Forum: beer.stackexchange.com
Tags: <alcohol-level><spirits>
Title: What is the strongest drink in the world?
Question: Assuming that it is available through 'normal' outlets - shops, supermarkets, off licenses etc... (in other words legal)  What (per unit) is the strongest alcoholic drink in the world?  Beers, wines and spirits included.

Answers:
sents: text: At the time of writing this the strongest beer in circulation is a scottish made larger/pilsner Snake Venom By Brewmeister , this beer is 67.5% ABV.
text: and is strongly recommended that you only drink small amounts in a sitting, buying a bottle(275ml) of this would set you back a £54.99 Other than this beer there was Koelschip Mistery Of Beer - Brouwerij het Koelschip that was 70% ABV
text: but as I'm aware is no longer in circulation and has had production stopped as the brewery shut down As far as
text: all alcohol goes the strongest spirit is spirytus rektyfikowany which is a 96% Vodka.
text: The cheapest you will find this is a small bottle(10cl) and this will cost £7.95
text: It is is strongly recommended to not drink this neat as it would be damaging
answer_details: author: beer.stackexchange.com/users/5078/Jamie Eltringham
score: 17
sents: text: Indirect answer 95% or 190 proof is an upper end for distilled alcohol Water and ethanol form an azeotrop at that mixture so you can not get more than 95% ethanol with fractional distillation.
answer_details: author: beer.stackexchange.com/users/4903/paparazzo
score: 12
sents: text: Spirytus Rektyfikowany
text: The purity of rectified spirit has a practical limit of 95.6% ABV; this hard to pronounce Polish Vodka is a murderous 96% ABV.
text: Here are the details on the bottle: A 10cl bottle of rectified spirit from Poland bottled at the extreme ABV of 96%.
text: This is often used as a base for liqueurs and other infusions, and we highly recommend that it is never drunk neat.
text: From Australia's "Courier Mail" : National Alliance for Action on Alcohol co-chairman Professor Mike Daube
text: said it was "amazingly irresponsible'' for stores to sell the liquor, which had the potential to cause serious damage to drinkers or even kill them.
text: Prof Daube said the extreme nature of the product could appeal to young binge > drinkers, and putting the product next to normal spirits could endanger people who did not read the label properly.
answer_details: author: beer.stackexchange.com/users/6417/Kaka Singh
score: 8
sents: text: For those who wish to drink something from Bolivia, there is Cocoroco which is an alcoholic beverage notable for its extremely high alcohol content by volume, 96%.
text: (ABV).
text: Cocoroco is sold as "potable alcohol", most often in tin cans.
text: Like rum, cocoroco is made from sugar cane.
text: -
text: Cocoroco (Wikipedia) Cocoroco can
text: The following article may be of some all around interest: Top 10 Strongest Alcoholic Drinks in the World.
answer_details: author: beer.stackexchange.com/users/5064/Ken Graham
score: 8
sents: text: For myself, I have found that Everclear is the strongest spirits I have ever bought at 190 proof.
text: Although it is too strong for myself to drink by itself, it makes excellent mixes.
text: Some people have use it to extract the medicinal properties out of plants because of its' strength.
text: It also comes in 150(1) proof bottles too.
text: A bottle of 190-proof Everclear
text: The lower proof Everclear is much easier to find and is quite common in the USA.
text: The 190 proof (95% ABV) is sold at Bevmo , depending on your state.
text: For more information see the Liquor Barn .
answer_details: author: beer.stackexchange.com/users/5064/Ken Graham
score: 7
sents: text: You can buy scientific grade Ethanol, usually at a science supply shop.
text: Many of them only sell it in person.
text: It is usually 99.5% or 199 proof! .
text: For that extra kick if Everclear isn't strong enough for you!
text: Ethanol at Fisher Scientific
answer_details: author: beer.stackexchange.com/users/6111/farmersteve
score: 5
sents: text: Try "Kehlenschneider".
text: It's a Chili liquor with 80% alc and 400,000 to 800,000 scoville.
text: Remember, tabasco has only 3,000 scoville.
text: Kehlenschneider Chillischnaps
answer_details: author: beer.stackexchange.com/users/6445/SaschaHa
score: 5
sents: text: I know you are looking for "normal outlets", but for those who are interested, the world record holder for a while was Estonian Spirit aka Eesti Piiritus at 96.6%.
text: You can still find some for sale at auctions.
text: I brought a few bottles back when you could still buy it and foolishly did a shot of it.
text: Never trying that again!
answer_details: author: beer.stackexchange.com/users/6488/Randar Puust
score: 2
sents: text: Hapsburg Premium Reserve
text: Absinthe has 89.9% ABV
text: The strongest absinthe on the UK market.
text: Serve well diluted for your own safety and keep well away from naked flames.
text: The term premium reserve refers to the high strength, with original being the 'weakest' (though still 72.5%) and super deluxe being in the middle.
text: Please note this is a high-strength product and we recommend not drinking neat
text: – please enjoy diluted or with a mixer of your choice.
answer_details: author: beer.stackexchange.com/users/374/woliveirajr
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
The strongest spirit available in outlets is spirytus rektyfikowany  which is a 96% Vodka. Without the limitation of "normal outlets", the world record holder for a while was Estonian Spirit aka Eesti Piiritus at 96.6%.
95% or 190 proof is around the limit for fractional distillation, but several brands such as Spirytus Rektyfikowany, Cocoroco, Eesti Piiritus or Everclear are 95, 96 or higher. The strongest beer in circulation is the lager/pilsner Snake Venom, which is 67.5% ABV.