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BarkBeetleJuice t1_j6c8gb1 wrote

Reply to comment by grat_is_not_nice in eli5: Why does cheap alcohol taste worse than nicer alcohol? by Chase_The_Dream

>First, pure alcohol (ethanol) is tasteless.

That's not really true, it burns like a motherfucker.

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FreeJazzForUkraine t1_j6d5l0m wrote

The burn is your cells undergoing osmosis. Its not a true taste.

Alcohol does have a distinct aroma, but not taste.

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TheMace808 t1_j6e131h wrote

Idk about osmosis, but dying perhaps?

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FreeJazzForUkraine t1_j6eje98 wrote

It's osmosis. The alcohol is absorbed into your cells via a concentration gradient and dries them out.

Another part if the burn is that alcohol activates heat receptors that usually only activate above 107°(VR1). But as for the pain if you leave a drop of high proof alcohol under your tongue- thats a result of osmosis.

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