Originally Posted by
HillRider
Note to fietsbob: There is no "200 proof White Lightning". The most concentrated drinkable ethanol is 95% Ethanol or 190 proof which is the azeotrope. Getting to 200 proof (100% ethanol) requires a ternary distillation or chemical drying, both of which make the resulting alcohol unfit to drink even if diluted below a dangerous concentration. For that matter, 190 proof Ethanol cannot be drunk as is.
Yes. Unfortunately one of my first experiments with alcohol back in high school involved the 100% (absolute) variety before I learned that the drying process can leave trace amounts of benzene and other harmful compounds. None of us consumed enough to cause detectable harm but it wasn't the best substance to drink.