Understanding Liquor, Liqueurs, & Spirits

Liqueurs are just as vital to a well-stocked bar as the base spirits. These are the distilled spirits that give drinks flavor. Liqueurs come in almost every flavor imaginable, from sweetened fruits to snappy spices and proprietary blends that are truly unique.

Learn Your Liqueurs
Creme vs. Cream Liqueurs: As you explore liqueurs, you will come across many that use the word "crème." These are not creamy liqueurs even though crème does translate from French to mean cream.

Liqueurs like crème de cassis (black currant) and crème de fraises (strawberry) are typically made with more sugar than the average liqueur. They are syrupier, but they are not creamy. Quite often, crème liqueurs use the French word for the flavor. For example, crème de banane (banana). Cream liqueurs, on the other hand, are those like Irish cream and RumChata that have a dairy base. These are actually creamy.


Liquors and Spirits
There are six types of liquor that you will use most often in the bar. These are often referred to as "base distilled spirits" because they form the base for many mixed drinks and even act as the foundations for many liqueurs.

Each type has its own primary characteristics, a few styles and variations, and many brands to choose from:

Brandy: Distilled from fruits (most commonly grapes), the name derives from brandewijn, the Dutch word meaning "burnt wine."

Gin: Often distilled from grains, gin includes the flavorings of botanicals. Juniper is considered the trademark flavor.

Rum: Made by distilling sugar or molasses, rum is a sweeter liquor and is produced throughout the world.

Tequila: Strictly a product of Mexico, tequila is distilled from the agave plant and has a distinct earthy flavor.

Vodka: The most used liquor, vodka can be distilled from any number of ingredients though grains and potato are most common.

Whiskey: Whiskey is a complex category with a variety of styles, though they all begin with a distillate of fermented grains. Whiskies are almost always aged; moonshine is the primary exception.


The link below is an A to Z of all liquors and spirits