OK, I am stumped re: proof change!

[dixiegurl]

I have blended several batches of sugar wash successfully and having been enjoying the results as vodka. I cut my spirits to be 40-50% abv for drinkability. I again did just that, but added some berries and sugar for some flavoring to one jar and then some peppermint to another, and let them set for about 3 weeks. I was about to sample it and decided to check my proof and each one was down to zero! It seems to smell and taste ok...what happened??? Are the readings off because of the ingredients? Please someone enlighten me if you can do so.

[Dnderhead]

""Are the readings off because of the ingredients?""

you got it, hydrometers (that we use) only good for alcohol and water, anything other will alter the readings.
go by percent when cutting. there are Dilution Calculators on "flavouring"

[Hawke]

Anything other than ethanol will skew the readings of a proof hydro. It only takes a small amount of unfermented sugars to skew the readings. (sugar adds both volume and density to a finished product)

[Hawke]

I used to drive long haul trucks, when hauling Orange soda or Mt. Dew, the sugar content cut the number of cases I could haul by about 20%, compared to Pepsi or Coke.

[dixiegurl]

Thank you all so much!
Just to check it, I sipped a bit last night and the potency was still there...

[LWTCS]

I sipped a bit last night

Sipped??Thats no fun.

[myerfire]

dixiegurl was probably trying to be "politically correct" by useing the term "sipped".
myerfire

[rad14701]

Some folks do actually sip... I've never perfected the knack... Drinking only part of a shot just doesn't feel normal... However, "sipped" sounds better than "knocked back a few belts, right out of the bottle"...

[LWTCS]

Yeah I sip too. Haha.

I was just being cavalier.