Why is Alcohol called Spirits ?!


Question:

Why is Alcohol called Spirits ?


Answers:
Alcohol boils at a lower temperature than does water. Thus, with a
still at the properly maintained temp, alcohol evaporates into
'spirits' leaving behind the water and mash. The coil of the still
cools down the vapor causing it to condense into a liquid. Spirits,
ghosts, vapor, mist, etc: all occupy a similar semantic space.

i dunno. i guess because it lifts your spirits when you drink it.

Alcohol is a word derived from al cohol(SP?). Which is Arabic for spirits. Why it's called spirits, I'm not sure.

I actually use to teach classes on this. The word spirit derives from back in the day when they use ferment alcohol in old, used, oak barrels. There is a gas that is released from the product while the yeast is converting sugar into alcohol. As the gas would disapate out of the barrel it looked like spirits escaping from the barrel. Hence that the name they gave alcohol.




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