What Are Spirits In The Context Of Liquor?
In the market, you will find the availability of a lot of alcoholic beverages to choose from. But, to choose the best one for your requirements, you should first get a proper understanding of the different types of spirits.
Again, if you are looking forward to opting for online alcohol delivery services to spirit shop liquor, then reading this guide will prove to be helpful for you.
In this comprehensive guide, we will mainly focus on talking about spirits in detail for your better understanding. So, without any further delay, let’s get started with our detailed discussion:
About Spirits
Spirits also referred to as hard liquor are typically distilled alcoholic beverages. Some of the most popular examples of spirits include bourbon, whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, and tequila. One of the important things to note in this aspect is that most of the spirits are unsweetened.
Also, the ABV or alcohol by volume of this beverage is more than 20 percent. Due to their high alcoholic content, distilled liquors and spirits are heavily regulated in different parts of the world.
Now, let’s get a better understanding of the key difference between spirits and alcohol in the following section:
Distinctions Between Spirits and Alcohol
In this regard, you should know that all spirits are alcoholic, but all alcoholic beverages are not spirits. As already mentioned above, spirits are made through the process of distillation and have higher alcohol content.
Why Does The Taste Of Alcoholic Spirits Differ?
The taste of different types of spirits is different. It is not only just because of the base from which it is distilled but also due to the specific way it is stored and aged.
What Are These Made Up Of?
The constituent of the spirit is solely dependent on the type of spirit. Most commonly, spirits are distilled from fruit. However, you may find several varieties that are distilled from sugars or grains.
Various Types of Distilled Spirit
Tequila
Tequila is made from fermented agave. The taste of this alcoholic beverage is somewhat earthy, sweet, and piquant. The aging of some tequilas is done in casks or barrels whereas the others are blended.
Gin
The distillation of gin is done from grain. Unflavored gin tends to have a dry flavor with hints of citrus, juniper, or even malt wine. Its taste depends on how it is made. Many of the gins may also taste a little sweet and can be flavored with a diverse range of fruits or spices. This alcoholic beverage is again not aged. Buy gin online from here.
Vodka
Vodka generally is not that flavorful. The distillation of this beverage is done from high-starch plants. The most commonly utilized base is potatoes. Sometimes beets, grains, corn, or rye are also used as the base. Typically, the aging of vodka is not done.
Rum
Rum is distilled from some sort of sugar such as sugar cane or molasses. So, it is much sweeter. Also, it is available in many different types.
Schnapps
Schnapps is often thought of as a liqueur but it is a liqueur derivative. It is distilled from fruits, which are fermented with a base spirit, usually brandy, rather than adding the fruit after the distillation. Schnapps is usually stronger and less sweet than a liqueur.
Aperitifs
Aperitifs are light, crisp, and mildly astringent drinks, which are traditionally drunk before a meal to stimulate the appetite. There are different types of aperitif – many are blends of fortified wines with added herbs, but perhaps the most famous of them all is Campari.
Armagnac
Not to be confused with Cognac, Armagnac is a single-distilled grape brandy produced in the Gascony region of France. Traditionally produced Armagnac differs from Cognac in that it is made from a single rather than double distillation in a continuous still unique to the region, known as an Alembic.
Mezcal
Not to be confused with Tequila, Mezcal is a distilled spirit also made from the agave plant. The difference between the two is that Mezcal is made from a variety of different types of agave grown throughout eight regions in Mexico, whereas Tequila can only be made from the blue agave plant, which is grown in the Jalisco region. Mezcals must contain 80% agave as a minimum but premium producers use 100%.
Cognac
Cognac is a brandy made from white grapes grown in the Cognac region of France. Double distilled in copper pot stills, it is aged for a minimum of two years in Limousin or Tronçais oak barrels. Only brandy produced under strict guidelines within this region can be called Cognac. There are six individual regions within the appellation d’origine controlee (AOC) in Cognac; Grand Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, and Bois Ordinaires. The best Cognac is made in the Grand Champagne region where the soil has the softest chalk and very little clay.
Wrapping Up
We hope, that now you have gained a much better understanding of spirits in the context of liquor.
