Perhaps it will be interesting to learn the basic spirits and liquor utilized in manufacturing the unlimited variety of alcoholic beverages. The term liquor is sometimes used interchangeably with spirit.
However, there are important distinctions between the two. Liquors are alcoholic drinks made from flavored spirits or spirit infusions. Meanwhile, the chemical process known as distillation yields alcoholic beverages known as spirits.
Continue reading to learn about the difference between spirits and liquor.
Difference Between Alcohol and Spirits
Many people mistakenly think these two phrases mean the same thing. These two words nowadays have separate connotations, so bartenders are less likely to deliver their clients the erroneous cocktail. Given that many developments occur independently, they divided them into two classes: liquors and spirits.
Classifications of Alcoholic Drinks
Ethanol is one of the only forms of alcohol that does not provide a direct health risk to human beings. All alcoholic drinks have this component. There are four main categories for these drinks:
Distilled
This is produced by the process of distilling ingredients that have been fermented. Underneath, you’ll learn more about the many categories of spirits.
Fermented
Fermentation is the process that results in the production of these items, as their name implies. Generally, common alcoholic beverages include wine and beer.
Fortified
These are alcoholic drinks that have been fermented and then had spirits added to them either while they were being made or soon after. It is often done solely with wine.
Liqueurs
This is produced by mixing alcohol with various ingredients, including fruit, sweets, spices, and cream. Infusion, maceration, and even plain old mixing are all viable options.
Types of Spirit
Types of spirits are dependent on the kind being consumed. Generally, fruit is the raw material most often used in spirits production, like in Spirits of France. On the other hand, some may be produced by distilling grains or sugars.
Vodka
Vodka is often flavorless since it is distilled largely from high-starch plants. In addition to potatoes, other typical bases include rye, maize, cereals, and even beets. However, in most cases, vodka has not been aged.
Tequila
The taste of the fermented agave product known as tequila may range from sweet and earthy to spicy, depending on where the agave was grown. Some tequilas are blended, while others are matured in barrels or casks. If you’re looking for strong liquor, tequila is often recommended.
Gin
Gin is made by distilling grains. Depending on the production, unflavored gin often has a dry taste with traces of juniper, citrusy, or malt wine. Gins could be flavored with a wide variety of spices and fruits, giving them a sweet flavor.
Rum
Sugar cane or molasses is the most prevalent source of sugar used to distill rum. Therefore, the flavor is far sweeter than most other types of distilled spirits. There are a wide variety of rums. Based on production methods and aging periods, certain rums are sweeter than regular ones, while others have a more earthy/oaky taste.
Whiskey
Whiskey is one of the most varied spirits since you may make it from various malted grains (rye, maize, wheat, or barley) and their distillation processes.
Mezcal
Mezcal, like tequila, is distilled from agave but is sometimes categorized separately. The distillation procedure is where the main distinction lies. Only blue agave, which has been cooked or steamed, may be fermented and distilled into tequila. After the agave plant has been smoked in a pit/kiln, hearts and stems are used to make mezcal. The plant is then pulverized, fermented, and distilled.
Brandy
Brandy is the liquor produced by distilling fermented fruit juice. Its fruity flavor comes from the wine it’s often cooked with. A smoky or charred flavor may also be present, especially if matured, oaky undertones.
Conclusion
Non-brewed alcoholic beverages, sometimes known as distilled spirits, fall under the umbrella term “liquor.”Those who drank alcoholic beverages used it to describe one that left them feeling euphoric. It’s essentially an alcoholic drink, as it includes ethanol.
On the contrary, spirits are distilled liqueurs designed to have a certain taste. An alcoholic beverage is called a spirit if it has been through the distillation process.
