What kind of spirits are there

Liqueurs are normally consumed as aperitifs, as 'digestifs', as component of classic cocktails or as a flavour enhancement to foods when cooking - normally for desserts and puddings. The history of rum began in the Caribbean when the inhabitants of Barbados took the leftovers from the sugar cane used for making sugar, molasses, and made alcohol from it. Rum, and its twin, cane spirit, are made by distilling fermented sugar and water. This sugar comes from the sugar cane and is fermented from cane juice, concentrated cane juice, or molasses.

Molasses is the sticky residue that remains after sugar cane juice is boiled and the crystallised sugar is extracted. In , the beverage acquired the name rum. The name is held to have originated from the word 'rumballion,' which in the slang of the time meant clamour or noise.

Rum is traditionally a clear drink, yet many manufacturers age or colour their rum to give it a dark or golden tint. Most aging takes place in barrels that once held whiskey or bourbon. Plantation owners sold rum to navy ships and pirates. In the s, the British Navy started the custom of giving sailors a daily half-pint of 80 per cent proof rum. This was later diluted with the same amount of water, after which it was called grog. The main reason for sailors' use of rum was that it could endure long voyages better than water or beer.

Vodka is a pure distilled spirit that is made from grain or potatoes and other agricultural products. It is then charcoal filtered, rectified or distilled again to reduce levels of natural congeners and ensure a very clean taste.

It is produced and consumed all over the world. The word 'vodka' is derived from the Slavic word 'voda', or the Polish 'woda', meaning water. The history of vodka is hotly debated - while the first documented production of vodka was in Russia at the end of the 9 th century, Poland also lays claim to have begun distilling vodka earlier, in the 8 th century. In the mid th century, vodka was established as the national drink in Poland and Finland. In Russia as well, vodka was used frequently as a medicine.

Around , vodka started to be produced in large quantities and the first recorded exports of Russian vodka were to Sweden in Polish exports started a century later, from major production centres in Posnan and Krakow. Legend has it that rum got its name from a Latin word for sugar, saccharum. Rum is made by fermenting and distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. It became popular in the 18th century as colonialism landed on tropical shores with an abundance of sugarcane.

Hence its association with pirates. Rum is known to add a cozy spice to winter cocktails. Gin is made by first creating a neutral spirit then redistilling it with the addition of a combination of botanicals. That means seeds, berries, spices, roots, and herbs. Juniper berries an antioxidant used is some aphrodisiac drinks were the earliest and most popular botanical used to create gin.

Whiskey is made from fermented and sometimes malted grain mash, typically using barley, corn, rye, or wheat. The first evidence of whiskey comes down to us from 15th-century Scotland, to be exact. To this day, Scotland remains one of the epicenters of whiskey heritage in the world, along with Ireland and the United States. Whiskey excels in fall cocktails.

Like gin, vodka is created from a neutral spirit. However, many modern brandy recipes break this mold and experiment with brandy in some unique flavor combinations.

Gin's dry profile makes it a perfect candidate for dry non-sweet cocktails, including many classics and martinis. It is a nice base for cocktails with just a few ingredients and pairs well with lighter mixers and fruits and naturally works well with herbs.

Rum's sweeter flavor makes it one of the more versatile spirits. It was among the first liquors to be mixed into drinks, so there are some excellent classic rum cocktails to choose from. It is the obvious base for tropical drinks and appears in several warm cocktails. Tequila has a great flavor profile that mixes well into a variety of cocktails. There are, of course, the margaritas and frozen cocktails in which tequila is mixed with any fruit imaginable. It also makes a perfect base for spicy cocktails and is very popular for party shots.

Vodka's neutral taste makes it the most versatile spirit available today. Vodka cocktails include almost every imaginable flavor profile, from sweet to savory, fruits to herbs, and spices to sparkling mixers. Martinis and shooters are popular vodka drinks as well. Whiskey is another of the more versatile cocktail bases. With so many styles, there is the opportunity for great diversity in flavor profiles. It mixes well with other liquors to create complex drinks , and it pairs well with many fruits, particularly the darker fruits.

Warm drinks are also very popular with whiskey.