THE 10 MOST POPULAR SPIRITS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The spirits or distilled are those obtained by distillation from wine, fruit juice, fermented plant or also a starchy material (such as different beads). The alcoholic content of spirits is higher than that of beer or wine.

According to the Federation of Spirits Beverages (FEBE), spirits are “those drinks with alcoholic content from the distillation of agricultural raw materials (grapes, cereals, nuts, beets, cane, fruit, etc.). Thus, they are products such as brandy, whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, or liqueurs, among others. "

It is believed that the term "spirits" referred to this type of distillates infers that they are drinks that "cheer up or elevate the spirit", since they exhale a very subtle vapor due to ethanol.

Top 10 spirits

1- Ron

This spirit drink is obtained exclusively from alcoholic fermentation and the distillation of molasses or sugar cane syrups.

Depending on the type of rum, it can be used for cocktails, mixed or straight (on the rocks). There are rums of different types and ages that are made using traditional aging processes.

Rum is produced all over the world and each region and country has different laws and traditions used in its production. Christopher Columbus introduced sugar cane to the West Indies in 1493.

The first rums were produced in Brazil, Barbados and Jamaica, becoming the first spirit drink in the New World. Rums like Bacardi 151 have 75.5% alcohol content.

2- Vodka

It is a spirit drink produced by the rectification of ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin or by filtration through activated carbon. Then simply proceed to distillation.

Only by careful selection of refined grains and using crystal clear water can a pure and neutral product be obtained. Flavoring gives vodka special organoleptic characteristics, in particular its mild flavor. Among the best vodkas we find:

• Gray Goose: vodka of French origin, made from wheat and produced since 1997. Its taste is very mild and can be used in various types of cocktails.
• Devil's Spring: it is one of the strongest drinks on the planet as it contains 80% pure alcohol. Devil's Spring is primarily used in cocktails mixed with citrus, lavender, tea, herbs, peppers, radishes, and nuts.
• Crystal Head: “Premium” class vodka of Canadian origin with an original design bottle. Crystal Head is a new brand (produced since 2007). Many people connect their popularity to the design of the bottle but it is a very nice and pure tasting vodka, free of additional flavors and any other substance.

3- whiskey

It is an alcoholic beverage 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, mashing, fermentation, and distillation. The whiskey is aged for at least 2 years.

This spirit drink is sold with a content of 40% and 50% alcohol. The word whiskey or whiskey (in the United States or Ireland) comes from the Scottish Gaelic "uisge beatha" and the 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, as Whiskey is only Scotch and whiskey is everyone else.
• Whiskey is beer (without the hops) that has been distilled two or three times.
• True whiskey drinkers do not add ice as it dulls the flavor, lowers the temperature of the whiskey too much and ends up inhibiting the flavor and freezing its aroma.
• There are between 5 and 7 different main regions where whiskey is distilled. The five regional whiskeys always included in this list are: Scotch Whiskey, Irish Whiskey, Kentucky (a Bourbon), Canadian Whiskey and Tennessee Whiskey. The two controversial regional whiskeys that are not always included in the list are Japanese and New Zealand.

If you're interested in learning more about this spirit drink, learn more about "10 Surprising Health Benefits of Whiskey."

4- Brandy

The name brandy comes from the Dutch word brandewijn, which means "burnt wine." Brandy's origins can be traced back to the expanding Muslim Mediterranean states in the 7th and 8th centuries.

It is necessary to know that everything that ferments can be distilled and become 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 makers double distil their brandy, which means they concentrate the alcohol twice. Most of the brandy consumed is less than six years old. Some cognacs can hold brandy from up to 100 different barrels.

Fruit brandy is the default term for all brandies that are made from fermenting fruits other than grapes.

Calvados, the 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 back to the early 15th 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 time, Leland Stanford, founder of Stanford University, was the world's largest brandy producer.

5- Geneva

Gin is an alcoholic beverage produced from a mixture of cereal grains, generally consisting of corn, rye, barley and wheat. The predominant flavor and aromas of this spirit come from the botanical juniper berries.

