EasyDens and SmartRef with the Proof Meister app are used to determine the alcohol content in spirits. You can measure both spirits with added sugar such as liqueurs and spirits without added sugar such as whiskey. However, these measurements require different measurement methods.
Measure the alcohol content of spirits without sugar
General measuring principle
All you need to measure the alcohol content of spirits without sugar is the EasyDens Digital Density Meter. Using the well-known oscillating U-tube principle, EasyDens measures the density of the solution. Since spirits without sugar are binary solutions of just alcohol and water, EasyDens can effectively measure the alcohol content. Since the density of water is known, the device can determine the alcohol concentration based on the measured difference in density.
Carrying out the measurement step by step:
- Switch on EasyDens.
- Fill your EasyDens with your sample without any air bubbles.
TIP: Make sure that the sample temperature does not differ too much from the ambient temperature. Avoid measuring samples directly from the refrigerator. - Connect your EasyDens to the Proof Meister app.
- Navigate to the Settings to select your preferred measurement unit. The app offers different alcohol units:
- Alcohol by volume (compensation to 15 °C and 20 °C)
- Alcohol by volume (at actual temperature)
- Alcohol by weight (compensation to 20 °C)
- Proof UK (compensation to 20 °C)
- Proof US (compensation to 60 °F)
- Create an EasyDens batch to store your measurement data.
- To start the measurement, tap the prominent ’START Measurement‘ button.
- The alcohol value is displayed within a few seconds with an accuracy of ± 0.5 %v/v.
- Save your measurement in your batch.
Measure the alcohol content of spirits with sugar
General measuring principle
This measurement cannot be carried out with density measurement itself. The density value is influenced not only by the alcohol present, but also by the sugar. In order to determine the alcohol content of samples containing alcohol, sugar, and water other measurement parameters are necessary in addition to density. If you combine the density measurement with the refractive index measurement, it is possible to determine the alcohol content of sugar-containing spirits like liqueurs.
Carrying out the measurement step by step:
- Ensure that your liqueur is a homogeneous solution and free of particles. If necessary stir your sample and filter it before usage.
- Fill a syringe with your liqueur sample without any air bubbles.
- First fill the sample into the sample well of the SmartRef up to the rim.
- Then fill the residual sample in the glass tube of EasyDens.
TIP: Make sure that the sample temperature does not differ too much from the ambient temperature. Avoid measuring samples directly from the refrigerator. - Create a batch to store your measurement data.
- To start the measurement, tap ’Measure ABV’.
- Switch on EasyDens and SmartRef.
- A new screen opens. Connect the EasyDens and SmartRef to the Proof Meister app by tapping on the highlighted ‘Tap to connect’ button.
- Once both devices are successfully connected, tap on ’ABV Measurement‘ to start your measurement.
TIP: Since liqueurs are high in alcohol and sugar, measure your sample within max. one minute after filling. Otherwise, sugar can settle down and alcohol might evaporate which will falsify your results.
- The alcohol by volume value is displayed within a few seconds with an accuracy of ± 0.6 %v/v. This value is temperature compensated to 20°C.
- Save your measurement in your batch.