What intensity would you expect in a spirit taken off the still at 96%?

When a spirit is taken off the still at a high distillation strength of 96%, the resulting liquid has a very high alcohol concentration. At this level, the spirit is mostly comprised of ethanol and has undergone a relatively clean distillation process, which strips away many of the aromatic compounds and flavoring elements that contribute to the overall intensity of the spirit.

As a result, the absence of these additional flavors leads to a neutral character in the spirit. This neutrality is especially characteristic of spirits intended to be used as a base for cocktails or other beverages, where the pure alcohol allows other flavors to shine without being overshadowed. Thus, a spirit taken off the still at such a high alcohol volume would primarily exhibit its alcoholic backbone rather than distinct flavors or aromas.

Other options such as strong, faint, or complex do not reflect the nature of a high-proof spirit taken off the still. A strong spirit may suggest more pronounced flavors and aromas, while faint implies a lack of presence, and complex indicates a variety of diverse characteristics, none of which are typical for a spirit at this high of a proof level.