Top 5 Types of Spirits and their Brand Names

What are the Different Types of Spirits

These are the different spirits types:

1. Whiskey

Whiskey is a spirit distilled from grain by pot still or patent still method. The grain used may be barley, maize, rye, wheat, or a mixture of grain in varying proportions, according to the regulations which monitor the grain and its proportion and various processes in whiskey making. The mixture may contain malted grain, unmalted grain, or both.

The distilled drink is then aged in wooden barrels, especially those made of oak. These barrels may be new or used and charred or uncharred on the inside, depending on the style of whiskey being produced.

The wood aging smoothes the harshness of the raw spirit and contributes flavor and color to the spirit. The minimum period of aging is two years but some are kept for more time, depending on the whiskey type.

Types of Whiskey

  • Scotch Whisky.
  • Malt whiskey.
  • Grain whiskey.
  • Blended whiskey.

Brands of Scotch Whiskey

  • Glenfiddich.
  • The Glenlivet.
  • Highland Park.
  • Bowmore.
  • Jura.
  • Glen Grant.
  • Glengoyne.
  • The Balvenie.
  • Macallam.
  • Springbank.
  • Johnnie Walker Red.
  • Ballantine’s.
  • Dewar’s.
  • Cutty Sark.
  • White Horse.
  • Black and White.
  • Dimple.
  • Macallam.
  • Springbank.
  • VAT-69
  • Johnnie Walker Blue.

Brand Names of Irish Whiskey

  • Jameson.
  • Paddy.
  • Kilbeggan.
  • Black Bush.
  • Powers.
  • Millars.
  • Green Spot.
  • Bushmills.
  • Greenore.

2. Brandy

Brandy is a spirit distilled from grapes. The spirit distilled from any other fruit other than grapes are fruit brandies and must be named after the fruit combined with the word “Brandy”.

Example- Cherry brandy, Peach brandy. These fruit brandies are classified as alcohol Blancs.

Brandy is produced by all the countries that produce wine. Cognac and Armagnac are brandies from France.

Brands of Cognac Brandy

  • Henessy.
  • Biscuit.
  • Rémy Martin.
  • Camus.
  • Moyet.
  • Delamain.
  • Hine.
  • Martell.
  • Otard.
  • Braastad.
  • Prunier.

Brand Names of Armagnac

  • Janneau.
  • Chabot.
  • Samalens.
  • Sempé.
  • Laubade.
  • Armagnac Lapostolle.

3. Gin

Gin is a spirit that is distilled from cereals and flavored with juniper berries and coriander seeds. The main gin-producing countries are England, Holland, Canada, and the USA.

Gin first originated over three centuries ago in Holland when Franciscus de la Boe, professor of medicine at Holland’s University of Leyden, mixed juniper berries and alcohol to cure kidney complaints. Know more about the history of gin.

They developed a liking for the taste of the spirit and took the art of making this spirit to England and soon it became very popular. They changed the name to Gen and later to Gin.

It was projected that one in every four houses in London was making gin and at one time London was thought to have more than 7000 in places.

Types of Gin

  • Dutch gin or Holland gin.
  • London dry gin.

4. Rum

Rum is a spirit distilled from fermented sugarcane by-products such as sugarcane juice, sugarcane syrup, and molasses. The most commonly used by-product is molasses. It is distilled at less than 190 proof and bottled at not less than 80 proof.

Rum was first produced in the Caribbean countries in the seventeenth century. The British Navy issued rum to warm its Sailors and to prevent scurvy. Rum is one of the important spirits on a bar shelf.

It is used in the preparation of many exotic cocktails. Rum is produced in all sugarcane-producing countries of the world.

Types of Rum

  • White and Light rum.
  • Gold rum.
  • Dark rum.
  • Spiced rum.
  • Flavored rum.
  • Overproof rum.
  • Premium rum.

Brands of Rum

  • Captain Morgan.
  • Myers.
  • Appleton Estate.
  • El Dorado.
  • Lamb’s Navy.
  • Mount Gay.
  • Ron Rico.
  • 10 Cane.

5. Vodka

Among all kinds of spirits, Vodka is a highly rectified spirit prepared from grain, potatoes, beet, grapes, or molasses. It is distilled in a patent still at a very high proof, 190 or higher. It is mostly filtered through activated charcoal or fine quartz sand to make it completely pure.

In the past, it was distilled only from potatoes but today it is made from grain, mostly wheat, rye, and corn.

Types of Vodka

  • Neutral vodka.
  • Gold vodka.
  • Flavored vodka.

Brand Names of Vodka

  • Belvedere.
  • Chopin.
  • Wyborowa.
  • Boru.
  • Saraf.
  • Ciroc.
  • Grey Goose.
  • Ketel One.
  • SKYY.
  • Square one.
  • Svedka.
  • Absolut.
  • Glacier.
  • Pearl.
  • Smirnoff.

Production Process of Spirits

The process of spirit production starts with the fine liqueur, the alcohol used must be as pure as possible. Constituents of alcohol, such as al-dehydrates that contribute to the aroma are undesirable in a liqueur base.

The method and the degree of rectification will determine the purity of the spirit. Whiskey, Rum, Brandy, Cognac, Fruit spirit, etc. all are used, although most liqueurs are made from neutral or grain spirit.

The main ingredients for the spirit production process are the following:

1. Flavoring Agents

In the spirit manufacturing process, Liqueurs are flavored with herbs, flowers, fruits, seeds, barks, and roots.

2. Sweeting Agents

The sweetening agents used in the production of liqueurs are sugar syrup, maple syrup, corn syrup, and honey. The sugar content of the liqueur distinguishes it from the other types of spirits.

3. Coloring Agents

Natural vegetable coloring agents or approved food dyes are used to color the liqueur. The production of spirits starts from the extraction of flavoring agents from the natural substances, then the flavoring agents are impregnated with the base spirit and distilled if necessary, sweetened, fined, and bottled as liqueurs.

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Dipayan Mondal
Dipayan Mondal

Dipayan is the author of this blog. He completed his hotel management degree from GNIHM, Kolkata. And he is very passionate about the hospitality industry. And right now, he is working as a successful hotelier in a 5-star hotel.