The Spirits Or distilled are those obtained by distillation from wine or other fruit juice or fermented plant or also from a starchy material (such as various grains). The alcohol content of spirit drinks is higher than that of beer or wine.
According to the Federation of Spirits (FEBE), spirits are"alcoholic drinks derived from the distillation of agricultural raw materials (grapes, cereals, nuts, beets, cane, fruit, etc.). These are products such as brandy, whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, or liqueurs, among others."
Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 of the Council of the European Union of 29 May 1989 lays down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks and states that:
Spirit drinks are"alcoholic liquor intended for human consumption, with special organoleptic characteristics, with a minimum degree of 15% by volume, obtained either directly by distillation, in the presence or not of flavorings, natural fermented products and / or by maceration Of vegetable substances and / or by addition of flavorings, sugars or other sweetening products or other agricultural products to ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin and / or to a distillate of agricultural origin and / or to a spirit as defined in this Regulation.
It is believed that the term"spirituous"refers to this type of distillate infers that they are drinks that"cheer or raise the spirit"since the spirits exhale a very subtle vapor because of the ethanol present in these alcoholic drinks. The distillation process to obtain drinks with greater alcoholic degree was first used by an Egyptian doctor named Abdul Kazim in Century X.
Top 10 Spirits
1- Ron
This spirit drink is obtained exclusively from alcoholic fermentation and from the distillation of molasses or from sugarcane syrups.
Depending on the type of rum, it can be used for cocktails, mixed or pure (on the rocks). There are Rums of different types and ages Which are performed using processes of artisan aging. Rum is produced all over the world and each region and country have different laws and traditions used in their production. Christopher Columbus introduced sugar cane in the West Indies in 1493.
The first rums were produced in Brazil, Barbados and Jamaica, becoming the first spirit drink of the New World. Runes like Bacardi 151 get 75.5% alcoholic content.
2- Vodka
It is a spirit drink produced by the rectification of ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin or by filtration through the activated carbon. Then simply proceed to the distillation.
Only by carefully selecting refined grains and using crystalline water can a pure and neutral product be obtained. The aromatization gives the vodka special organoleptic characteristics, in particular its soft flavor. Among the best vodkas we find:
- Gray Goose: Vodka of French origin, made from wheat and produced since 1997. Its taste is very soft and can be used in various types of cocktails.
- Devil's Spring: is one of the strongest drinks on the planet as it contains 80% pure alcohol. Devil's Spring is mainly used in cocktails mixed with citrus, lavender, tea, herbs, peppers, radishes and walnuts.
- Crystal Head:"Premium"vodka of Canadian origin with an original design bottle. Crystal Head is a brand new (produced since 2007). Many people connect their popularity to the design of the bottle but it is a vodka of very pleasant and pure flavor, free of additional flavors and any other substance.
Do you know the Blue vodka or the Black vodka ? Discover its characteristics and properties.
3- Whiskey
It is an alcoholic beverage that is obtained from the fermentation of grasses or Poaceae (Poaceae), barley, corn, rye, wheat, oats, rice, etc. The process by which whiskey is made involves malting, maceration, fermentation and distillation. Whiskey is aged for at least 2 years.
This spirit is sold with 40% and 50% alcohol content. The word whiskey or whiskey (in the United States or Ireland) comes from the Scottish Gaelic"uisge beatha"and Irish Gaelic"uisce beathadh", which in both cases means"the water of life."
Some interesting facts about whiskey:
- Whiskey is not the same as whiskey, since the whiskey is only Scotch and whiskey are all the others.
- Whiskey is beer (without the hops) that has been distilled two or three times.
- True whiskey drinkers do not add ice because it dulls the taste, reduces the whiskey temperature too much and ends up inhibiting the taste and freezing its aroma.
- There are between 5 and 7 different main regions where the whiskey is distilled. The five regional whiskeys always included in this list are: Scotch Whiskey, Irish Whiskey, Kentucky (a Bourbon), Canadian Whiskey and Tennesse Whiskey. The two controversial regional whiskeys that are not always included in the list are Japanese and New Zealander.
If you are interested in knowing more about this spirit drink, "10 Amazing Benefits of Whiskey for Health" .
4- Brandy
The name brandy comes from the Dutch word brandewijn, which means"wine burned". Brandy's origins date back to the expanding Mediterranean Muslim states in the seventh and eighth centuries. It must be known that everything that is fermented can be distilled and converted into brandy. Grapes, apples, blackberries, sugar cane, honey, milk, rice, wheat, corn, potatoes and rye are commonly fermented and distilled.
Fine spirits are required to preserve the concentrated flavor of the fruit. Most brandy manufacturers double-distil their brandy, which means they concentrate alcohol twice. Most brandy that is consumed, is less than six years old. Some cognac may contain brandy up to 100 different barrels.
Fruit brandy is the default term for all brandies that are made from fermenting fruits other than grapes.
Calvados, apple brandy from the Normandy region of northwestern France, is probably the best-known type of fruit brandy.
Armagnac, is the oldest type of Brandy in France, with documented references to its distillation dating from the early fifteenth century.
Italy has a long history of brandy production dating back to at least the 16th century, but unlike Spain or France, there are no specific Brandy-producing regions.
