What is 96 per cent pure alcohol used for?

Pure alcohol of 96 percent is ethyl alcohol from agricultural products: alcohol without its own smell or taste, with at least 96.0 percent by volume.

That description is in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787. It is made from agricultural raw materials and purified so far that nothing of the raw material can be found in it any more. That is exactly the point: anyone who steeps fruit in alcohol wants the fruit to determine the flavour, not the alcohol.

In practice it comes down to three things: steeping fruit in alcohol, making your own liqueur and infusing herbs or spices.

• Preserving fruit: raisins, apricots, cherries or plums in a Weck jar with diluted alcohol and sugar
• Making liqueur yourself: steep fruit or herbs, then strain and bring to strength
• Steeping: let aniseed, cinnamon or lemon peel soak to obtain a base of aroma and flavour

Anyone who prefers not to dilute it themselves can take preserving brandy: it is sold at a lower strength and is meant for preserving fruit without further processing. Ready-made Boerenjongens and Boerenmeisjes are also on our shelves.

From one liter of alcohol of 96 percent you make, with water, about 2.4 liters at 40 percent.

The sum is simple: the number of litres times the percentage stays the same. A few reference points for one litre of 96 percent:

• to 50 percent: about 1.9 litres
• to 40 percent: about 2.4 litres
• to 30 percent: about 3.2 litres
• to 20 percent: about 4.8 litres

Sugar and fruit juice lower the percentage further. For fruit in alcohol a strength of around 30 to 40 percent is usually maintained, because the fruit juice dilutes it further.

No. Pure alcohol of 96 percent is meant for diluting or for infusing fruit, not for pouring.

The Trimbos Institute counts a standard glass of spirits as 35 millilitres with about 10 grams of pure alcohol. The same 35 millilitres at 96 percent contain about 26 grams of pure alcohol: well over two and a half times as much. A little glass is therefore no longer a little glass. We sell these bottles as a raw ingredient, and we say so at the counter too.

Preserving brandy is sold at a much lower strength and can go straight into the preserving jar; pure alcohol of 96 percent must always be diluted first.

Preserving brandy is therefore the simplest route for anyone who wants to make one jar of boerenjongens. Pure alcohol is cheaper per litre of end product and gives you control over the strength. Which is more practical in your case depends on the quantity; call 0570 541 278 and we will work it out with you.

Upright, cool, dark and away from open flame: 96 percent alcohol is highly flammable.

Dat staat ook op het veiligheidsinformatieblad van ethanol 96 procent. Houd de fles gesloten, zet hem niet naast de kookplaat en berg hem op buiten bereik van kinderen. Verkoop is in Nederland gebonden aan 18 jaar, artikel 20 van de Alcoholwet. NIX18.