Everclear (alcohol)
 A bottle of 190-proof Everclear. |
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| Type | Neutral grain spirit |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Luxco |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Alcohol by volume | 95% or 75.5% |
| Proof | 190 or 151 |
| Color | Colorless |
| Flavor | Neutral, contains no flavoring |
Everclear is a brand of neutral grain spirit manufactured by Luxco (formerly the David Sherman Company).[1] Everclear is relatively low in congeners and is available in concentrations of 151- and 190-proof, which are 75.5 and 95 percent alcohol, respectively.[2] In contrast, other hard liquors such as rum and vodka are typically 80 to 120 proof, which contain 40 to 60 percent alcohol.
Concentrations of 95.6 percent ethanol and 4.4 percent water form an azeotrope such that simple distillation cannot remove any of the remaining water. Consequently, 190-proof spirits are the maximum available from the distilled beverage industry. In 1979, the Guinness Book of World Records listed 190-proof Everclear as “the most alcoholic drink.”
Contents |
[edit] Availability
Due to its high alcohol content, Everclear is illegal, unavailable, or difficult to find in many areas.
[edit] Canada
In Canada, Everclear is sold in the province of Alberta, but not in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and most other provinces.[citation needed] In British Columbia, it is available for purchase with a permit for medical use, research use, or industrial use only.
[edit] United States
Some municipalities, such as Chicago, have banned Everclear, even though the state permits it to be sold.
Consumers may buy Everclear in Pennsylvania[3] but must first obtain a license to do so.
[edit] 190-proof
In the United States, it is illegal to sell the 190-proof variety in California, Florida,[4] Hawaii, Iowa,[5] Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,[6] Nevada,[7] New Hampshire, North Carolina,[8][9] Ohio, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
It is legal to sell Everclear 190 in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut,[10] Delaware, Georgia, Idaho,[11] Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, and in some military stores within the continental United States.
[edit] 151-proof
The 151-proof variety is legally available for sale in California, Florida, Iowa,[5] Michigan,[12] Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and some other states.
[edit] Uses
190-proof Everclear is in regular use amongst fine woodworkers and luthiers as the shellac solvent in French polish finishing.[13]
Everclear, as well as other neutral grain spirits, is typically added to a variety of other drinks, such as soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit juice, and iced tea. It is sometimes added to cocktails in place of vodka or rum and is used in Jell-O shots.[14] It is also used to make homemade liqueurs, such as limoncello, and is used in cooking because its high concentration of alcohol acts as a solvent to extract flavors.[15]
Everclear can be used as an antiseptic,[16] as a fuel in camping stoves,[17] and as a cleaner for the restoration of smoking pipes.[18]
[edit] In popular culture
[edit] Literature
- Everclear is featured in Minnesota humorist Garrison Keillor’s novel Lake Wobegon Days.[19] In one scene, a housewife throws her husband’s cup of coffee onto a kitchen fire to douse it, whereupon the coffee bursts into flame. She later finds a bottle of Everclear labeled “DON’T THROW OUT” under the kitchen sink, and correctly surmises that her husband had put a shot of it in his coffee.
- Tucker Max discusses the consumption of Everclear multiple times in his book, I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell.
[edit] Movies
- Everclear is mentioned in Freddy vs. Jason in the cornfield during the rave party.
[edit] Music
- The rock band Everclear is named after it.
- The Jerrod Niemann song "For Everclear" and the Roger Creager song "The Everclear Song" both refer to it.[20]
- Bushwick Bill of the Geto Boys tells in his song "Ever So Clear" how drinking Everclear resulted in his eye being shot out.[21]
- Rapper Pacewon rhymed the lyric, "Pushin' 160, mad tipsy off of Everclear" on his single "Sunroof Top."
- Featured in "Bulletproof" by Raheem DeVaughn, rapper Ludacris notes that his "future is Everclear, 180 proof".
[edit] Video games
- In Commander Keen episode 1, "Marooned on Mars," Commander Keen’s spaceship uses Everclear as fuel.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Donn Lux (12 November 2010). "President's Message". Luxco. http://www.luxco.com/public/company/pres.html. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- ^ "Everclear's Product Specifications". Luxco. 2010. http://www.luxco.com/public/brands/specs/specification.asp?brandid=21&brandname=Everclear. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- ^ "Everclear". PA LCB Product Catalog. http://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/Product_Management/psi_ProductListPage_Inter.asp?searchPhrase=everclear&selTyp=&selTypS=&selTypW=&selTypA=&CostRange=&searchCode=&submit=Search. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
- ^ "Title XXXIV, Chapter 565.07". 2009 Florida Statutes. http://archive.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0565/SEC07.HTM&Title=-%3E2009-%3ECh0565-%3ESection%2007#0565.07. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ a b Wanek, Amy Lynn (2010-03-08). "After Drake Everclear Incident, New Rules for Highly Concentrated Alcohol in Iowa". Politics Daily. http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/03/08/after-drake-everclear-incident-new-rules-for-highly-concentrate/. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ^ "340A.506". 2009 Minnesota Statutes. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=340A.506. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ^ "CHAPTER 202 - CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY". http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-202.html#NRS202Sec065. Retrieved 2011-12-08.
- ^ http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20101130/NEWS/311300055[dead link]
- ^ http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?storyid=151193
- ^ http://www.biznet.ct.gov/DCPOpenAccess/LiquorControl/DisplayItem.asp?ItemID=afe08804-9701-4923-a96c-d6935a65e6ac
- ^ http://www.liquor.idaho.gov/PriceBooks/catpricebook.pdf
- ^ "August 1, 2010 Price Book". Michigan Liquor Control Commission. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/FINAL_PRICE_8-1_thru10-30-2010_327319_7.pdf.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsGTJlLACYg
- ^ "Drink Recipe Browser: Everclear drinks". Drinknation. 2010. http://www.drinknation.com/ingbrowse/Everclear. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- ^ Walton, Stuart; Norma Miller (2000). An Encyclopedia of Spirits & Liqueurs and How to Cook with Them. London: Hermes House. ISBN 1842151541.
- ^ McDonnell G, Russell AD (1999). "Antiseptics and disinfectants: activity, action, and resistance". Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 12 (1): 147. PMC 88911. PMID 9880479. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=88911.
- ^ ZenBackpackingStoves (200-2005). "Alcohol Stoves". ZenBackpackingStoves. http://zenstoves.net/Stoves.htm. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
- ^ Thomas C. Wolfe (1982). "Pipe Restoration". Seattle Pipe Club. http://www.seattlepipeclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=969877&module_id=16774. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
- ^ Keillor, Garrison (1985). Lake Wobegon Days. Viking Books. ISBN 978-5551146766.
- ^ Niemann, Jarrod (13 July 2010). "For Everclear". Warner/Chappell Music. http://www.rhapsody.com/jerrod-niemann/judge-jerrod-the-hung-jury/for-everclear/lyrics.html. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ Staff writers (3 February 2005). "Bushwick Bill Of The Geto Boys Reacts To Houston's Loss Of An Eye". SoundSlam. http://soundslam.com/articles/news/news.php?news=050203_bushwi. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
[edit] External links
- Luxco official website
- Everclear information and recipes at Drinksmixer
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