Spirit Types
Your guide to the world's major spirit categories — from neutral vodka to smoky mezcal.
Vodka
Clean, neutral, slightly sweet
A neutral, clear spirit distilled from grains or potatoes. Vodka's clean profile makes it the most versatile cocktail base.
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Gin
Juniper, citrus, herbal, floral
A juniper-forward spirit with a complex botanical profile. London Dry is the most common style.
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Rum
Sweet, caramel, tropical, vanilla
Distilled from sugarcane or molasses. Ranges from light white rum to rich dark rum.
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Tequila
Agave, citrus, peppery, earthy
Made from blue agave in Mexico. Ranges from silver (blanco) to aged (anejo).
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Whiskey
Oak, vanilla, caramel, spice
A broad category of grain-based spirits aged in wooden casks. Includes bourbon, rye, scotch, and Irish whiskey.
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Bourbon
Caramel, vanilla, oak, sweet corn
American whiskey made from at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak barrels.
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Scotch Whisky
Smoky, peaty, malty, honey
Whisky distilled and aged in Scotland for a minimum of 3 years. Single malt and blended are the two main categories.
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Brandy
Fruit, oak, warm, rich
Distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice. Typically aged in oak casks.
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Cognac
Rich fruit, oak, vanilla, floral
Premium French brandy from the Cognac region, double-distilled and aged.
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Mezcal
Smoky, earthy, complex, herbal
Smoky Mexican spirit made from roasted agave. The broader category that includes tequila.
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Sake
Floral, fruity, umami, clean
Japanese rice wine brewed through fermentation. Ranges from dry to sweet.
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Absinthe
Anise, wormwood, herbal, intense
High-proof anise-flavored spirit historically associated with the Green Fairy. Used as a rinse or modifier.
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Vermouth
Herbal, bitter, aromatic, complex
Aromatized fortified wine infused with botanicals. Dry (white) and sweet (red) are essential cocktail modifiers.
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Amaretto
Almond, cherry, sweet, marzipan
Italian almond-flavored liqueur with a sweet, marzipan character.
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Kahlua
Coffee, chocolate, vanilla, sweet
Mexican coffee liqueur combining rum, sugar, vanilla, and arabica coffee.
Popular cocktails
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