· Blenders International · Water Science
Why can't alcohol be distilled above 96%? The ethanol–water azeotrope, and the water that never leaves the spirit
Every spirits label that says "96% ABV neutral alcohol" is quoting a law of physics, not a production target. Ethanol and water form a minimum-boiling azeotrope that no still can break, which means every distillate ever made arrives with water already in it — and the higher you distil, the more of the finished bottle has to come from water you add back.