Ethanol-based White Alcohols are consumed worldwide in the form of wines, beers, and distilled spirits. They have cultural importance and are prized for their distinct tastes and scents. The majority of countries have laws governing the drinking of alcoholic beverages; more than 100 countries have particular laws. The four top-shelf clear liquors—tequila, gin, vodka, and rum—are well-liked by partygoers around the globe. Every distinct clear spirit has a distinct history, flavour, character, and cultural importance. Pour yourself a drink, settle in, and join us as we explore the rich and interesting world of alcoholic beverages!
Vodka
Description
Russian distilled White Alcohol known as vodka has been consumed since the 14th century and may be included in a wide variety of mixed cocktails. Vodka is a beverage of Polish, Russian, and Swedish origins that is mostly made of water and ethanol, occasionally flavoured with other ingredients. In the vodka belt of Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and Ukraine, it is customarily served “neat” and frequently freezer-canned.
Corn, sugar cane, fruits, honey, and maple sap are used as a basis by contemporary brands. While the United States requires a minimum alcohol percentage of 40%, the European Union has set a minimum alcohol content of 37.5% for vodka.
Brands
- Billson’s: https://billsons.com.au/
- Monopolowa: https://pasanellaandson.com/
Gin
Description
Originally produced as a medicinal liquor by European monks and alchemists, gin is a distilled alcoholic beverage. Later, it was changed in Flanders and the Netherlands to produce aqua vita using distillates of cereals and grapes. When jenever, a liquor from the Netherlands and Belgium, was introduced, gin became more and more popular in England. Gin became widely used as a result of the William of Orange-led Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the ensuing prohibitions on the import of French brandy.
Gin can be flavoured with herbs, spices, floral or fruit flavours, or a mixture of these when it is made from a variety of herbal components. It is frequently combined with tonic water and used as the foundation spirit for liqueurs produced with gin, such as sloe gin, which is typically created with sugar, fruit, and flavourings.
Brands
- Hendrick’s Gin: https://hendricksgin.com/
- Tanqueray: https://www.tanqueray.com/en-gb
White Wine
Description
White wine is a fermented wine that has been produced for at least 4,000 years. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling are some of the grapes used to make white wine. Additionally, grapes with coloured skin, like Pinot Noir, can be used to make it. White wine comes in a variety of varieties, such as sparkling, sweet, and dry varieties. Sweet wines are made by stopping the fermentation process before the sugars are transformed into alcohol, whereas dry white wine is acidic and fragrant. The majority of sparkling wines are white and are used in cuisine, desserts, and aperitifs.
Brands
- Burgundy: https://www.thewinepark.com/
- Sauvignon Blanc: https://www.thewinepark.com/
White Rum
Description
Sugarcane juice or molasses is fermented, distilled, and then frequently aged in oak barrels to create rum, a type of liquor. Rum, which has its origins in the Caribbean, is made in many of the world’s main sugar-producing nations, including the Philippines. Light rums, often called “silver” or “white” rums, are made with softer tastes and are frequently filtered to take out colour after maturing.
The majority, who are well-known for mixed beverages like daiquiris and mojitos, are from Puerto Rico. A favourite beverage of pirates, rum is manufactured from fermented sugarcane juice or molasses, which gives it a sweet flavour and fragrant fruitiness. It is the main ingredient in tropical drinks like mojito and daiquiris.
Brands
- Ten To One: https://www.tentoonerum.com/
- Plantation 3 Stars Silver Rum: https://www.plantationrum.com/
Sake
Description
Sake, sometimes referred to as Japanese rice wine, is an alcoholic beverage fermented from polished rice that has had the bran removed. It is made by fermenting starch into sugars, which then ferment into alcohol, in a method akin to that of making beer. Sake, wine, and beer have different alcohol contents: undiluted sake has 18–20% ABV, wine typically has 9–16% ABV, while most beers have 3-9% ABV.
Any alcoholic beverage can be referred to as sake in Japan; it is branded as seishu, which translates to “refined alcohol.” Sake is served in Japan with much ceremony. It is drunk from a tiny porcelain cup called a sakazuki and is slowly warmed in a small earthenware or porcelain bottle. Depending on the kind, different serving temperatures are advised.
Brands
- Hakkaisan Tokubetsu Junmai: https://www.tippsysake.com/
- Shichida Junmai: https://www.tippsysake.com/
Soju
Description
Korean distilled alcohol is known as soju, and it is transparent and colourless. Usually, it is drinking neat. Its alcohol percentage ranges from 12.9% to 53% alcohol by volume (ABV), while low-alcohol soju—below 20%—has gained popularity since 2007. Traditionally, the Andong region—as well as other areas and nations—has generated the majority of soju brands.
Although rice was traditionally used to make soju, South Korean ethanol manufacturers use alternative starches instead of rice, such as cassava because their capital costs are much cheaper. Even while soju has a different alcohol concentration than various other East Asian liquors, it typically looks identical to them.
Brands
- Yobo Soju: https://yobospirits.com/
- Sulseam Mir Soju: https://www.woorisoul.com/sulseam
Tequila
Description
Grown in the Jaliscan Highlands of central-western Mexico, the blue agave plant yields the distilled beverage known as tequila. The area is well-known for its red volcanic soils and more than 300 million harvested plants every year. In 2006, the Tequila area was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Only Jalisco and a few select towns in Michoacán, Guanajuato, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas make tequila.
More than 40 nations have recognized it as a product with a Mexican designation of origin, and since 1997, NAFTA, bilateral agreements, and the European Union have protected it. Around the world, tequila is often served neat in Mexico and as a shot with lime and salt. Its distinct taste profile consists of earthy, herbaceous, and spicy notes.
Brands
- Herradura Silver Tequila: https://www.herradura.com/
- Sauza Silver Tequila: http://www.sauzatequila.com/
Conclusion
Due to their distinct flavours and aromas, alcoholic beverages containing ethanol, such as rum, vodka, gin, and vodka, are drunk all over the world. The top four clear liquors on the shelf are vodka, rum, gin, and tequila. Mixed cocktails have been known to use vodka, whereas gin is often flavoured with spices or herbs. Rum is formed from fermented sugarcane juice or molasses, while white wine is a fermented wine.
A fermented drink created from polished rice is called sake. Korean distilled alcohol, or soju, is clear and colourless. Tequila is a distilled liquor made in central-western Mexico. They are the best team when it comes to party-starting spirits since each sip has a distinct flavour.