Don't think it's the same Snadge.
What they have in France is a grain alcohol which has no flavour.
The stuff I bought in France is called 'Alcool special pour Fruits Spiritueux'
It is 40% proof and comes in 1 litre bottles, costing E10 a litre.
I have one bottle which was given me from a different source and it is 38% proof and lists its contents as Eau ( water) and Alcool Ethylique ( if that means anything to you chemists out there?????)
What is the stuff you can buy at chemists then???? Is this the same thing????