Changing Proof Formula

[goodyrb]

Several years ago some one posted a formula where you can input ounces of whiskey and its proof and then add ounces of water and come up with a final strength. Can't find it and am asking if anyone has the formula?

Thanks.

Found it when I posted.

Edited July 30, 2014 by goodyrb

[dcbt]

You know this is very simple math, right? I'm not trying to be a prick, but give a man a fish blah blah.

If you have 3oz of a 120 proof liquor and 1oz of water, then your ending proof is (120*(3/4)) + (0*(1/4))=90 proof.

[AnotherCigarGuy]

Link provided here:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?6235-The-SB-Whiskey-Dilution-Calculator

[gooneygoogoo]

Also, if you happen to find yourself wanting to reduce to a certain proof and are not near a computer, I have a simple formula that works. uncut proof divided by desired proof minus 1 = the number of ounces of water to add per ounce of bourbon. Example: 126 proof bourbon that you want to cut to 94 proof: 126 divided by 94 = 1.34. Subtract 1 and you add .34 ounces of water for each ounce of bourbon in you glass. A conversion app on your phone can change that to milliliters and a children's medicine syringe can help with precision. I know that is getting really involved and I don't really ever do it but just in case you wanted an easy way to figure...

[jmj_203]

Also, if you happen to find yourself wanting to reduce to a certain proof and are not near a computer, I have a simple formula that works. uncut proof divided by desired proof minus 1 = the number of ounces of water to add per ounce of bourbon. Example: 126 proof bourbon that you want to cut to 94 proof: 126 divided by 94 = 1.34. Subtract 1 and you add .34 ounces of water for each ounce of bourbon in you glass. A conversion app on your phone can change that to milliliters and a children's medicine syringe can help with precision. I know that is getting really involved and I don't really ever do it but just in case you wanted an easy way to figure...

I like that you figured a method that works for you. I just use the cross multiplication from above, entered into an Excel spreadsheet if I want to get exact. USually I just add 1.5-1.8ml of water to a standard shot glass size pour. Nothing is overdoing it to me. I get really involved when it comes to bourbon so don't let anyone tell you to not take things seriously. And I do have a childs medicine syringe, 4 in fact - 2 in my bar area and 2 in my kitchen. I've recently seen the "don't get too serious its just bourbon" comment several times, but I like to get to the proof I want exactly. Otherwise how will I zero in on what water ratio I prefer with each different bottle? Be as hardcare as you want with how you drink (just don't drink pink cocktails...)

Edited July 30, 2014 by jmj_203

[AEM]

Shooey, I get really involved when it comes to bourbon.

I have a very simple formula. If I want to reduce the proof a little I add one ice cube. If I want to reduce the proof a lot I add two ice cubes. Works every time.

Some things in life I'm willing to work at getting 4 significant digits of accuracy. This isn't one of them!

[gooneygoogoo]

I like that you figured a method that works for you. I just use the cross multiplication from above, entered into an Excel spreadsheet if I want to get exact. USually I just add 1.5-1.8ml of water to a standard shot glass size pour. Nothing is overdoing it to me. I get really involved when it comes to bourbon so don't let anyone tell you to not take things seriously. And I do have a childs medicine syringe, 4 in fact - 2 in my bar area and 2 in my kitchen. I've recently seen the "don't get too serious its just bourbon" comment several times, but I like to get to the proof I want exactly. Otherwise how will I zero in on what water ratio I prefer with each different bottle? Be as hardcare as you want with how you drink (just don't drink pink cocktails...)

Haha.....yeah I hear you. No pink drinks for me. My view is do whatever it is that makes you happy. If you like to get really involved, great...if you don't that's fine too. Personally I like that it's really easy to just open a bottle and pour it into a glass and that's what I do 99.9% of the time. I think especially when trying to introduce someone new to bourbon it's important to let them figure out how they like to drink it. I have offered friends a pour and asked them if they want ice or want it neat. I've had them ask me if it's ok to drink it on ice or if that is "frowned upon". I never use ice but I always say they should do whatever they want...except dump a bunch of Coke in it! There are rare occasions when I want to experiment and do a side by side with Stagg Sr and Stagg Jr at the same proof or something like that so I figured my formula out a while back.

