The Strongest Liquor In The World Is More Potent Than Everclear

A stiff drink is one thing, but some spirits are at a whole different level of potency. You can find ultra-strong liquors in glass bottles with elegant labels, which, if you don't read closely, will have you thinking that the bottle contains regular vodka or gin. Don't be fooled! These spirits are strong enough to pose a fire hazard or even be used as a disinfectant (Everclear sales went through the roof during the COVID-19 pandemic).

While Everclear has long been the poster child of the strongest liquor one can buy, there is another that is even stronger. In the competition for the highest ABV (alcohol by volume) percentage, Spirytus Rektyfikowany from Poland nudges ahead with its eye-watering 96% ABV (192 proof) label. In comparison, the most potent version of Everclear is 95% ABV (190 proof). While online prices may vary, you can generally find a fifth of either for under $20. However, it's best to check your local laws since the sale of high-ABV spirits is banned in some states. 

While trying to spell it can feel like you've downed one too many, Spirytus Rektyfikowany basically translates to "rectified spirit" in Polish. Bottles of Spirytus Rektyfikowany are sometimes labeled "Imported Polish Vodka" (since several vodkas use grain alcohol as a base). However, this is not where you should start if you're looking to sample Polish vodka; brands like Wyborowa and Zubrowka are better booze ambassadors of the country.

As a 96% ABV rectified spirit, Spirytus Rektyfikowany is almost two-and-a-half times more potent than mainstream iterations of liquors like gin, whiskey, and rum, which hover around 40% ABV, give or take. In addition to grains generally used in making rectified spirits, the most potent version of Spirytus Rektyfikowany also uses potatoes. A distilling process called hydro-selection filters out impurities and aromatic elements, leaving behind a neutral yet potent liquid that must be heavily diluted before consumption. The Polish company that manufactures it — Polmos Warszawa — recommends infusing their product with fruits and herbs and using it to make liqueurs.

Polish liqueurs, called nalewka (plural nalewki), employ seasonal ingredients, spices, and rectified spirits or vodka. Apart from the long infusion period that can last a few months, they are simple enough to make and some of the most popular ones include Wiśniówka, made from sour cherries, and Cytrynowa, which uses fresh lemons and is similar to the Italian limoncello. Nalewki are also said to have medicinal properties, similar to Italian bitters like amaro.

High-proof or overproof liquors seem to be gaining popularity, and it's not just because of college students looking for maximum buzz per dollar. Sure, there are boozy college staples like Mad Dog 20/20 which provide everything you need for a good time on the cheap. Sometimes, boosting alcohol content is taken as a challenge and rewards the winner with boasting rights, like the race to make the world's strongest beer, which has an ABV higher than most liquors. However, when it comes to rectified spirits like Everclear and Spirytus Rektyfikowany, the objective is to offer a versatile alcohol base.

While you should never drink them neat, ultra-strong liquors do have certain appealing properties. The more potent the alcohol base, the more ways it can be used while still retaining its potency, particularly given the neutral smell and flavor profiles. They can add that "kick" of alcohol without bringing in additional tasting notes (unlike adding more of a 40% ABV vodka or gin to a mixed drink) and are sometimes referred to as an "unfinished ingredient" to emphasize how they are meant to be used. The Everclear label offers succinct instructions for the best ways to use rectified alcohol — "Extract. Infuse. Fortify." These unfinished ingredients need to be flavored and diluted (heavily!) before consumption. The good news is they open up a world of flavor experiments without worrying about losing alcohol potency.