or craft distillers, the quality of your base spirit sets the foundation for everything that follows. Whether you’re producing gin, botanical infusions, liqueurs or other spirits, starting with a clean, consistent, undenatured ethanol allows your flavours to shine without unwanted interference. At Labtech we supply two carefully produced undenatured 96% ethanol grades specifically suited to craft production: a Neutral Grade and a Beverage Grade . Both are high-strength (96% ABV) and undenatured, meaning they contain no denaturants and are suitable for beverage applications under the appropriate licensing and regulatory requirements. Neutral Grade vs Beverage Grade Neutral Grade is highly refined to deliver an exceptionally clean, low-odour profile. It provides a blank canvas that lets botanicals, spices and other flavourings express themselves fully without competing notes from the base spirit. Beverage Grade is distilled from sugarcane and retains a subtle, pleasant molasses character. This gentle sweetness and light molasses note can add depth and roundness to certain styles — particularly rums, some gins, and infused spirits — while still remaining clean enough for most craft applications. Both grades are produced to consistent specifications and are available in practical pack sizes for distilleries of different scales. The Importance of Very Low Methanol Levels One of the most critical quality markers in a base spirit for beverage use is methanol content. Methanol is a naturally occurring by-product of fermentation, but elevated levels can create both quality and compliance issues. Using a base ethanol with very low methanol offers several practical advantages: Cleaner flavour profile — Lower methanol reduces the risk of off-notes that can interfere with delicate botanicals or subtle infusions. Greater flexibility in production — Distillers have more headroom when blending, diluting or further processing, knowing the starting methanol is already tightly controlled. Regulatory confidence — Australian and international spirits standards place strict limits on methanol. Starting with a low-methanol base helps producers stay comfortably within those limits as they develop recipes. Consistency batch to batch — Reliable low methanol levels make it easier to maintain a consistent product over time, which is especially valuable when scaling production or maintaining brand standards. For gin producers in particular, a low-methanol neutral base is highly desirable. It allows the juniper, citrus peel, coriander and other botanicals to come through cleanly without the spirit itself contributing unwanted character. Common Applications for Craft Distillers Many Australian craft producers use high-strength undenatured ethanol as a starting point for: Gin — Macerating or vapour-infusing botanicals into a clean base, then diluting to bottling strength. Both the Neutral and Beverage grades work well; the Neutral is the most common choice for classic London D…