Everclear vs Culinary Solvent: What You Need to Know
Everclear 190 Proof and Culinary Solvent
Everclear® and Culinary Solvent are both high-proof, undenatured, ethyl alcohol products used in various applications, from culinary endeavors to crafting homemade tinctures and extracts. While they share similarities in use-scenarios, their composition, availability, and legal status vary, making each uniquely suited for different purposes.
This comparison aims to highlight the distinct qualities of Culinary Solvent and Everclear, providing readers with the knowledge to choose the appropriate alcohol for their specific needs. Understanding these differences is crucial for both safety and achieving the desired outcome in their final project.
Understanding Everclear®
Everclear, produced by Luxco in the United States, is a potent ethanol choice available in 190 proof (95% ABV) and 151 proof (75.5% ABV). Known for its high alcohol content, Everclear is crafted from 100% corn and is sold in glass bottles ranging from 500ml to 1.75L at retail stores. Everclear cannot be purchased online or shipped directly to residential addresses. Everclear availability on local store shelves is limited and dependent on induvial state rules.
What is Culinary Solvent?
Culinary Solvent is a premium, undenatured, food-grade ethanol distilled from 100% corn. It stands out with its 190 proof (95% ABV) and 200 proof (100% ABV) offerings, including a USDA-certified organic non-GMO corn option. This product is distinguished by its availability solely through online orders direct from the distillery in Maine, ranging from small pints to large fifty-five-gallon drums. Designed for versatility in culinary uses, it's shipped in leak-proof HDPE plastic bottles or available for pickup at the distillery in Brewer, Maine, emphasizing its commitment to quality and safety in culinary applications.
Compare: Everclear vs. Culinary Solvent
| Everclear | Culinary Solvent | |
| Food grade (safe for skin and human consumption) | Yes | Yes |
| Non-denatured or denatured | Non-denatured (additive-free) | Non-denatured (additive-free) |
| Organic | No | Yes -- available as USDA certified organic |
| Beverage use or non-beverage use* | Beverage use | Non-beverage use |
| Distilled from | 100% corn | 100% corn |
| Distilling process | Industrial column still | Pot still |
| Available as below 190 proof (less than 95% ABV) | Yes -- available as 151 proof (75.5% ABV) | No -- Culinary Solvent is not sold at any proof less than 190; however, our 200 proof ethanol can be diluted to a variety of ABVs |
| Available as 190 proof (95% ABV) | Yes | Yes |
| Available as 200 proof (100% ABV) | No | Yes |
| Available in-store | Yes -- Everclear is available for purchase from brick-and-mortar retail locations in some states | No -- Culinary Solvent is only available for direct purchase from our online store, culinarysolvent.com; although we do not have a retail location, we do offer same-day pickup from our distillery in Brewer, Maine |
| Available online | No -- Everclear is not available for purchase online or to ship | Yes -- we ship; learn more about shipping to your location |
| Available sizes | 50 ml, 200 ml, 500 ml, 750 ml, 1 L, and 1.75 L |
Pints, quarts, single gallons, five-gallon jugs, and bulk |
*See below for more information on beverage vs. non-beverage use and how this impacts your ability to purchase and ship food grade ethanol.
Similarities: Culinary Solvent vs Everclear
Both Culinary Solvent and Everclear are...
- pure ethanol products,
- non-denatured (contain zero additives),
- safe for human consumption (food grade),
- available as 190 proof (95% ABV), and
- distilled in the United States from 100% corn.
Differences: Culinary Solvent vs Everclear
Distilling Process
Culinary Solvent: Pot Still
Pot stills utilize a fixed batch size, which results in higher quality production and end result. Here's how: a pot still allows for controlled operation during distilling. The distiller is able to isolate the "heads" and "tails" of the distillation run (the very first and very last batches, respectfully), saving only the purest "hearts" to be bottled up and sold. The heads and tails, while still ethanol and still safe for consumption, are not nearly as high in quality as the hearts, and using the heads and tails can result in mixed or poorer quality of each bottled product. By only bottling and using the hearts of a distillation run, the final product is supremely neutral in aroma and flavor profile.
Everclear: Industrial Scale Reflux Column Still
This type of still is incredibly cost-effective when producing massive amounts of ethanol. However, due to the large output these stills can produce, the end result is of lesser quality and can come in a mixed or weaker aroma and flavor profile.
While both a pot still and column still work for making ethanol, only small-scale pot stills with fixed batches are capable of refining the collected ethanol into a supremely neutral character profile. Culinary Solvent is the only food grade ethanol that is distilled using a pot still.
Proof Availability
Culinary Solvent: 190 proof (95% ABV), 200 proof (100% ABV)
Culinary Solvent is available for purchase in both 190 proof and 200 proof. 200 proof Culinary Solvent can be diluted down to a variety of ABVs, including 190 proof and 151 proof. The dilution process only involves adding specific measurements of water to 200 proof or 100% ethanol to achieve certain ratios of ethanol to water resulting in lower proof solutions of ethanol.
Everclear: 190 proof (95% ABV), 151 proof (75.5% ABV)
At the end of the distilling process of any ethanol, be it Culinary Solvent or Everclear, approximately 5% of water still remains in the ethanol, rendering it to be about 95% ABV. To achieve 200 proof (100% ABV, pure) ethanol, additional steps after distilling are required in order to dehydrate the remaining water. While adding water to ethanol to achieve lower ABVs is fairly easy (and can even be done from home), only distilleries with the right equipment can increase the ABV of their liquid without jeopardizing the food grade nature (purity) of the ethanol.
Quantity and Bulk Options
Culinary Solvent: Pints through Drums
Culinary Solvent is available in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bottles in pints, quarts, single gallons (sold as a four-pack of quart bottles), five-gallon jugs, and fifty-five-gallon drums. Bulk quantities are available in five-gallon jugs and fifty-five-gallon drums.
Everclear: 50 Milliliters through 1.75 Liters
Everclear is available in glass bottles in 50 ml, 200 ml, 500 ml, 750 ml, 1 L, and 1.75 L quantities. Everclear is not offered in sizes larger than 1.75 L nor in bulk volumes at this time.
USDA Certified Organic
Culinary Solvent: Available as Organic
Culinary Solvent, both 190 proof and 200 proof, is available as both regular and USDA certified organic. The organic solvent is distilled from certified organic corn.
Everclear: Not Available as Organic
Everclear, either 190 proof or 151 proof, is not certified organic at this time.
Where and How to Buy
Culinary Solvent: Online
Culinary Solvent is only available to order online. We do not have a retail location; however, we do allow same-day pickups from our distillery in Maine (where all our orders are fulfilled) for those who want to save on shipping. We are able to ship to most residential and business addresses in the lower 48 states, often without a permit. Most orders are fulfilled (packed up and leave the distillery) within one business day of purchase.
Everclear: In-Store
Everclear is currently only available for purchase in-person at brick-and-mortar retail locations. Everclear is not available for purchase online at the moment.
Beverage versus Non-Beverage Use
Culinary Solvent: Non-Beverage
Culinary Solvent is non-beverage non-denatured ethanol. While regulations, laws, and permit requirements vary by state, Culinary Solvent's non-beverage status make it much easier to buy and ship, often without a permit.
Everclear: Beverage
Everclear is a non-denatured ethanol approved and intended for beverage use. Because of its status as a "beverage," there are often increased restrictions on the purchase and importation of beverage-use ethanol. Therefore, not only is Everclear not able to be shipped, but it is also not available in all states -- even from a brick-and-mortar store.
