Whisky, rum, gin, vodka - behind the word "spirits" lies a whole world of flavour, craft and history. This guide covers the main types of spirits (alcohol): what they actually are, how they're made, what the different types are called, and how to enjoy each one properly. No jargon, just everything you really need to know.
What counts as a spirit? A spirit is an alcoholic drink made through distillation. Unlike beer or wine, which are made through fermentation, spirits start as a fermented liquid that's heated so the alcohol vapour can be collected. This process concentrates the alcohol and makes the drink stronger - usually between 30 and 45 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). That's why they're also called "hard liquor" or "high-proof drinks".
💡 By the way: this is exactly why we built the ski boot shot glass set - the glass shaped like a ski boot with a clip-on binding. More on that below ↓
How Spirits Are Made
Production follows almost the same basic principle every time, whether it's whisky or vodka. Four steps turn grain, fruit or sugarcane into a high-proof drink.
1. Fermentation: First, the ingredients are fermented with yeast. The yeast converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, producing a low-alcohol mash. 2. Distillation: This mash is heated. Because alcohol evaporates at a lower temperature than water, the alcohol vapour can be separated out and collected, producing a much stronger drink. 3. Ageing: Many spirits, such as whisky or rum, are then aged in wooden barrels, where they pick up colour and extra flavour. 4. Bottling: Finally, the spirit is diluted to drinking strength and bottled.
A small swap with a big effect: put the ski boot shot glasses with binding on the table instead of standard glasses, and you've already served up the first conversation starter.
The Main Types of Spirits (Alcohol)
Which spirit you end up with depends mainly on the ingredients and how it's aged. Here are the major categories you should know:
Whisky
Made from malted grain and aged in barrels, whisky owes its colour and depth to the wood. Whether it's Scotch whisky, American bourbon or rye whiskey, every region and grain brings its own flavour profile. Best enjoyed neat or with a drop of water to open up the aromas.
Rum
Rum is distilled from sugarcane or molasses and often carries notes of vanilla, caramel and spice. From light, pale rum for cocktails to dark, full-bodied rum for sipping neat, the range is huge - a drink that tastes of the Caribbean and open fires.
Gin
Gin is a clear spirit flavoured with juniper and other botanicals such as coriander, citrus peel or herbs. It's exactly these botanicals that make it the star of so many cocktails, above all the gin and tonic. No two gins taste the same.
Vodka
Vodka is distilled from grain or potatoes and filtered multiple times until it's as neutral and pure as possible. That very neutrality makes it the ideal base for mixed drinks - and a classic for a quick shot among friends.
Tequila
Tequila comes from Mexico and is distilled from the heart of the blue agave plant. Young tequila (Blanco) is clear and punchy, the star of the classic shot with salt and lime, while aged Añejo brings soft, woody notes. It shows just how different the raw material behind a spirit can be - here it's neither grain nor fruit, but a plant.
Brandy & Cognac
Brandy is an umbrella term for distilled wine, and its best-known example is French Cognac. These spirits age for a long time in the barrel, developing elegant notes of dried fruit, vanilla and oak. They're considered classics for a quiet after-dinner drink.
Liqueur
Liqueurs are sweetened spirits flavoured with fruit, herbs, cream or spices. The range spans everything from herbal liqueur to orange liqueur to creamy cream liqueur. Because they're sweeter and usually a bit milder, they're seen as especially beginner-friendly - the difference between a liqueur and other spirits and liqueurs in general comes down to that added sugar.
Famous Spirits and Their Countries of Origin
Many spirits are inseparable from their homeland - often protected by strict rules on origin. A quick tour around the world:
- Tequila: from Mexico, distilled from the blue agave.
- Sake: a rice wine from Japan, traditionally drunk at ceremonies too.
- Cognac: a fine brandy from the region of the same name in France.
- Ouzo: an anise spirit from Greece that turns milky when mixed with water.
- Absinthe: high-proof, made with wormwood, historically from Switzerland and notorious in the 19th-century art scene.
- Grappa: an Italian pomace brandy made from the leftovers of winemaking.
A small swap with a big effect: put the ski boot shot glasses with binding on the table instead of standard glasses, and you've already served up the first conversation starter.
How to Enjoy Spirits Properly
Good liquor isn't a competition, it's a pleasure. Bold, aged spirits like whisky or Cognac are at their best neat at room temperature, while clear spirits like vodka or gin are just as happy well chilled or mixed into a cocktail. The right glass matters too - it directs the aromas towards your nose and turns a sip into an experience. Storage matters as well: once opened, spirits keep for a long time thanks to their high alcohol content, but should be kept dark, cool and upright so the aroma and colour hold up.
If you like to serve your spirits with a wink, reach for the ski boot glass with a real binding - an eye-catcher that turns the shot into a talking point among friends. Looking for recipes using spirits? Take a look at our best après-ski cocktails, and if you're curious how these drinks developed over the centuries, read up on the history of alcohol.
A mounted ski glass on a real ski, on a chairlift shortly after ... - @apresallstars
The glasses are dishwasher-safe and have their own glass shape - the set with binding outlasts any plastic cup by a mile.
Culture and Tradition of Spirits
Spirits are more than just alcohol - they're a mirror of where they come from. In many cultures they mark big moments: a toast at weddings, a welcome drink, or part of a religious ritual. Scottish whisky, Caribbean rum, Japanese sake - each drink tells the story of a region and its people. So enjoying a spirit always means drinking a piece of culture along with it.
That's exactly why it's worth looking beyond the classics. Alongside traditional spirits there are fruitier, lighter alternatives like alcopops and other types of alcoholic drinks, which suit sociable get-togethers particularly well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spirits
What counts as a spirit?
Spirits include every alcoholic drink made through distillation - whisky, rum, gin, vodka, tequila, brandy, Cognac, fruit brandies and liqueurs. Beer and wine don't count, since they're made through fermentation and contain far less alcohol.
What's the difference between spirits and liqueur?
Liqueur is a sub-category of spirits. It's also distilled, but afterwards sweetened and flavoured with sugar, fruit, cream or herbs. That makes liqueur sweeter and usually a bit weaker than classic spirits like whisky or vodka.
How much alcohol do spirits contain?
Most spirits sit between 30 and 45 percent ABV. There are also stronger versions, such as overproof rum or absinthe, which can go well over 50 percent. The exact figure is always printed on the label as "% vol".
What's the best way to enjoy spirits?
Bold, aged spirits like whisky or Cognac are best enjoyed neat at room temperature, ideally with a drop of water. Clear spirits like vodka or gin taste great chilled or in a cocktail. The right glass and a slow, mindful sip make all the difference.
How are spirits made?
In four steps: first, the ingredients are fermented with yeast, then the mash is distilled to concentrate the alcohol. Many spirits are then aged in wooden barrels before finally being diluted to drinking strength and bottled.
Which spirit is best for beginners?
Mild, slightly sweet spirits like aged rum or a smooth bourbon are a good place to start. Gin in a gin and tonic, or a liqueur, are also an easy entry point, since they taste more approachable than a bold whisky or a high-proof vodka shot.
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