When we consider tincture making, in its early alchemical origins, with the advent of distillation, ethanol became a prevalent and powerful medium.  Many have a difficult time appreciating its abilities, so we wanted to shed some light on the essential process of saturation, or maceration.

The latin word "macere" means to soften, to steep, or make tender by soaking.  When we think of the traditional tincture, we often consider this method to be a primary stage of the process.  

Maceration is the gradual breakdown over time.  The consistent contact of the solvent with the materials (the ‘mark’ or ‘body’) over time soften its structure and make the compounds accessible over time.   Ethanol has a talent for penetrating cellular structures, disrupting cell membranes (such as lipid layers of fats) while deactivating proteins and enzymes present - one of the reasons this solvent is an excellent stabilizer for preservation.  Ethanol extracts, opens, stabilizes and preserves at the same time ~ Ethanol itself is a product of fermentation. 

Without getting overextended into the fungal world, its important to take a step back and appreciate that ethanol is a form of alcohol that happens as a byproduct of fermentation when yeasts, a form of unicellular fungi, breaks down sugar into ethanol and CO2.  This byproduct is responsible for the spirits we enjoy in spirits like beer, gin, tequila and the process itself is a vital step in the processing of food like sourdough bread, chocolate, tea and so many others. 

Through distillation, very high concentrations of ethanol can be achieved through separating that ethanol from other parts of the spirit. This high proof concentration is helpful for using a very pure form of ethanol.    Ethanol is very volatile, which means it evaporates at a relatively low temperature.  It should come at no surprise that those same volatiles found within plants bond nicely with ethanol.  The aromatic compounds like terpenes can be infused in an ethanol solution and confer the lighter expressions of plants.  It also means that it is temperamental, which means you want to make sure you’re working in sealed environments.  

Ethanol is very efficient at disrupting cell membranes, entering the cells, pulling compounds from materials.  Due to its chemistry, it is very antimicrobial, which means it naturally preserves and stabilizes solvent mixtures.  Finally, it works in great synergy with water, helping stabilize the solvent while pairing with another solvent that elicits elements different than the ethanol.

As you will see as you move forward in your extraction artistry, ethanol presents a seemingly elegant and beautiful expression, oftentimes more clear and refined than water - although water can pull powerful elements as well.