Last week there was a posting that described how purchasers of whiskey could determine whether it contained high or low alcohol content by giving it a hard, or “fair shake.” Higher alcohol content caused the froth or ‘head’ to disappear quickly. A test used to determine the “proof” of alcoholic beverages, a term that remains in use today, originated in the early 1700s. The beverage was “proved” by pouring some on gunpowder and lighting it. It was considered 100 proof or 57.15% alcohol by volume if it burned steadily with a blue flame. It was considered ‘under proof” if it failed to burn and ‘over proof’ if it burned too quickly.