Grain alcohols

Neutral in flavour and aroma, grain alcohols are the spirits made by distilling fermented mashes from grain, commonly unmalted. Their blank canvas makes them the base for vodka, gin, liqueurs and countless flavoured spirits, where the character comes from later steps. Distillers run them through rectifying columns to reach high purity, then dilute to bottling strength. Food-grade specifications also cover industrial and extraction uses beyond the drinks shelf. Excise rules treat high-strength spirit as a controlled substance in most countries.