faints
Definition
Noun (plural only):
Faints refers to the impure alcohol obtained at the beginning and end of the distillation process in the production of spirits, such as whiskey or brandy. These fractions are typically discarded or redistilled because they contain undesirable compounds (e.g., methanol in the "heads" and fusel oils in the "tails").
Usage Examples
- (The impure alcohol from the start and end of distillation was removed.)
- (The low-quality alcohol fractions are handled apart from the high-quality spirit.)
Advanced Usage
- "to run the faints": a technical phrase used in distilling to describe the process of collecting and possibly redistilling the impure alcohol fractions.
- The master distiller decided to run the faints again to salvage any usable alcohol. (He processed the low-grade distillate anew.)
- "faints and feints": an alternative spelling or variant, often used interchangeably in historical distilling texts.
- The old recipe warned against using the faints and feints in the final blend. (The impure fractions were to be avoided.)
Variants and Related Words
- Feints (n, plural): an alternative spelling of "faints," meaning the same thing in distilling.
- The feints were collected in a separate vessel for redistribution. (The impure alcohol fractions were gathered.)
- Heads (n, plural): the first fraction of distillate, containing volatile compounds like methanol.
- The heads are similar to faints but refer specifically to the initial run. (The first part of the distillate.)
- Tails (n, plural): the final fraction of distillate, containing heavier oils.
- The tails, like the heads, are part of the faints. (The last part of the distillate.)
Synonyms
- Low wines: a less common term for the impure distillate collected before the final spirit run.
- The low wines were redistilled to produce a cleaner alcohol. (The impure liquid was processed again.)
Related Idioms