# What Alcoholic Beverage has the most alcohol? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 30, 2000, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498 "2000-03-30T17:42:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeus)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/1 "2000-03-30T17:42:00Z")
The subject pretty much explains it all, I am looking for the hardest shit around. It doesn’t matter if it has to be mixed or not, I just want to know what has the most alcohol content. * * * “I say God DAMN!” ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/2 "2000-03-30T17:45:00Z")
Everclear ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/3 "2000-03-30T17:59:00Z")
I’ve about 5 litres of absolute ethanol in the lab. That do the trick? ---
**Author:** ![Konrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@Konrad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Konrad)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/4 "2000-03-31T06:27:00Z")
In Poland there’s something called Spirytus which is about 96% pure alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/5 "2000-03-30T21:37:00Z")
Everclear (which is NOT availible in all states) is 190 proof (200 proof is pure), moonshine can be 190-200 proof. But man, that stuff doesn’t taste too good. * * * If at first you don’t succeed you’re about average. ---
**Author:** ![JamesCarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@JamesCarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesCarroll)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/6 "2000-03-30T21:41:00Z")
Where did you get pure ethanol? It would have to be chemically created (as oppossed to distilled) and that stuff usually is denatured with methanol. ---
**Author:** ![msattitude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@msattitude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msattitude)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/7 "2000-03-30T21:42:00Z")
I think everclear is available in the states. I believe I have seen it. I know I’ve smelled it. STRONG!!! Never tasted it without it bieng in something. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/8 "2000-03-30T21:44:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by JamesCarroll: > Where did you get pure ethanol? It would have to be chemically created (as oppossed to distilled) and that stuff usually is denatured with methanol. It’s 99.99% ethanol, not denatured, no water, methanol or cyclohexane in it. And no duty paid on it either ;). Supplier: Aldrich 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/9 "2000-03-30T21:47:00Z")
I believe you need a permit to get pure ethanol in some states. It’s mostly used for extractions and whatnot in chemistry, I think. * * * `They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety’ - Benjamin Franklin - ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/10 "2000-03-30T21:55:00Z")
Yeah, we used to use pure ethanol in chem lab for cleaning glassware, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/11 "2000-03-30T22:35:00Z")
I’ve drunk Everclear. It’s panther sweat. A little dab’ll do ya. A little too much will do ya in. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/12 "2000-03-30T22:43:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Joe\_Cool: > Yeah, we used to use pure ethanol in chem lab for cleaning glassware, etc. It could have been pure, but was more likely the usual lab grade, containing 5-10% water and a little cycohexane to make you vomit if you drink it :). ---
**Author:** ![NickyLarson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b2d939/32.png) [@NickyLarson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NickyLarson)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/13 "2000-03-30T22:53:00Z")
Without being as extreme as all these others, I think the strongest drink you can get in all 50 states is Bacardi 151 rum. 151 proof translates to 75.5%; if that’s not enough knock the feet out from under you, then you need to step in front of a bus. * * * You’d think that Superman would be a good person to invite to a barbecue but trust me, he’s not. I mean, sure he can cook the hot dogs fast with his heat vision, but they all taste of charred eye boogers. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/14 "2000-03-30T22:59:00Z")
android: I don’t need no stinkin’ cycohexane. My friends can aver that I have vomited after drinking alcohol without it. ---
**Author:** ![Zeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeus)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/15 "2000-03-30T23:00:00Z")
Wow, 190 proof? That shit will probably burn a hole in your fucking throat. That is exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for. I couldn’t find that much info on Spirytus, though. I definitely have to try Everclear this weekend. * * * “I say God DAMN!” ---
**Author:** ![NickyLarson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b2d939/32.png) [@NickyLarson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NickyLarson)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/16 "2000-03-30T23:09:00Z")
Zeus, take it easy, I don’t want to be reading about you on Monday… ---
**Author:** ![Azathoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5daacb/32.png) [@Azathoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azathoth)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/17 "2000-03-30T23:39:00Z")
Thread hijack in progress… ---
**Author:** ![Azathoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5daacb/32.png) [@Azathoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azathoth)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/18 "2000-03-30T23:48:00Z")
Ack! I didn’t hit submit reply! I promise! 🙂 Anyway, here’s what I meant to post. Back when I was in college, I had a bottle of this lying around in my apartment (left over from a Halloween party). I was, at that time, suffering from a canker sore, and being such a wise and knowing young man, I thought to myself, “Well, these things are probably caused by evil germs of some sort or another. Alchohol kills germs, right?” So I decided that I could rid myself of this painful sore by using the Everclear as mouthwash. Ouch. Ouch ouch ouch. Don’t do this! 🙂 * * * I am Chaos, I am alive, and I tell you that you are free. ---
**Author:** ![MadPoet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@MadPoet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPoet)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/19 "2000-03-31T02:26:00Z")
Everclear fireballs are pretty cool. Though anything over 100 proof or so should fireball too. * * * [http://www.madpoet.com](http://www.madpoet.com) “I never meant to hurt you,” you said, And buried yourself in lies instead. Next time I would rather be slain, Than forced to bear your mercy again. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498/20 "2000-03-31T02:56:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by NickyLarson: > \*\*Without being as extreme as all these others, I think the strongest drink you can get in all 50 states is Bacardi 151 rum. 151 proof translates to 75.5%; if that’s not enough knock the feet out from under you, then you need to step in front of a bus. > > \*\* I saw Everclear in a Wisconsin liquor store about a month ago. I didn’t check the proof, but I doubt that it’s been watered down. No matter. That stuff is a fuel, not a beverage. I’ll never touch it again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-alcoholic-beverage-has-the-most-alcohol/9498.md?page=2)