A brief glossary of spirits

Can vodka be made with honey? Does brandy have to add fruit? Is bourbon only made in the southern United States?

From Aquavit to vodka, alcoholic beverages can be divided into several categories based on distillation and fermentation. The magic comes from their craftsmanship and ingredients, and each spirit is completely unique. This glossary explains the key characteristics of the most popular spirits to help you become a mixologist.

Vodka - For many years, the U.S. government's Bureau of Alcohol and Tobacco Taxation and Trade has defined vodka as neutral, with no smell, taste, or color. And since brewers have to start with pure, nearly tasteless alcohol at 190 degrees, vodka can start its life. Common bases are grains such as wheat, but vodka can come from potatoes, corn, grapes or honey.

In 2020, the U.S. dropped the "unflavored" requirement and now allows sugar and citric acid, although the proven requirement is still valid and still not aging. The producers hope this means "the evolution of a different, tastier vodka" to express their ingredients.

DEGONG 500L copper vodka column still

Gin — Start with vodka, add botanicals. The word “gin” comes from “genever,” a Dutch word that means juniper. That’s the only botanical gin must have in order to be called gin, though most have many more.

Juniper flavors are often interpreted as tasting piney, green, waxy or herbaceous. Other common botanicals include citrus peel, coriander, cardamom, black pepper and sage, as well as more esoteric angelica root and orris root. London dry gins often have a bright, citrus flavor. Older styles, like genever or Plymouth gin, can add robust or spice flavors to a cocktail.

Brandy — Brandy is made from the juice of grapes, ripe berries and tree fruit like plums, pears and apples. Its roots are in Europe, where the French famously produce cognac and Armagnac as well as Calvados, an apple brandy.

Pisco, made in Peru and Chile, is a brandy. Eau de vie is brandy that has not been aged in barrels, which give the spirit flavor and color. Schnapps in Europe often refers to a brandy, though in the U.S. it’s usually a fruit liqueur.

Rum — Sugar, either in the form of molasses or sugar cane juice, is necessary to make rum, so it’s strongly associated with the Caribbean. The color of rum tells you little about its age: “caramel coloring is often added to young ‘gold’ rums as well as mature rums,” he says, while the inky color and bold character of molasses obscure age.

Variations of rum include rhum agricole, a funky, earthy style made directly from sugar cane instead of fermented molasses, and cachaça, which is made in Brazil and associated with the caipirinha cocktail.

Whiskey — Whiskey is made from corn, wheat, malted barley and/or rye, and is generally aged for at least two years to add its nuance of flavor. White whiskey is sometimes called moonshine. Many classic cocktails, including the mint julep, Sazerac, Old Fashioned and Manhattan, call for whiskey as their base.

Bourbon, made predominantly in the southern United States, must have a mash bill, or recipe, that’s at least 51% corn. It is usually sweeter than rye whiskey, which must be at least 51% rye and has more spice flavors.

Japanese, Canadian and Scotch whiskies drop the “e” in their name. Each whisky has its own parameters for blending, but all must be aged in wooden barrels for at least three years.

DEGONG micro whiskey distillation equipment

Tequila — Made in Mexico from blue agave, tequila has three main types: blanco, unaged; reposado, aged two to 12 months; and añejo, aged at least a year in oak barrels. Tequila is technically mezcal, which is a broader category that encompasses all agave-based spirits. Order mezcal in a U.S. bar, though, and you’ll get a smoky, traditional Mexican spirit.

Other terms to know:

An aperitif is served before dinner to awaken the palate. A digestif comes after dinner to help digestion. There are no strict rules for either.

Sherry, vermouth, port and Madeira are fortified wines, meaning a distilled spirit is added to the wine. They can be sweet or dry and may be very complex. These are usually served as aperitifs or digestifs.

Aquavit, popular in Scandinavia, is a grain spirit flavored with spices such as caraway, anise, fennel, cardamom or dill.

Liqueurs are often made by macerating fruit, herbs, spices or coffee in a neutral grain spirit. They tend to be lower in alcohol and may be sweetened with sugar.

Sake is a brewed Japanese beverage made from rice, with an alcohol level similar to wine. Shōchū in Japan and soju in Korea are both distilled, clear spirits made from rice, barley or sweet potatoes.