Other ingredients that are traditionally used to complete the flavor profile of gin include coriander, lemon, and orange peels, fennel, anise, and almonds.

There are traditionally four types of gin, although many producers 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. London Dry gin is the most popular and tends to be very aromatic and flowery. London Dry gin is the favorite for making cocktails like martini.

6- Amaretto

Amaretto is an almond-flavored liqueur that is originally from Italy. Although some amaretto brands make use of almonds in the distillation process, many use apricots, as this fruit also imparts an almond flavor.

30 ml of amaretto has around 100 calories, being mainly carbohydrates, with few vitamins and minerals. It is a sweet liquor that is normally served as a digestive drink.

The percentage of alcohol by volume of amaretto differs depending on the brand. Not all types of amaretto are made the same 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 homemade amaretto consists of simple syrup combined with vodka, almond extract and optionally vanilla extract, and this type of homemade amaretto has a relatively high sugar content.

7- Brandy

They are all spirits with a high degree of alcohol content. They are usually dry or aromatic and are obtained by distillation of grains, sugarcane, potato, among other musts and grains.

The brandy is prepared from its raw materials. There are many types of brandy, the most popular ones have an anise flavor and are regularly 30% alcoholic and 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 just about anything. The dividing line between schnapps and flavored vodkas is vague and more cultural than stylistic.

Although European schnapps tend to be drier than American flavored vodkas and spirits. Russians make a brandy with cumin seeds called Kümmel.

The «Chinchón» is a type of anise brandy 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, “ouzo”, is also a spirit drink of distilled anise, 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 that surround the town of Cognac, on the western coast of France. All brandy is brandy, but not all brandy is brandy.

Within this "delimited zone" (as the French cognac authorities call it), there are six production zones defined by their terroir.

From the highest quality (calcareous soil, rich in limestone, which retains the greatest amount of moisture and reflects the greatest amount of sunlight to the grapes) to the lowest (mostly clay or sandy soil).

Virtually all cognacs are blended from various distillates of different ages from these six regions for a fuller flavor.

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. Older cognacs take on an amber hue due to the oak of the barrels in which they are aged.

9- Cocoroco

With approximately 96% alcoholic content, Cocoroco is one of the strongest beverages in the world. It is originally from Bolivia, a country where it is usually drunk with lemon and hot tea. It is usually sold in a can and is made from sugar cane and coconut.

10- Poitin

A spirit drink with a turbulent history that dates back a millennium, poitin is known worldwide for its medicinal qualities.

Distilled in Ireland in small copper pots ('poitinas'), the drink is traditionally made from barley or potatoes. In 1661, the Poitin was banned and its veto lasted for about three centuries, at the time when the English crown was trying to suppress Irish independence.

Twenty years later, this spirit is a symbol of the Irish resurrection as a nation. The alcohol content of poitin is 90%, being one of the strongest alcoholic beverages that exist.

References

1. Griffin, C. (2015). 25 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Brandy. 1-7-2017, from AM 1450 Website: kmmsam.com
2. Greek Federation of Spirits Producers. (nineteen ninety five). Ouzo (Distilled Anis). 1-7-2017, by SEAOP
3. Sinergy Distribution Group. (2016). Spirit Beverages. 1-7-2017, from Espasia
4. Fontoura, M. (2016). 15 Things You Didn't Know About Cognac. 1-7-2017, by Thrillist.
5. Colonial Spirits. (2011). The Different Styles and Characteristics of Gin. 1-7-2017, by Colonial Spirits of Acton.
6. Ford, S. (2012). 10 Things You Didn't Know About Gin. 1-7-2017, from Food Republic.
7. WIPO Lex. (1989). Regulation (EEC) No. 1576/89 of the Council, of May 29, 1989, which establishes the general rules regarding the definition, designation and presentation of spirits. 1-7-2017, from Wipo Int.
8. VinePair (2014). What Are Spirits ?. 1-7-2017, from VinePair Inc.