Distillation
Distillation is the heating and cooling process that concentrates alcohol by separating it from fermented liquids, creating spirits like whiskey, vodka, and rum. This method produces beverages with alcohol content ranging from 40-95%, far exceeding fermentation's natural limits. The process explains why distilled spirits contain significantly more alcohol per volume than beer or wine.
TL;DR
Distillation concentrates alcohol far beyond fermentation, making spirits potent triggers for relapse—understanding this helps you stay vigilant.
Key Points
- âś“Distillation raises alcohol content from 8-10% (beer/wine) to 40-95% (spirits)
- âś“One shot of 80-proof liquor equals the alcohol in an entire 12-oz beer
- ✓Even small amounts in cooking extracts or “low-alcohol” liqueurs can reactivate cravings
- âś“Knowing how distillation works demystifies drinks and supports informed abstinence
Distillation is the step that turns mildly alcoholic beer or wine into hard liquor. By heating a fermented mash and capturing the vapors, producers collect ethanol at strengths of 40 % (vodka, whiskey) up to 95 % (rectified spirit). The process does not create new alcohol; it simply removes water and other compounds, leaving a far more concentrated—and therefore more dangerous—beverage.
Why it matters in recovery
Because spirits pack so much alcohol into a small volume, they make it easy to overshoot safe limits without noticing. One standard drink is defined as 14 g of pure ethanol, yet that amount fits into just 1.5 oz (45 ml) of 80-proof liquor compared with 12 oz (355 ml) of beer. The rapid rise in blood-alcohol level increases blackout risk, tolerance, and dependence. In recovery, even a seemingly harmless splash of rum in dessert or a “non-alcoholic” bitters can reignite neural pathways tied to addiction.
Practical tips for staying safe
- Read labels: Cooking extracts (vanilla, almond) are 35–40 % ABV; choose alcohol-free versions.
- Measure mocktails: If you enjoy craft drinks, use zero-proof spirits or distilled botanical waters to mimic flavor without ethanol.
- Plan social events: Ask bartenders to serve your soda in the same glassware used for cocktails to reduce visual triggers.
- De-alcoholize recipes: Simmer sauces for at least two hours to drive off alcohol, or substitute broth, juice, or vinegar.
Understanding that distillation is merely concentration—not purification or safety—helps you see all alcoholic beverages as variations on the same chemical. That clarity can weaken cravings and strengthen your commitment to sobriety.