underproof

Underproof refers to a condition where a spirit or alcoholic beverage has a lower alcohol content than legally or conventionally required. In many jurisdictions, alcoholic beverages are subject to minimum proof standards for sale. If a spirit falls below this minimum, it is considered underproof. This can occur due to various factors, including errors in the distillation or dilution process.

The proof of an alcoholic beverage is a measure of its alcohol by volume (ABV). In the United States, proof is twice the ABV percentage. For example, 80 proof means 40% ABV. Regulatory bodies set specific minimum proof levels for different categories of spirits. For instance, a bourbon or whiskey might be required to be at least 80 proof. If a batch fails to meet this standard, it cannot be legally sold as that particular type of spirit.

Producers typically aim to produce spirits well above the minimum required proof to account for any potential variations and to allow for proper dilution to reach the desired final proof. If a spirit is found to be underproof, it may need to be re-distilled or blended with a higher-proof spirit to meet the legal requirements. Consumers may encounter underproof spirits if they are purchased from unregulated sources or if there has been a quality control failure.