When stocking your liquor cabinet at home or ordering at a restaurant or bar, there are so many choices. This quick guide to the world of spirits and the different types of alcohol is here to help.
You’ll also want to get to know the different cocktail mixers, as they go hand-in-hand with the different types of booze. And it’s a good idea to track how old your liquor bottles are and to store alcohol properly, too.
Types of alcohol
There are two main types of alcohol: distilled spirits and fermented alcohol. Here’s the difference:
- Distilled spirits: Includes high-proof base spirits (vodka, whiskey, tequila, rum, brandy and gin) as well as liqueurs (coffee liqueur, amaretto, Irish cream, etc.) which tend to be lower proof.
- Fermented alcohol: Includes wine, fortified wine (such as vermouth or sherry), sparkling wine (champagne, prosecco, etc.) and beer.
All alcohol begins as fermented alcohol, but not all alcohol is distilled. Alcoholic fermentation starts with a liquid raw material containing sugar, which is followed by the addition of yeast. Alcohol is produced when the yeast acts on the sugar.
With distillation, the alcohol is separated from the fermented liquid through a process of heating and condensation. The fermented liquid is heated, then the resulting vapor is cooled and turned back into a liquid.
The six base spirits
There are six main spirits, or liquors, that serve as the base for most drinks: vodka, gin, rum, tequila, brandy and whiskey. All of these are distilled spirits, which means they undergo another process after fermentation.
Here’s a little about all six, including some of the drink recipes you can make with each one:
1. Vodka
A clear spirit that originated in Russia, vodka is made from grains (barley, corn, rye and wheat) or potatoes, which are fermented and then distilled. It is then typically filtered, producing a neutral flavor, though artificial flavors can also be added.
Types: Plain vodka, flavored vodka, infused vodka such as vanilla vodka )
Popular brands: Absolut, Tito’s, Grey Goose, New Amsterdam, Pinnacle
Cocktails to know: Bloody Mary, Cosmopolitan, Cape Codder, White Russian, Moscow Mule, Vodka Soda, Espresso Martini
2. Rum
A sugarcane-based spirit originating in the Caribbean and Latin America, rum is made from molasses or sugarcane juice that is fermented and distilled. It can be aged for varying amounts of time in oak barrels, resulting in different colors and flavors.
Types: Silver rum, gold rum, spiced rum, dark rum, rhum agricole, flavored rum
Popular brands: Bacardi, Gosling’s Black Seal, Cruzan, Plantation, Captain Morgan
Cocktails to know: Mojito, Dark & Stormy, Mai Tai, Daiquiri, Cuba Libre, Rum & Coke
3. Whiskey
Made from fermented grain that is distilled then aged in oak barrels, whiskey is a grain-based spirit, with the most well-known hailing from Japan, the United States, Scotland and Ireland.
”Bourbon is the best spirit in my book — it’s a little sweet and balanced. It can be used in classic cocktails while also being an incredible base for innovative concoctions, making it my number one choice for my bar cart.” — Meghan Yager, Cake ‘n Knife
Types: Bourbon, Irish whiskey, rye whiskey, Canadian whisky, Scotch, Japanese whiskey, flavored whiskey
Popular brands: Old Forester, Maker’s Mark, Jameson, Crown Royal, The Macallan
Cocktails to know: Old-fashioned, Manhattan, Irish Coffee, Mint Julep, Whiskey Sour, Whiskey & Coke, Whiskey Ginger, Whiskey Smash, Hot Toddy
4. Gin
Gin is a spirit that originated in the Netherlands and is made from juniper berries and other botanicals, such as herbs, spices and fruits. These ingredients are infused into a neutral spirit and then redistilled, resulting in a distinct flavor that is often mixed in cocktails.
