alcohol

1) The active ingredient in alcohol is ethyl alcohol, which is produced by yeast. Working much like ether, alcohol puts the brain to sleep. Alcohol functions as a depressant to the central nervous system and slows down body functions. In large amounts, alcohol causes sedation, intoxication, unconsciousness, and possible death. Aside from significant negative physical consequences, chronic use of alcohol can lead to physical and psychological addiction. 2) Colorless, volatile liquid obtained by distillation and fermentation of carbohydrates (grain, molasses, potatoes irish). Alcohol is antiseptic and cooling but is also very drying to the hair and skin; care should thus be taken not to use too much. 3) This constituent of wine is a natural by-product of fermentation. It is one of the main pillars of perceived flavor, the others being "Acid", "residual Sugar" (and/or "Glycerin") and "Tannin". The presence of these components define a wine that has "good balance". For tablewines the wine label must, by law, state the alcohol content of the wine within the bottle, usually expressed as a percentage of the volume. Table wines do not usually exceed 14% alcohol content - (11% to 12.5% is generally considered the optimum amount) - although a few, such as Zinfandel, can go up to a 17% level. Sweet dessert wines fall in the same range. Fortified wines - (eg: Sherry, Port etc) - range from 17% to 21% alcohol content. 4) Ethanol or ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH), the liquid produced from sugar by fermentation that can make you drunk 5) A chemical compound formed by the action of yeast on the sugar content of grapes during fermentation. Most wines have between 7 and 25 percent alcohol, which gives wine is vinosity. If wine has too much alcohol for its body weight, it is unbalanced, and will taste uncharacteristically heavy or hot. The quality will be noticeable in aroma and aftertaste. 6) A general class of hydrocarbons that contain a hydroxyl group (OH). The term "alcohol" is often used interchangeably with the term "ethanol," even though there are many types of alcohol. (See Butanol, Ethanol, Methanol.)