[sutton]

I have a very simple formula. If I want to reduce the proof a little I add one ice cube. If I want to reduce the proof a lot I add two ice cubes. Works every time.

Some things in life I'm willing to work at getting 4 significant digits of accuracy. This isn't one of them!

I do something similar - awhile ago I measured the amount of filtered water that comes out of my refrigerator's water dispenser when I just flick the actuator with my finger (quickly goes on and off).

Exactly 5ml - so for a 1.5oz to 2.0oz pour this is roughly a 9%-12% drop per flick of the finger. 101pf + 1 flick = 90pf, +2 flicks = 80 pf - give or take a few proof points here or there.

Close enough for jazz ...

[jwilson82]

Warning: Math

PI = Initial proof (in the bottle)

PF = Final proof (in your glass)

B = how much bourbon

W = how much water

B and W must be the same units (ml, shots, gallons)

If you have 3oz of a 120 proof liquor and 1oz of water, then your ending proof is (120*(3/4)) + (0*(1/4))=90 proof.

So in this case:

PI = 120

PF = 90

B = 3

W = 1

and what we really have (since the 0*(1/4) goes away) is

PI * (B / (B + W)) = PF

go algebra!

B / (B + W) = PF / PI

(B + W) / B = PI / PF

B + W = PI * B / PF

W = (PI * B / PF) - B

W = B * ((PI / PF) - 1)

to double check...

1 = 3 * ((120 / 90) - 1)

Thanks for hanging in there. Go get yourself a nice pour - and forget the water ;-)

Edited July 31, 2014 by jwilson82

[Josh]

Nothing that has that many parentheses is simple math.

[smokinjoe]

Knock it off Wilson. You put any more crap like that on this site and I'm going to use my only "Boot Card" to have yer fanny kicked off SB quicker than you can say Elbert Eyenstine...I got a damn headache, now...

[jwilson82]

Knock it off Wilson

KCSB and a Computer Science degree are a dangerous combination

[fishnbowljoe]

Add all contents, and round to the nearest whole number. Take away one for an odd number. Add one for an even number. Multiply by three. Divide by five. Then all you do is…….. aww crap. :smiley_acbt: Never mind. :coffeedrinker:

[smokinjoe]

KCSB and a Computer Science degree are a dangerous combination

Oh now you dunnit!!! Science too?!?!

[callmeox]

You lost me on the second set of gazintas.

[Josh]

I love a nice set of gazintas myself.

[kcgumbohead]

I just use the proof calculator on the FAQ tab of the SB homepage, works great for me.

[ModernThirst]

What's the formula for ADDING alcohol content to a lower proof bourbon?

that's the math I want to figure out.:grin:

[OscarV]

I just use the proof calculator on the FAQ tab of the SB homepage, works great for me.

Yes it does work well.

Here's another one.

http://homedistiller.org/distill/dilute/calc

[dcbt]

What's the formula for ADDING alcohol content to a lower proof bourbon?

that's the math I want to figure out.:grin:

i

I know you're being jokey but I do that with jim beam black, adding knob creek to it. Same math applies, just sub the proofs and proportions.

[Flyfish]

i

I know you're being jokey but I do that with jim beam black, adding knob creek to it. Same math applies, just sub the proofs and proportions.

Never mind the math and the proof. Please explain the point of mingling JBB and KC.

[dcbt]

Never mind the math and the proof. Please explain the point of mingling JBB and KC.

Decanter experimentation; trying to create 90s proof-sub $20-min 8 year vat; trying to get rid of JBB. All done now, though, and won't be repeating.

[fishnbowljoe]

FWIW, I still have some scribbled notes from when I did my Weller vatting(s) a while back. When, or better yet if I can decipher them, I'll post the formula.

Cheers! Joe