Alcohol Content in Lemon Extract

[Shel_B]

Maybe this applies to other flavor extracts as well: While looking for some lemon extract today, I came across something I never noticed before. The alcohol content was different for each of the three extracts I checked. Nielsen Massey claimed 90% alcohol, McCormick had 83% alcohol, and Penzeys had 61% alcohol. So, assuming all else being equal, is less or more alcohol the way to go? My guess would be that less alcohol provides more flavor for the same measured amount.

[Lisa Shock]

Alcohol is a solvent, and it is used in extracting essential flavor oils from their original source -in this case, lemon peels. The higher the concentration of alcohol, and therefore lower the amount of water, the better the extract. You can't really buy 100% pure alcohol. That said, the balance of the % of ingredients on your label will me mostly water. The flavor components are relatively tiny, even in the best extracts.

I make all sorts of extracts at home and know for a fact that Everclear outperforms vodka in both speed and efficiency.

[Shel_B]

Thanks so much for your helpful response ... I'm often learning something on this board.