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Rectified spirit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Rectified spirit | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Vodka |
| Manufacturer | Polmos Warszawa |
| Country of Origin | Warsaw, Poland |
| Introduced | ? |
Rectified spirit or rectified alcohol is high concentration alcohol purified by the process of rectification (repeated or fractional distillation). It is used for medicinal purposes, as a household solvent, or in mixed drinks. Neutral grain spirits are rectified spirits made from grain. However, rectified spirits can also be made from other raw materials, most often from potatos.
Rectified spirits are illegal for non-medical purposes in several countries (such as India), but are legal in most industrialized nations. Until recently rectified spirits were banned in Canada.
In Polish, spirytus rektyfikowany means rectified spirit.
Spirytus is in the same category as Vodka. It is commonly understood that spirytus is distilled to the maximum purity achievable, which is slightly above 95% (190 proof), but it is labeled 95% for practical and legal reasons.
Tourists are allowed to buy and drink spirytus in Poland, but it is illegal for them to export it. Enforcement of the export restriction is fairly lax.
In German, rectified spirit is called Primasprit, Weingeist or unvergällter Alkohol.
The term Primasprit is generally only used for rectified spirit which was originally produced for drinking. In East Germany the alcohol content of Primasprit was always at 96% ABV (192 proof), but in reunited Germany the alcohol content can be between 60% (120 proof) and 96% (192 proof), since the taxation for Primasprit with a very high alcohol content is unusualy high. Primasprit is in very most cases used for homemade liqueurs, other types of usage are rare. Most Primasprit in Germany is made from grain and therefore in fact neutral grain spirit.
Unvergällter Alkohol is originally the legal term for taxed neutral spirit with 96% ABV. In colloquial usage (and officially) this term is used for rectified spirit which was originally not produced for drinking. This refers allmost only to rectified spirit for medical purposes, available at a German Apotheke (pharmacy). However, the term Weingeist is also often used for rectified spirit from pharmacies.