variety. It is not what we find most in our stores in France, but in its native country, it is a real star!

List of the Strongest Alcohols in the World

Now that we have seen the most common spirits, it is time to discover the most powerful ones. Here is a non-exhaustive list of alcohols referenced as being the most powerful on the market:

Spirytus – Spirytus is a Polish vodka that is made on a base of potato alcohol. It has an alcohol percentage of 96%, technically it is impossible to make an alcoholic beverage above this bottle, which makes it the strongest alcohol in the world at present.

Absinthe – This type of alcohol is made from aromatic herbs such as wormwood, anise, and licorice. Depending on certain brands of bottles, alcohol is between 45% to 90% for the most alcoholic. For example, the green Hapsburg absinthe from Italy is an alcoholic beverage at 89.9%.

Bacardi 151 – Bacardi 151 is a rum from Puerto Rico that has aged 1 year and has an alcohol content of 75.7%. It is mainly used for cocktails like the “Hurrican” or the “Caribou Lou” and rum-based drinks like a fruit punch. A rum that suits lovers of strong sensations!

Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled Whisky – The Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled Whisky is a whisky from Scotland with a product that obtains 92% alcohol. It is produced using an innovative distillation technique that allows obtaining extremely high alcohol.

Brewmeister Snake Venom Beer – The Snake Venom beer from the Brewmeister brewer in Scotland holds the world record for the strongest beer in the world, with a beer that peaks at an alcohol rate of 67.5%. This bottled beer is brewed from beer yeast, peated malt, and champagne.

Eau de vie and Liqueur – The eau de vie and liqueur that we find in commerce in France generally have a not too high degree of alcohol. However, even if it is unprovable and the manufacture is forbidden in France, who has never tasted the “gnole” of grandpa that made him cough?! According to articles and feedback from people on the net, we can estimate that homemade eaux-de-vie are between 40 and 80 degrees, even if this remains of course an estimate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the strongest alcohol in the world is Spirytus, a Polish vodka with an alcohol content of 96%. However, it is important to remember that alcohol consumption should be done with moderation, responsibility, and can be dangerous to health, especially with this kind of alcohol.

It is also important to note that the degree of alcohol should not be the only criterion of choice when it comes to choosing an alcoholic beverage. The taste, aroma, and quality of the alcohol are just as important. Finally, remember to consume alcohol responsibly and never drink and drive.