Top Ten Spirits

Vodka is a chameleon and blends seamlessly with just about anything. This is no accident: While there are no universal rules for producing the spirit, the final product is supposed to be colorless, odorless and tasteless.

And that’s why “spirits” are differentiated in two ways: they’re distilled, and they have higher average ABVs, from around 20% to as high as 80 or 90% ABV (most spirits fall somewhere much closer to the middle). Of course, the term “spirit” (aka liquor) doesn’t refer to everything you see in a liquor store besides wine and beer.

There’s a lot more that differentiates one spirit from another, but this generally—plus centuries of distilling history—is what differentiate spirits in the alcohol world. Spirits are the highest ABV products of the yeast-based fermentation of a liquid brewed to have fermentable sugars.

Spirits are the highest ABV products of the yeast-based fermentation of a liquid brewed to have fermentable sugars. Unlike beer or wine, however, spirits are the product of a second step called “distillation” that further fortifies them.

Genever is also called Dutch Gin or Holland Gin, and is most like the original style of gin. It is made by macerating a low proof malt spirit with botanicals (mainly juniper), and the resulting spirit has a character similar to vodka, with more earthy and malty notes.

There’s a lot more that differentiates one spirit from another, but this generally—plus centuries of distilling history—is what differentiate spirits in the alcohol world. Spirits are the highest ABV products of the yeast-based fermentation of a liquid brewed to have fermentable sugars.

Vermouth The world would be a lot less interesting without vermouth. You wouldn’t be able to make a Dry Martini, a Manhattan or countless other classic and modern cocktails.

Baijiu (Chinese: 白酒; pinyin: báijiǔ), also known as shaojiu or archaically as sorghum wine, is a Chinese alcoholic beverage made from grain. Báijiǔ literally means "white (clear) alcohol" or liquor, and is a strong distilled spirit, generally between 40 and 60% alcohol by volume (ABV).