Types: London dry, Old Tom, Plymouth, genever, sloe gin
Popular brands: Hendrick’s, Plymouth, Tanqueray, Beefeater, Blue Sapphire
Cocktails to know: Gin & Tonic, Martini, Greyhound, Tom Collins, French 75
5. Tequila
Tequila is created from the blue weber agave plant, which is primarily grown in Mexico. The agave hearts, or piña, are roasted and crushed to extract their juices, which are then fermented and distilled. Tequila can be aged for varying amounts of time, resulting in different colors and flavors.
Technically, though, tequila is a type of mezcal. Mezcal can be made from any varietal of agave plant, whereas tequila can only be produced with the blue weber agave. In other words, all tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila.
“Tequila is always my go to spirit for cocktails. I love adding fresh citrus to it whether it’s in a margarita or just lime and seltzer water. There is always a new, fun way to try tequila.” — Madison Wetherill, A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
Types: Mezcal, blanco, gold, reposado, añejo, extra añejo, infused tequila
Popular brands: Patron, El Jimador, Tres Agaves, Espolon, Sauza
Cocktails to know: Margarita, Ranch Water, Paloma, Tequila Sunrise, Bloody Maria, Mezcal Mule
6. Brandy
Brandy is made from fermented fruit, such as grapes, apples or pears. Distilled and aged in oak barrels, brandy comes in a range of colors and flavors and is produced around the world. It’s an excellent spirit to add to your bar cart, especially for winter cocktails.
Types: Cognac, armagnac, calvados, pisco, Spanish brandy, American brandy, applejack
Popular brands: Remy Martin, Hennessy Cognac, Paul Masson
Cocktails to know: Brandy Alexander, Sidecar, Eggnog, Pisco Sour, Corpse Reviver No. 1
Types of liqueur
Liqueurs are a type of spirit made by combining a distilled spirit with flavorings, extracts and natural ingredients. Here are a few of the most well-known liqueurs and their flavors:
- Amaretto: Made from almonds, this Italian liqueur has a sweet and nutty flavor.
- Aperol: An Italian liqueur made from herbs and bitter oranges, it has a bitter and slightly sweet taste.
- Benedictine: With a sweet and spicy flavor, a French liqueur made from herbs and spices.
- Campari: An Italian liqueur made from herbs and fruit, Campari is an apéritif with a bitter and fruity taste.
- Chambord: A French liqueur made from raspberries, blackberries and other fruit, this spirit has a sweet and fruity flavor.
- Chartreuse: With a complex and spicy taste, this French liqueur is made from a blend of herbs.
- Crème de cacao: A chocolate-flavored spirit. Different from chocolate liqueur, which often has cream added.
- Crème de menthe: This is a French liqueur made from peppermint, with a sweet and minty flavor.
- Coffee liqueur: A liqueur made from coffee and rum, it has a sweet and slightly bitter taste. The big names are Kahlua and Tia Maria.
- Drambuie: A Scottish liqueur made from Scotch whiskey, honey, herbs and spices, Drambuie has a sweet and spicy flavor.
- Frangelico: Clear and sweet, this Italian liqueur made from hazelnuts has a nutty taste.
- Irish cream: An Irish liqueur made from a blend of Irish whiskey and cream, with a sweet flavor of coffee, vanilla and chocolate. Baileys brand is the most famous.
- Limoncello: An Italian liqueur made from infusing lemon zest, limoncello has a sweet and zippy flavor. Learn how to make your own limoncello.
- Orange liqueur: These liqueurs are made from orange peels, with a sweet and citrusy taste. The most common are Cointreau, Grand Marnier and triple sec.
- Sambuca: An Italian liqueur made from anise and other botanicals, sambuca has a sweet and licorice-like flavor.
- St. Germain: A French liqueur made from elderflowers, this liqueur has a floral and sweet flavor. Try these elderflower cocktails.
Types of wines
Wine is fermented alcohol made from grapes, and there are several types of bottles you can buy:
- White wine
- Red wine
- Rosé wine
- Sparkling wine (champagne, cava, prosecco, asti, crémant)
- Fortified wine
White, red and rosé wine
Wines are created from different types of grapes. They’re produced worldwide, from France to South Africa to the United States.
