Neutral alcohol, also known as neutral spirits, is a type of alcohol that has been distilled to remove almost all impurities, flavors, and aromas. It is essentially a pure form of alcohol, with a high alcohol content and a neutral taste. Neutral alcohol can be produced from a variety of fermentable materials, including grains, corn, grapes, sugar beets, sugarcane, tubers, and even whey.
One example of a neutral alcohol is grain alcohol. It is commonly produced from grains such as wheat, corn, or barley. As a brewer, I have had the opportunity to work with grain alcohol in the production of spirits. The process involves fermenting the grains to convert their sugars into alcohol, and then distilling the fermented liquid to obtain a high-proof neutral spirit.
Another example of a neutral alcohol is grape alcohol. This type of alcohol is often distilled from wine or the by-products of wine production, such as pomace or lees. Pomace refers to the skins, seeds, and stems left over after the grapes have been pressed for their juice, while lees are the sediment that settles at the bottom of wine barrels during fermentation. These by-products still contain a significant amount of alcohol, which can be extracted through distillation to produce neutral spirits.
In my experience as a sommelier, I have come across neutral spirits derived from grapes that were not suitable for winemaking due to their quality or ripeness. Instead of letting these grapes go to waste, they were distilled into neutral alcohol, which can be used as a base for other alcoholic beverages or as a component in the production of fortified wines.
Additionally, neutral spirits can also be produced from other fermentable materials such as sugar beets, sugarcane, or tubers. I have encountered neutral alcohol made from sugar beets in particular, which is a common ingredient in some traditional spirits. The sugar content of the beets is fermented, and then the resulting liquid is distilled to create a pure and neutral spirit.
To summarize, neutral alcohol is a highly distilled form of alcohol that is free from impurities, flavors, and aromas. It can be produced from a variety of fermentable materials, including grains, grapes, sugar beets, sugarcane, tubers, and whey. Examples of neutral alcohol include grain alcohol, grape alcohol derived from wine or its by-products, and spirits made from sugar beets. These neutral spirits serve as a versatile base for the production of various alcoholic beverages.