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MOST ALCOHOLIC DRINK

The strength of liquor is expressed by degrees proof in the US, Proof is double the actual percentage of alcohol (C2H5OH) by volume @60 degrees Farenheight in liquor. Pure or absolute alcohol is thus 200 degrees proof. A "hangover" is due to toxic congenerics such as amyl alcohol (C5H11OH).

During independence (1918-40) the Estonian Liquor Monopoly marketed a 196 proof potato alcohol. In 31 US states the American Distilling Company markets Everclear (190 proof or 95% alcohol). Co. "primarily as a base for homemade cordials"

STRONGEST AND WEAKEST BEER

The most alcoholic beer is Samichlaus Bier brewed by Braneral Hurlimann of Zurich, Switzerland. It is 13.70% alcohol by volume at 20 degrees Centigrade with an original gravity of 1117.8 degrees. The strongest beer as measured by original gravity is the German EKU Kulminatur Urtyphell 28 with 1131.7 degrees and 13.52% alcohol by volume at 20 degrees centigrade.

The weakest liquid ever marketed, as beer was a sweet ersatz beer, which was brewed (in Germany by Sunner, Colne-Kalk in 1918. It had an original gravity of 1000.96 degrees with less than 0.2% alcohol.

LIQUEUR'S

The most expensive liqueur in France is Eau de vie de Pele sold for 190 francs (#27.75) (1985) a bottle of 75 cl at Fauchan in Paris.

The most expensive bottle of spirits sold at auction was a magnum of Grande Armee Fine Champagne Cognac 1811 at Christies of London on November 13, 1978, for ^780 ($1,560). Cognac chaterau la Faut (1865) retails for 2800 Francs ($410) a bottle at Fauchon in Paris.

MOST EXPENSIVE WINE

Record prices paid for single bottles usually arise when two or more self-promoters are seeking publicity. They bear little relation to the market value.

The highest price paid for any bottle (meaning a container as opposed to a measure) of wine is $31,000 for a bottle of 1872 Chateau Lafite bought by John girsanti at the Heublein Auction in San Francisco on May 28, 1980, conducted by Michael Broadbent of Christies. The US record is $2,800 a bottle *$24,000 a case) of Napamedoc Cabernet, vintage 1979, by Robert Mondavi Winery on June 21, 1981.

OLDEST VINTAGE WINE

The oldest datable wine has been an amphora salvaged and drunk by Captain Jacques Cousteau from the wreck of a Greek Trader sunk in the Mediterranean c. 230 BC Wine jars recovered from the Pompeii eruption of 79 AD were found labeled VESUVINUM - the oldest known trademark. A bottle of 1748 Rudesheimer Rosewein was auctioned at Christies of London for 260 Pounds ($570) December 1979.

GREATEST WINE AUCTION AND TASTING

The largest single sale of wine was conducted at Christies of London July, 10-11, 1974 at Quaglino's Ballroom when 2,325 lots containing 432,000 bottles realized 926,190 (then $2,309,256).

The largest wine tasting ever reported was that staged by the wine tasting ever reported was that staged by the wine institute at St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, on July, 17, 1980 with 125 pourers, 90 openers and a consumption of 3,000 bottles.

THE LARGEST AND SMALLEST BOTTLES

The largest bottles normally used in the wine and spirit trade are the jeroboam (equal to 4 bottles of champagne or rarely, of brandy and from five to six and a half bottles of claret, depending on whether the bottle was blown or molded and the double magnum (equal since c. 1934 to 4 bottles of claret or more rarely, red burgundy) A complete set of champagne bottles would consist of the quarter bottle, half bottle, magnum, Jeroboam, Rehoboam, Methuselah, salmanazer, Balthazer and the Nebuchadnezer, which has a capacity of 6 litres (33.8 and is equivalent to 20 bottles.

In May, 1958 a five-foot tall sherry bottle with a capacity of twenty and a half-Imperial gallons (24.6 US gallons) was blown in Stoke in Trent, Staffordshire, England. This bottle with the capacity of 131 normal bottles was named an "Adelaide".

The smallest bottles of liquor now sold are White Horse bottles of Scotch Whisky containing 4/100ths of an ounce) for 50 cts per bottle in cases of 12.

LARGEST COLLECTIONS

The largest collection of unduplicated miniature bottles is one of 22,109 by April, 1984 by David L. Maund of Eastleigh, England.