neutral spirits

American  

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. nonflavored alcohol of 95 percent, or 190 proof, obtained chiefly from grain or molasses or redistilled from brandy, rum, etc., used for blending with straight whiskies and in the making of gin, cordials, liqueurs, and the like.

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neutral spirits British  

noun

1. (functioning as singular or plural) ethanol of more than 190° proof

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Etymology

Origin of neutral spirits

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Other ways of making sweet wine include air-drying grapes, as in Amarone; harvesting grapes shriveled by botrytis cinerea, the noble rot, as in Sauternes; or fortifying, adding neutral spirits to stop fermentation, as in port.

From New York Times • Mar. 28, 2019

OPM last week ordered U.S. distillers to stop making neutral spirits for beverages on Jan. 15, start running off industrial alcohol.

From Time Magazine Archive

To the more neutral, spirits in the field, Canaday's main fault is that he sometimes seems to prefer to harangue in generalities than to come to grips with this or that particular artist.

From Time Magazine Archive

U.S. distillers are at a disadvantage because federal law limits the amount of neutral spirits they may use in blends, while distillers of Scotch and Canadian have no limits.

From Time Magazine Archive

But Chum Frink, a traveled man and not unused to woes, was stricken by the thought that the potion might be merely fruit-juice with a little neutral spirits.

From Babbitt by Lewis, Sinclair