How Well Do You Know Your Favorite Alcoholic Drinks?

Knowledge is power, which is why it always good to add to the things that we know in whatever aspect. This includes your favorite drinks. Think you know all there is to know about rum, tequila, vodka, whiskey and more? Here are some things that you may not have known about these brews.

Tequila

  • The blue agave plant used to produce this alcohol takes 8 to 12 years to mature before it can be used.
  • Reposado and Anejo tequila get their golden color from the barrels they are aged in. Reposados are aged for two to twelve months while Anejo’s stay in oak barrel for one to three years.
  • Traditional distilling involves pressing the mashed agave heart in a metal pot-using the hands and feet.
  • Pure tequila is made with 51% blue agave. Anything less than this is considered a “mixto” or mix.
  • When consumed in moderation this spirit has been shown to lower cholesterol, prevent stroke, diabetes and dementia.
  • Jose Cuervo is the best-selling tequila in the world. It comprises 35% of market share all across the globe.

Rum

  • Rum was first discovered in the Caribbean when plantation slaves discovered that they could distill molasses.
  • The term rum is taken from the Latin word for sugar which is saccharum.
  • The oldest rum distillery is located in Barbados.
  • 80% of the world’s production of this alcohol is still centered in the Caribbean. Bacardi, which is the world’s largest manufacturer of the spirit is based in Cuba.
  • White rum is a clear and light bodied version of this amber alcohol. It has a very subtle taste and is best used for mixing with fruity flavors. Captain Morgan’s white rum is 100 proof.
  • The flavor of rum will differ according to the region it is made in. The Dominican Republic produces full bodied aged rums, Jamaica has sweet aromatic versions and so on.

Whiskey

  • The oldest bottled whiskey recoded in the Guinness Book of Records is 150 years old.
  • There are five recognized whiskey regions in the world. These are Scotland, Ireland, Kentucky, Tennessee and Canada. New Zealand and Japan have been brewing the spirit as well but are not recognized by all experts.
  • Bourbon whiskey is the official drink of the United States. The most popular and widely bought brand of this throughout the world is Jim Beam.
  • Crown Royal is a Canadian whiskey that was the first to come up with the original maple blend. They also carry other flavors such as regal apple.
  • Scottish blends are only considered authentic if it is aged in a cask for a minimum of three years. Some Scottish brews are left to age for up to 70 years.
  • A whiskey blend is a mixture of whiskies from different distilleries to come up with a unique blend. A ratio of 40% malt whiskey and 60% grain whiskey is the common mixture.

Vodka

  • Perhaps the most popular of all European spirits, this is consumed largely in Russia, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Baltic countries, Ukraine and Lithuania.
  • Aside from just consuming this alcohol in great numbers, the same countries are the biggest producers for it as well.
  • Vodka is known for its odorless and colorless characteristics, making it undetectable. As a result it has become a preferred spirit for mixing cocktails.
  • This alcohol has become a hit not only with drinkers, but on the big screen as well. James Bond’s iconic vodka martini further raised the popularity of this alcohol in the 1960’s.
  • Although this spirit is neutral in taste and smell, many companies such as Ketel One Vodka and Absolut produce flavored versions. Lemon, Orange, cinnamon, ginger and currant are just some examples of these flavors.

Cognac

  • Another iconic drink, cognac quickly made its way to the top of the charts thanks to China’s upper class who consider this drink a status symbol.
  • Demand for this alcohol in China is so high that if 11% of the population had one bottle a day, manufacturers would not be able to produce enough. To maintain supplies and demand, the sale of cognac is regulated.
  • Hennessy is the most popular cognac brand in the world. It sells approximately 50 million bottles each. This is equivalent to 40% of cognac sales worldwide.

Herbal Liqueur

  • Originally created as a medicinal remedy, herbal liqueurs were used for treating flu symptoms, indigestion, cough and more.
  • Immersing herbs in alcohol was believed to increase its potency.
  • Jägermeister is the most popular spirit of this type. It was created by Curt Mast in 1935.
  • To this day the original recipe for Jägermeister containing 56 different herbs is still the same one used. It is also produced in the original factory that it started out in.
  • Despite the packaging, it is a myth that deer blood is included in the Jägermeister mix.

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