The 6 Types of Distilled Spirits

01) Brandy

Brandy is often enjoyed on its own. It’s popularly featured in several classic cocktails and tends to be used in drinks that include just a few ingredients. However, many modern brandy recipes break this mold and experiment with brandy in some unique flavor combinations.

• Distilled From:Brandy is distilled from fruit. While grapes are used for traditional brandy, the liquor can be distilled from other fruits such as apples, apricots, cherries, and peaches.
• Flavor Profile: Brandy tastes like fruity burnt wine with a pleasant oakiness.
• Aged: It varies by style, but brandy is typically aged in oak and often blended.
• Produced In: Brandy is distilled worldwide. Certain regions of the world make specific brandy styles, such as cognac, Armagnac, and pisco.
• Styles: Cognac, Armagnac, Spanish Brandy, Pisco, American Brandy, Grappa, Eau-de-vie, Flavored Brandy (non-grape brandy)

02) Gin

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.

• Distilled From: Gin is distilled from neutral grains such as barley, corn, rye, and wheat and flavored with a variety of botanicals, which vary by brand.
• Flavor Profile: Gin is herbal and dry. The primary flavor that defines gin comes from juniper berries, which impart its signature “piney” aroma and taste. The older style of gins (e.g., genever, Old Tom, Plymouth) have a gentle sweetness.
• Aged: Typically unaged
• Produced In: Gin is produced worldwide. Historically, it is best-known as a product of Europe (particularly the Netherlands) and the United Kingdom.
• Styles: London Dry Gin, Plymouth Gin, Old Tom Gin, Genever, New American (or Modern-Styled) Gin

03) Rum

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.

• Distilled From: Rum is distilled from some form of sugar. Molasses is very common, and some rum uses pure sugar cane.
• Flavor Profile: Rum has a sweet toasted sugar taste that varies by style and region.
• Aged: Light rum is typically not aged, and other rums are often aged in oak barrels to some extent. Due to climate, aging times vary greatly; warm climate rum requires less barrel time than rum from colder climates. Rum is also often blended.

04) Tequila

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.

• Distilled From: Tequila is distilled from the fermented juices of the agave plant.
• Flavor Profile: Most tequila has a vegetal, earthy flavor with semi-sweet and spicy tones.
• Aged: Blanco (or silver) tequila is un-aged. Reposado and añejo tequilas are aged, often in used whiskey (bourbon) oak barrels. Gold tequila is blended.

05) Vodka

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.

06) Whiskey

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.

• Distilled From: Whiskey is distilled from malted grains. It varies by style, but corn, rye, wheat, and barley are common. Many whiskies use a combination of a few grains in the mashbill.
• Flavor Profile: Roasted, malted grain with oak undertones should be expected in any whiskey. There are also distinct characteristics in each style.

If you really want to enjoy yourself with friends and make a memorable moment then visit a liquor store in Avon, Colorado where you can make sure that you taste the best liquor and have a pleasant time.