For a while, Leland Stanford , Founder of Stanford University, was the largest producer of brandy in the world.
5- Geneva
Gin is an alcoholic beverage produced from a mixture of cereal grains, usually consisting of corn, rye, barley and wheat. The predominant flavor and aromas of this spirit drink come from the botanical berries of juniper.
Other ingredients that are traditionally used to complete the flavor profile of gin include cilantro, lemon and orange peels, fennel, anise, and almonds.
Traditionally there are four types of gin, although many growers are experimenting with new and innovative botanical combinations that deviate slightly from traditional formulas.
The four traditional classifications of gin are London Dry, Plymouth, Old Tom and Genever. The"London Dry"gin is the most popular and tends to be very aromatic and flowery. London Dry gin is the favorite to make cocktails like the martini.
Would you like to meet the incredible Healthy properties of gin ?
6- Amaretto
Amaretto is an almond-flavored liqueur that is originally from Italy. Although some brands of amaretto make use of almonds in the process of distillation, many use apricots, since this fruit also imparts a flavor to almonds.
30 ml of amaretto has about 100 calories, being mainly carbohydrates, with few vitamins and minerals. It is a sweet liqueur that is usually served as a digestive drink.
The percentage of alcohol per volume of amaretto differs depending on the brand. Not all types of amaretto are made the same way or have the same ingredients. Some brands use almond paste or almond extract and some have more added sugar and higher alcohol contents.
A basic home amaretto consists of simple syrup combined with vodka, almond extract and optionally vanilla extract, and this type of home amaretto has a relatively high sugar content.
7- Brandy
They are all spirits with a high degree of alcoholic content. They are usually dried or aromatic and are obtained by distillation of grains, cane, potatoes, among other musts and grains.
The brandy is prepared from its raw materials. There are many types of brandy, the most popular have flavor Aniseed And regularly have 30% alcohol and is made from sugar cane.
In the Nordic countries they have different types of spirits called"schnapps". Schnapps is a general term used for an assortment of white and spicy liqueurs originating in regions such as Germany or Scandinavia.
Schnapps can be made from grains, potatoes or molasses and can be flavored with virtually anything. The dividing line between schnapps and flavor vodkas is vague and more cultural than stylistic.
Although European schnapps tend to be drier than vodkas of American flavors and liqueurs. The Russians make a brandy with cumin seeds called Kümmel.
The"Chinchón"is a type of anise spirit produced in the town of Chinchón, Madrid. It is an alcoholic beverage derived from the distillation of the anise plant, macerated for half a day in wine and distilled in copper stills.
The most popular drink in Greece, the"ouzo", is also a spirited drink of distilled anis, produced only in Greece and believed to have its origins in Egypt.
8- Cognac
Cognac is a type of brandy, or distilled wine, made in a delineated region of about 200,000 acres surrounding the town of Cognac, on the west coast of France. All cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac.
Within this"delimited area"(as the French cognac authorities call it), there are six production zones defined by their terroir. Of the highest quality (calcareous earth, rich in limestone, which retains the highest amount of moisture and reflects the greatest amount of sunlight to grapes) to the lowest (mostly clay or sandblasted soil).
Virtually all cognacs are mixed from various distillates of different ages from these six regions to make the taste more complete.
Unlike wine, cognac does not improve over time, however, as long as you keep it in a cool, dark place, it will remain as delicious as the day it was bottled.
The darker the cognac, the older it is. Younger cognacs tend to be lighter and honey-colored. The older cognacs take on an amber hue owing to the oak barrels in which they are aged.
9- Cocoroco
With approximately 96% alcohol content, Cocoroco is one of the strongest drinks in the world. It is native to Bolivia, where it is usually taken with lemon and hot tea. It is usually sold in can and is made of sugar cane and coconut.
10- Poitin
Spirits with a turbulent history dating back to a millennium ago, poitin is world renowned for its medicinal qualities.
Distilled in Ireland in small pots of copper ("poitinas"), the drink is traditionally made with barley or potatoes. In 1661, the Poitin was banned and his veto lasted for about three centuries, at a time when the English crown was trying to suppress Irish independence.
Twenty years later, this spirit drink is a symbol of the Irish resurrection as a nation. The alcohol content of poitin is 90%, being one of the strongest alcoholic beverages in existence.
References
- Griffin, C. (2015). 25 Facts You Probably Did not Know About Brandy. 7-1-2017, from AM 1450 Website: http://kmmsam.com/25-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-brandy/
- Greek Federation of Spirits Producers . (nineteen ninety five). Ouzo (Distilled Anis). 7-1-2017, from SEAOP
- Sinergy Distribution Group . (2016). Spirit Beverages. 7-1-2017, by Espasia
- Fontoura, M. (2016). 15 Things You Did not Know About Cognac . 7-1-2017, by Thrillist.
- Colonial Spirits. (2011). The Different Styles and Characteristics of Gin . 7-1-2017, of Colonial Spirits of Acton.
- Ford, S. (2012). 10 Things You Did not Know About Gin . 7-1-2017, of Food Republic.
- WIPO Lex . (1989). Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 of 29 May 1989 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks. 7-1-2017, from Wipo Int.
- VinePair (2014). What Are Spirits? . 7-1-2017, from VinePair Inc.