🧪 Understanding Alcohol Proof
- Proof is twice the percentage of alcohol by volume.
- 80 proof = 40% alcohol
- 100 proof = 50% alcohol
- 190 proof = 95% alcohol (Everclear)
Higher proof = more alcohol, less water
Lower proof = more water, less alcohol
🌿 General Guidelines by Plant Part
|
Plant Part |
Suggested Alcohol Proof |
Reason |
|
Roots & Barks |
80–100 proof (40–50%) |
Tough and dense; alcohol helps break down cell walls and extract alkaloids/resins. |
|
Seeds & Resins |
90–95+ proof (45–95%) |
Very hard or resinous; need high alcohol to extract sticky, oily compounds. |
|
Leaves & Stems |
40–60 proof (20–30%) (if diluted) or 80 proof |
Softer and more water-soluble compounds; too much alcohol may overdry or degrade them. |
|
Flowers |
40–60 proof (20–30%) or 80 proof |
Delicate compounds, many are water-soluble or volatile; too much alcohol can be too harsh. |
🌱 Why It Matters:
- High-proof alcohol extracts resins, alkaloids, essential oils, and is good for preservation.
- Lower-proof alcohol (more water) extracts vitamins, mucilage, flavonoids, and minerals — things more water-soluble.
🧪 Practical Tips:
- If using Everclear (190 proof), you can dilute it with distilled water to get a specific strength (e.g., 75% alcohol for tougher roots/resins).
- Many herbalists use vodka (80–100 proof) as a versatile, all-purpose menstruum for both roots and leaves — it’s a good middle ground.
📌 Example Combos:
- Echinacea root tincture → 80–100 proof
- Chamomile flower tincture → 40–60 proof
- Peppermint leaf tincture → 40–60 proof
- Myrrh resin tincture → 95+ proof
- Valerian root tincture → 90–100 proof
Would you like a guide on how to dilute Everclear to get a custom proof?
Absolutely! Here’s a simple guide to diluting high-proof alcohol, like Everclear (190 proof / 95% alcohol), to create a lower-proof tincture solvent — perfect for different types of herbs.
🧪 Why Dilute Everclear?
Everclear (190 proof) is too strong for many herbal preparations — especially for leaves, flowers, and fresh plant material — because it can:
- Over-dry the herb
- Destroy delicate constituents
- Extract too much resin or tannin
By diluting it with distilled water, you can customize your alcohol strength for the herb you’re working with.
🌡️ Target Alcohol Percentages (Common):
|
Target % Alcohol |
Target Proof |
Good For |
|
25–40% |
50–80 proof |
Leaves, flowers, fresh herbs |
|
50–60% |
100–120 proof |
Roots, barks, seeds (milder ones) |
|
75–95% |
150–190 proof |
Resins, gums, some roots |
🧮 How to Dilute Everclear (190 Proof / 95% Alcohol)
Here’s the basic formula:
(Volume of Everclear) × (% of Everclear) = Alcohol Content
Divide that by your target alcohol percentage to get the total volume you want.
Subtract the volume of Everclear from total volume to get how much distilled water to add.
🔢 Quick Reference Table (Using 190 proof Everclear):
|
Desired Final % |
Mix This Much Everclear |
With This Much Distilled Water |
|
75% alcohol |
3 parts |
1 part |
|
60% alcohol |
2 parts |
1.2 parts |
|
50% alcohol |
1 part |
1 part |
|
40% alcohol |
2 parts |
2.75 parts |
|
25% alcohol |
1 part |
2.8 parts |
✅ Example: Make 100 ml of 50% alcohol from 190 proof Everclear
- You want 50% (or 100 proof) total strength
- Use 50 ml of Everclear (95%)
- Add 50 ml distilled water
- Now you have 100 ml of 50% alcohol
⚠️ Important Notes:
- Always use distilled water to avoid introducing contaminants.
- Mix slowly and carefully, especially when handling high-proof alcohol.
- Use clean glass containers and label them clearly with the final percentage.