This marks my first official post! I’m really excited to share some things with you today.
I know you're probably ready to start making cocktails at home. I promise, that's coming. Before we dive into making drinks, let's start by defining the common classifications of alcohol as they relate to cocktails.
Common Alcohol Classifications
Walk in to any liquor store or look at a backbar at your favorite bar and you'll find hundreds (sometimes thousands) of bottles. It's easy to get overwhelmed.
I'm here to help.
Most bottles fall into a few categories that I'll break down below.
This guide isn't definitive, but I think it should be a decent starting place to understand the world of cocktails, spirits, liqueurs and more.
Pro tip: Bookmark this page as you start purchasing your own bottles and begin experimenting. It can serve as a good reference as you begin your cocktail journey.
Spirit, liquor, hard liquor
Spirits, liquor and hard liquor are used interchangeably. A spirit is a distilled alcohol that doesn't contain any added sugar and is at least 18% alcohol by volume (ABV). On average, however, most sprits will have a 35–40% ABV.
In the US, spirits fall under seven core categories with many different subcategories within each (more on that in future posts):
Gin
Whisky
Rum
Vodka
Tequila
Mezcal
Brandy
There are some spirits that don’t fall neatly into the seven categories, like Aquavit and Absinthe.
Liqueur, cordial
Liqueurs, sometimes called cordials, are flavored spirits that have added sugar (at least 2.5% by weight) and are at least 15% ABV. You'll typically find flavors like fruits, flowers, plants, pure juice, vegetables, barks, nuts, herbs and/or spices added.
Liqueurs are typically flavored through a process like mixing, infusion, redistillation, percolation, or maceration.
Cheat Sheet: Liquor vs. Liqueur
Liquor = Distilled, no added sugar, average 40–50% ABV
Liqueur = Distilled, typically flavored, added sugar, average 15–30% ABV
Flavored spirit
A flavored spirit is similiar in definition to a spirit. The difference is the spirit has been infused with fruits, flowers, plants, pure juice, vegetables, barks, nuts, herbs, and/or spices. Sugars aren’t typically added to flavored spirits, but if there is any, there must be less than 2.5% by weight added sugar.
Fortified Wine
Fortified wine is a wine that has a distilled spirit (typically brandy) added to it. These wines usually average 15% ABV. They vary in sweetness depending on category and type, with some being very sweet and others being pretty dry.
There are many subcategories of fortified wines, but most commonly they include vermouth, sherry, and port.
Bitters
Typically, bitters are made with a neutral grain spirit (typically high-proof vodka) that's infused with herbs and botanicals. Aptly named, bitters have a distinct bitter flavor due to their ingredients.
Bitters technically fall into the category of spirits due to their high ABV. However, this sub-classification is important because of its ingredients and flavor profile.
Quick aside on bitters…
Because of the intensity and concentration of flavor, most drinks call for a few dashes (usually 1–4). A dash refers to about 1/32 ounces. I don't recommend measuring this way, however.
Instead, I suggest using a dasher bottle or relying on the built-in top that's found on your bitters bottle. The dasher top helps to regulate the flow of the bitter in your drink. One dash of the bottle will yield a proper dash.
Amaro (Amari)
Amaro (plural Amari) can technically fall into either a liquer or fortified wine category depending on how it’s made. I like to talk about it as its own thing, though.
Amari are made with a spirit and flavored with ingredients like fruits, flowers, plants, pure juice, vegetables, barks, nuts, herbs and/or spices. They're mostly lower ABV (15%-30%) and are most often Italian in provenance.
I'll spend a lot of time talking about Amari later in a dedicated post, because I love them so much!
High-proof, overproof
Any spirit that measures above 100 proof (50% ABV) is considered high-proof or overproof.
Barrel-proof, barrel strength, cask strength
Barrel-proof, barrel strength or cask strength refers to spirits (typically whiskey or rum) that hasn’t been diluted after aging in a barrel or cask. The average ABV of a barrel-proof spirit is 52–60%.
Navy strength
Navy strength1 is a spirit that's 57% ABV. This exact measurement is what makes a very specific overproof spirit. You'll typically find navy strength rum and gin on liquor store shelves.
I hope this breakdown helps quell any overwhelming feelings you may have when thinking about bottles.
I promise you it will help in the coming weeks when we start building out our home bar.
As a quick preview, I'll be sharing 12 core bottles to acquire for your bar (plus a few bonus bottles). With those bottles, the cocktail universe will open wide to you. I can't wait to share more with you.
I'll see you next Thursday.
Cheers,
Casey
There's some cool history on the origin of the term "Navy strength" if your interested in learning more.