Try any of them in a homemade sangria to enjoy wine in a new way. Or enjoy some creative wine pairings to get to know them better.
Sparkling wines
Light and effervescent, these are wines that have been carbonated. They are typically white wines, but can be rosé and sometimes red too. To garner the bubbles in the bottle, yeast is added to the wine, which ferments the sugars and creates carbon dioxide gas. Here are some of the most common types of sparkling wine:
- Champagne (France)
- Crémant (France)
- Cava (Spain)
- Prosecco (Italy)
- Asti (Italy)
Fortified wines
This group is made of wines that have been fortified through the addition of another spirit, often brandy but others can be used as well. This increases the alcohol content and strengthens the spirit. There are a few types of fortified wine:
While the others are common on restaurant menus, fortified wines aren’t the kinds of wine you’d make sangria with. They are for sipping or mixing into drinks.
Fortified wines have an additional spirit, often brandy, which increases the alcohol content and strengthens, or fortifies, the spirit. There are a few types of fortified wine, including:
- Vermouth: Flavored with a variety of botanicals, including herbs, spices, and roots, vermouth is typically fortified with neutral grape spirit. It comes from Italy and France, and is available in two varieties: sweet red vermouth and dry white vermouth.
- Port wine: This fortified wine that is made from grapes grown in Portugal. It is fortified with brandy and is typically sweet and rich, with the aromas and tastes of dried fruits, nuts and spices.
- Sherry: Sherry hails from Spain. Made from the Palomino grape and typically fortified with brandy, sherry comes in a range of styles, from dry and nutty to sweet and rich.
- Madeira: This fortified wine comes from the island of Madeira in Portugal and is made from a variety of grapes. Fortified with neutral grape spirit, it is often aged for long periods of time, giving it a unique and complex flavor profile.
- Marsala: A fortified wine from Sicily, Italy, marsala wine is made from a number of grape varieties and is fortified with grape brandy. It comes in a range of dry to sweet.
- Lillet or Cocchi Americano: These two are fortified wines from France and Italy, respectively. Both are made from a blend of wine and botanicals, including herbs, spices, and citrus fruits. Both are fortified with neutral grape spirit and are often used as an ingredient in cocktails.
Types of beer
Beer is fermented alcohol produced from water, malted barley, hops and yeast. Beer is delicious in cocktails — try it in a michelada, a Corona sunrise or a beer margarita.
There are two main classes of beer: lagers and ales. According to Home Brew Academy, lager is made with one strain of yeast, while ale is made with another.
- Examples of lagers: Bocks, pale American lagers, pilsners, wheat beer, amber
- Examples of ales: American pale ales, brown ale, blonde ale, India pale ales (IPAs), stouts, sours, porters
Other types of alcohol
The list doesn’t stop there. There are a few other types of alcohol you should know:
- Absinthe: Made from the fermented juices of herbs and roots like Wormwood, angelica root, hyssop, fennel and anise seeds, absinth has a unique licorice flavor.
- Aquavit: Scandinavia is home to this herbal beverage made from citrus peels, cumin seeds, caraway, cardamom, fennel or aniseed.
- Cachaça: Produced only in Brazil, cachaça is a distilled spirit made from sugar cane.
- Mead: Made from honey, water and yeast, this fermented spirit is sweet and delicious.
- Moonshine: This clear, unaged alcohol used to be illegal in the United States. But in fact, it is an unaged whiskey.
- Sake: This fermented rice wine from Japan has a smooth, sweet and slightly dry finish.
- Soju: A Korean spirit, soju is made from rice and other starches such as tapioca, barley and sweet potatoes.
- Hard cider: Made from the juices of apples, pears and other fruits, alcoholic cider is a sweet spirit to add to your repertoire.
The world of alcohol is vast, and there are many more types not listed here. If you have a favorite not on this list, let me know in the comments below!
This article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.
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