All about Spirits
A Quick Introduction to Spirits:
An alcoholic beverage produced by distilling fermented ingredients (such as grain, fruit, or herbs) to create a high-ABV liquor. Often called "spirits" or "liquor," with alcohol by volume (ABV) ranging from 15% to 95% or an average of 35 to 45%, as seen in today's spirits, they are used in cocktails, cooking, or consumed neat. Common examples include vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, brandy, and cognac.
Composition of Spirits:
Spirits can be made of virtually anything that has starch or sugar. Most commonly, spirits are made of grains, fruits, sugar, or starchy plants. Those starchy or sugary foods are fermented, and the resulting liquid is distilled into a spirit with a higher alcohol content. For instance, Tuzemak is a little-known spirit from Czechoslovakia made from sugary beets.
The 7 categories of Spirits:
While this list is subject to debate, there are seven broad categories of spirits or types of liquor made today. The list of seven spirits of alcohol is:
- Whiskey: distilled from fermented grains like barley, corn, rye, or wheat.
- Vodka: usually from grains or potatoes (can also be corn or even grapes).
- Gin: neutral spirit (grain-based) flavored with juniper berries and botanicals.
- Rum: made from sugarcane byproducts like molasses or sugarcane juice.
- Tequila: made from the blue agave plant (mainly in Mexico).
- Brandy & Cognac: distilled from wine (grapes or other fruits).
- Liqueur: a base spirit (any of the above) mixed with sugar, fruits, herbs, or flavors.
- Ready to Drink (RTD): A pre-mixed cocktail using spirits + mixers.
- Non-alcoholic spirits: Alcohol-free versions made from botanicals and flavor extracts.
- Mixed Spirits: A type of variety pack in which multiple different types of spirits are sold together, like a gift pack or tasting pack.
FAQs
What are examples of liquor?
Liquor is any drink that's made by fermenting grain, fruit, vegetables, or other plants and distilling them into alcohol. They range from clear spirits like Vodka,
Soju, and Gin to brown spirits such as
Bourbon and
Scotch Whiskey to sweet liqueurs like
Schnapps and
Kahlua.
These spirit families are grouped according to the raw plant materials used to make them. Some people might argue that there are only six spirits, because Tequila is a particular type of Mezcal; the spirit's full original name is
Mezcal de Tequila.
What's the proper way to serve spirits?
Spirits are a very versatile type of alcoholic drink, so the proper way to serve them is really up to you. They can be served neat (straight up), on the rocks (over ice), or in a cocktail.
Spirit glassware can be important, as some people prefer spirits straight in a rocks glass or an old-fashioned glass.
What are the 10 most popular mixed drinks?
When it comes to the most popular mixed drinks in the world, the M's have it. Five of the most popular drinks ordered in bars start with the letter M, starting with the eternally beloved Margarita. The nice thing about these 10 classic drinks is that once you learn them, you can make them with different types of spirits to broaden your entertaining repertoire.
Here are the 10 most popular mixed cocktails with links to the recipes:
Why are cocktails called cocktails?
The history behind the name "cocktail" is pretty murky, since the people making the first ones were drinking and didn't bother to write down their thought process. But cocktail historians say the first reference to a cocktail dates to 1806, describing a mix of strong spirits, water, sugar, and
bitters.
In colonial times, shopkeepers kept different spirits in wooden casks. When the casks were almost empty, they would pour them all into one cask and serve them through a tap called a "cock." People who wanted to drink cheaply would ask for these mixed dregs, which came to be called the "cock tailings."
Another story from New Orleans says that the Peychaud pharmacy, famous for its bitters, would serve medicinal alcoholic drinks in a French egg cup. This cup was called a coquetier in French; over time, the name was Americanized to "cocktail".
What liquor is white?
The list of white or clear spirits is headlined by Vodka, Gin,
Grappa, Brandy, and Schnapps, with Mezcal rounding out the list. But any liquor can be made clear, as long as it's not aged in wood to give it color. So you can find
White Rum,
Silver Tequila, and even
White Unaged Moonshine Whiskey, which is called white dog. So the list of white spirits is pretty extensive.
What is the difference between liquor and spirits?
There's no difference between liquor and spirits. Both words refer to distilled alcoholic beverages. Even though they mean the same thing, you'll hear the more popular version used in typical conversation and at bars or distilleries, depending on which part of the country you are in.
What is the difference between liquor and Liqueur?
Liquor (often called spirits) is a distilled alcoholic drink made from fermented ingredients like grains, fruits, or sugarcane. It is typically strong and not sweet. Drinks like whiskey, vodka, rum, gin, and tequila all fall into this category. These are usually the base alcohol in cocktails or consumed neat, and they have a higher alcohol content, often around 35% to 50% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Liqueur, on the other hand, starts with liquor but is then sweetened and flavored. Sugar is added along with ingredients like fruits, herbs, spices, coffee, or cream, which give it a smoother, often dessert-like taste. Because of this, liqueurs are usually lower in alcohol, often between 15% to 30% alcohol by volume ABV, and are commonly used to enhance cocktails or enjoyed on their own after a meal.
What is the difference between Brandy and Cognac?
Brandy and Cognac are closely related, but not the same. Brandy is a broad category of distilled spirits made from fermented fruit juice (usually grapes), and it can be produced anywhere in the world. Cognac is a specific type of brandy made only in the Cognac region of France, following strict rules on grapes, distillation, and aging. In short: All Cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is Cognac.
Why are spirits called spirits?
No one really knows exactly why spirits are called spirits, but historians like to speculate. What's bottled is the evaporated essence or spirit from the distillation of alcohol. Like a ghost, it disappears into thin air, then reappears in liquid form in a still. Early observers of this process may have thought there was an invisible spirit controlling it, hence the name.
What spirits brands do we carry?
Where can you buy spirits?
You can buy spirits at the GotoLiquorStore. We offer delivery from nearby liquor stores we partner with. If you prefer, you can also place a pick-up order from a store. If there are no stores nearby, you can place a shipping order for your desired product, and we will ship it to you. Why search everywhere when you can find everything in one place!
