Grappa Grappa Grappa is an alcoholic beverage, a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Italian origin that contains 35 to 60 percent alcohol by volume (70 to 120 US proof). The flavor of grappa, like that of wine, depends on the type and quality of the grapes used, as well as the specifics of the distillation process. Grappa is made by distilling the skins, pulp, seeds, and stems (i.e., the pomace) left over from winemaking after pressing the grapes. It was originally made to prevent waste by using these leftovers. A similar drink, known as "acquavite d'uva", is made by distilling whole
Sawdust brandy Sawdust brandy Sawdust brandy (from the German "Holzbranntwein") is a neutral spirit produced through the distillation of wood products. To produce sawdust brandy, the wood is cooked with a diluted sulfuric acid, which causes the cellulose to be broken down via acid hydrolysis into dextrose and other simple sugars, while the lignin remains. The acidic, sugar-containing liquid is neutralised and allowed to ferment, producing the ethanol that will later be purified through distillation. In the German Democratic Republic, the lye produced from the wood pulp was employed in the production of the "Holzschnaps" ("wood schnapps"). Brandy for human consumption (spirits