It is not necessarily a bad idea to sit on a glass of whiskey to refresh yourself after a hectic day at work. Its importance can also be bolstered by the fact some business deals are sealed through toasts of glasses of whiskey.
In fact, whiskey is one of the most popular drinks in history. Having said that, the question that bothers most whiskey lovers remains, Is Whiskey Flammable?
Well, even though bottled whiskey can catch fire due to its high 80 proof (40% ABV), it is not considered as flammable, but at cask strength (52%-66%), straight from the barrel, it is flammable.
Contents
What is Whiskey?
Whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different malted grain mash is used for various kinds such as barley, corn, rye and wheat.
Whiskey is an extremely regulated spirit worldwide with several classes and types.
Meanwhile, the major features similar to the different classes and types are the fermentation of grains, distillation, and ageing in wooden barrels. Using a flask to drink whiskey can result in a +30s drunk effect for every 10% consumed.
Consuming more of it to increase the duration above the 30s can result in screen blurring and, eventually, vomiting. There’s no difference other than the amount consumed when drinking from the ground compared to a flask.
The most popular whiskey is the American whiskey which is distilled from a fermented cereal grain mash and have the taste, aroma and other features commonly given to whiskey.
Let’s quickly highlight the types of whiskey, which will provide us with some of the clues we need.
Common Types of Whiskey & Their Alcoholic Strength
There are several types of whiskey that are listed in the U.S federal regulations. They include;
1. Bourbon Whiskey
It is distilled from a mash that is made up of a minimum of 51% maize and aged in new charred oak barrels.
Most Bourbon whiskeys contain an alcoholic volume of 80 proof (40% ABV) which is not flammable. Though it might catch fire, it won’t sustain.
2. Corn Whiskey
It is distilled from a mash made up of a minimum of 80% corn and is not aged or, if aged, in uncharred barrels. Corn Whiskey contains 40% ABV (80 proof) and is not considered flammable.
3. Malt Whiskey
Malt whiskey is gotten from a mash that is made up of a minimum of 51% malted barley. It contains less than 80 proof alcohol (less than 40% ABV) and is therefore not seen as flammable.
4. Rye Whiskey
This whiskey is gotten from a mash that is made up of a minimum of 51% rye. Rye Whiskeys contain 40% alcohol by volume and is not flammable also.
5. Rye Malt Whiskey
It is gotten from a mash that is made up of a minimum of 51% malted rye. Similar to other whiskey kinds, it has 80 proof alcohol content, so, cannot be flammable or combustible for a sustained period.
6. Wheat Whiskey
It is gotten from a mash that is made up of a minimum of 51% wheat. This whiskey type consists of 40% ABV; therefore, its water content won’t allow it to flame up or combust for a sustained period.
Note: These American whiskey types shouldn’t exceed the 80% ABV (alcohol by volume) mark as a finished product and mustn’t exceed 125 proof in barrels. Now, back to the topic question of the day. Is Whiskey Flammable?
Is Whiskey Flammable or Combustible?
According to shipping companies, whiskey is a flammable liquid. But generally, it is not flammable at bottle strength, which is not more than 80 proof (40%).
Remember, any alcohol that contains 40% alcohol by volume and below is often not considered as flammable or combustible.
We all know that shipping companies always see all alcoholic products, even beer, as flammable.
But in practical terms, any whiskey that is below 80 proof is not flammable, but at 100 proof (50% ABV), it cannot be flammable but might be combustible.
Meanwhile, the large water content in whiskey wouldn’t allow it to burn for long, as it will quickly be extinguished.
Can Whiskey Easily Catch Fire?
Cask strength whiskey will quickly light on fire and sustain a decent burn without being impossible to put out.
The more common stuff, which averages around 40 percent alcohol by volume, will burn a small blue flame over the top of the drink that goes out with a light breath — same for vodka, tequila and gin.
In other words, it all depends on the alcoholic volume that it contains. Any whiskey that contains not more than 80 proof (40% ABV) will ignite but won’t last due to the high volume of water content, which prevents it from burning steadily.
But, if the alcoholic content exceeds 80 and into its 100 proof (50% ABV and above), which is cask strength, then it will not just easily catch fire.
Still, it will also be hard to extinguish because, at this rate, the alcohol strength is strong enough to withstand the fire but equally won’t burn for a long time.
What Is the Flashpoint of Whiskey?
Like most other alcoholic beverages with a 40% Alcohol by Volume (80 proof), whiskey has a flashpoint at 79 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a sequel to 26 degrees Celsius.
So, at this rate, it can’t be necessarily flammable unless its alcoholic volume is beyond 80 proof (more than 40% ABV).
Note that the flashpoint of any alcoholic beverage, including whiskey, depends on the alcoholic content of that drink. For instance, the flashpoint of pure alcohol (ethanol) is 61.9 degrees Fahrenheit (16.6 degrees Celsius).
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