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Acquainting yourself with the latest drink trends and flavors makes you a better drinking buddy.
The first step to making exceptional drinks is to know the flavor profiles of different types of liquor.
This ensures a straightforward process of creating well-balanced fermented beverages.
We hope to pack you with better-than-average knowledge of types of fermented beverages.
Table of Contents
First: What Is Liquor, Exactly?
Generally, all liquor has at least 30% ABV and no added sugar or flavoring.
Drinks such as flavored vodkas or fortified wine are also different types of alcoholic beverages.
The distillation process is an integral part of making liquor.
Why Is Liquor Called a Spirit?
Middle Eastern alchemists used the term spirit to refer to the vapor produced when transmuting lead into gold.
Like the alchemical process, the alcohol distillation process also involves collecting the vapor of the fermented ingredients.
According to Middle Eastern alchemists, the vapor is the spirit of the original material.
In North America, for instance, the term hard liquor helps differentiate distilled drinks from the non-distilled varieties.
Best Liquors for Your Liquor Cabinet
There are several ways of classifying spirits.
In this article, we will simplify our hard liquor list by classifying the beverage based on its appearance.
This means we are working with just two classifications:
All liquor starts as a clear solution.
Distillers can darken the alcohol by adding flavors or aging it in oak.
Here is everything you’re gonna wanna know:
1.
Sometimes, the spirit undergoes several distillation processes to achieve the purest form of vodka.
Multiple distillation processes ensure distillers achieve a highly concentrated solution.
It is then mixed with water to achieve the desired ABV and ensure balance and drinkability.
Vodka from different brands may have a distinct taste based on the flavoring and production method.
However,the majority of vodka drinks are odorless and tasteless.
Making vodka involves a filtration process that helps to remove impurities from the solution.
Again, how this process is handled may differ from one distillery to another.
Some experts filter the solution before distillation, while others do this after distillation.
Contrary to popular belief, Vodka is not Russian.
History places its origin in Poland before it traveled east.
Gin
Gin is the UKs favorite distilled spirit.
Gin contains juniper berries as part of the ingredients, a component that gives it apiney and floral flavor.
Distillers begin by fermenting the neutral grains and water, followed by the distillation process.
Again, the spirit goes through multiple distillation processes to remove impurities.
Even though gin is not as neutral-flavored as vodka, its herbal flavors come in handy when making cocktails.
These berries are a super fruit with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
However, many manufacturers are pretty experimental and often come back with new gin brands with exciting flavor profiles.
One of the best varieties of gin that never goes out of fashion is the London Dry gin.
So, what makes tequila so popular?
First, tequila is made from at least 51% blue agave plant juice.
The popular alcoholic drink is only produced in Jalisco, a state in Mexico.
They sayit isnt tequila if its not from Mexico!
The production process involves extracting juice from the Blue Weber Agave plant and fermenting it using yeast.
Distillers then distill the solution in column and pot stills twice to create raw tequila.
Some tequila brands dont require maturation, and others go through a time of aging.
For instance, Blanco doesnt require aging while Joven goes through an aging period of only a few weeks.
On the other hand, popular tequila brands like Anejo undergo a maturation period of up to 3 years.
Even though tequila is a clear spirit, maturation gives the liquor a dark hue.
Related Reading:The Most Unbelievably Expensive Tequila Bottles in the World
4.
Rum types of hard liquor are produced by distilling sugar cane or molasses.
Distillers then age the solution in used oak barrels to give it its distinct splash of flavors.
Some distillers use the charcoal filtration process to harvest clear rum even after its aged.
Filtration also gives the drink a smoother profile free of harsh flavors.
The darker hue is because of a more extended maturation period in barrels.
Best Full-Bodied Rum:Plantation Original Dark Rum
This variant has a golden hue triggered by maturation.
The color is also due to caramel and molasses during the fermentation step.
Best Medium-Bodied Rum:Atlantico Reserva
White rum is a clear spirit with amild flavor.
Its perfect for making some of the best cocktails, such as mojitos.
Best Spiced Rum:The Kraken
5.
Whiskey
Among all types of liquor, whiskey is perhaps the most luxurious.
Its a dark spirit because of the maturation process in wooden barrels.
Depending on thewhiskybrand you choose, the product can be aged for up to 50 years.
Here are some of the commontypes of whiskey:
Scotch is whiskey made in Scotland.
Best Scotch Whisky:Glenmorangie Signet
There are clear distinctions between the production styles of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey.
The latter undergoes the Lincoln County filtering process to make it purer.
Best Tennessee Whiskey:George Dickel Barrel Select
As the name implies, Irish whiskey is made in Ireland.
It is made using a malt mash, and distillers use caramel to achieve a darker hue.
After distillation, the solution is aged for 3 years, allowing it to develop a unique flavor profile.
Irish whiskey is easy to sip neat because of itssmoother flavor.
Its also a top choice for making some of the most popular cocktails worldwide.
The drink can be made from rye or corn and has no minimum maturation period.
Bourbon is often called a sour mash whiskey which is because it is distilled using fermented grain mash.
In terms of flavor, bourbon hascaramel sweetness and vanilla tones.
It may also have asmokyflavor if its matured in charred oak barrels.
Bourbon has a sweeter flavor than any other whiskey.
Best Bourbon:Four Roses Small Batch
Canadian whisky is made from rye or corn.
It has asweet, light, and spicy flavorthat most people claim is easy to drink.
This makes one of the best types of hard liquor for making cocktails.
Like scotch, distillers must age the distilled solution for at least 3 years to make Canadian whisky.
Best Canadian Whiskey:Forty Creek Confederation Oak
The taste profiles of Japanese whisky andscotchare nearly similar.
Japanese whiskey is made from malted barley and is aged for at least 3 years in wooden barrels.
Its actually a legal requirement so that use the word rye on the label in the United States.
The distilled spirits are then aged in charred, new oak barrels for at least two years.
The flavor of rye whiskey isspicy and fruity.
Best Rye Whiskey:Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye
6. you could think of this alcoholic beverage as distilled wine because it is made from fermented grapes.
Of course, French brandy is called Calvados and is made from apples.
it’s possible for you to also find brandy brands made from apricots or cherries.
Brandies that undergo a lengthier maturation period tend to have amellower and more oaky flavor.
Moreover, distillers blend brandy from different barrels to create a well-balanced taste.
They then add water to the liquor to control the ABV percentage and achieve drinkability.
The majority of brandies will have at least 40% ABV.
Spanish brandy is another popular liquor and boasts a more powerful flavor than its French counterparts.
It is also distilled using a different method called the Solera system.
It sees the initial mash transferred in different amounts from barrel to barrel until it reaches its final form.
These include sherry casks and wine barrels.
Cognacs
All Cognacs are brandies, although not all brandies are cognacs.
Sounds confusing, right?
It doesnt have to be.
Cognacs are brandies produced using white grapes specifically harvested from Cognac, France.
Colombard, Ugni Blanc, and Folle Blanche are the three main grape varieties used in brewing Cognac.
One of the most famous Cognac liquors is Hennessey.
Liqueurs
Liqueurs are also classified as a variety of liquor.
They are dark distilled spirits made using neutral grain liquors.
The distilled spirit is sweetened by adding sugar and could also create aninteresting flavor using fruits or herbs.
Liqueurs have higher sugar content and a lower ABV compared to other hard distilled spirits.
Most brands have a sweet and creamy taste and can be served with or as dessert.
While they are superb when consumed neat, they are also perfect for mixing cocktails.
Some of the most popular liqueurs include Amarula, Romana Sambuca, Luxardo Maraschino, and Baileys.
There is an art to the creation of the perfect mixed drinks.
Alternatively, check out our complete guide to theEasiest Mixed Drinks for Home Bartenders.
Brandy Alexander
Take equal measures Brandy, creme de cacao, and cream.
Combine in a glass, add some ice and serve with a little bit of nutmeg for flavor.
Vodka Martini
The ultimate liquor cocktail, drunk by spies the world over.
Shake or stir based on your own preference.
Pour over some ice and enjoy whenever the mood takes you.
Whiskey Sour
Whiskey and sour mix is a classic combination and creates many great-tasting cocktails.
Vodka Tonic
Vodka, add tonic, and there you have it.
you’re free to also add a desk of different fruit juices yourself to experiment even further.
Either way, theres nothing sexier than knowing your sweet whiskies from your cognacs.
So, will you be stocking up with rum, or will you be sticking to your usualbourbonand scotch?
Well be happy to hear all about your liquor taste buds in the comment section below!
