Distilled beverage 1318497 223614854 2008-07-04T22:05:46Z Wahrmund 4752225 /* External links */ Copy-editing. Rmv bad link. {{redirect|Liquor|the cartoon character|George Liquor}} [[Image:Liquor Still Frankfort 489226997.jpg|thumb|An old whiskey still.]] A '''distilled beverage''', '''liquor''', or '''spirit''' is a drinkable liquid containing [[ethanol]] that is produced by means of [[distillation|distilling]] [[Fermentation (food)|fermented]] grain, fruit, or vegetables. This excludes undistilled fermented beverages such as [[beer]] and [[wine]].<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9106006/distilled-spirit Britannica Online Encyclopedia: distilled spirit/distilled liquor]</ref> The term ''spirit'' generally refers to a distilled beverage that contains no added sugar and has at least 35% [[alcohol by volume]]{{Fact|date=May 2008}}. Popular spirits include [[absinthe]], [[baijiu]], [[brandy]], [[gin]], [[grappa]], [[rum]], [[tequila]], [[vodka]], [[whisky]], and [[Schnapps|German Schnaps]]. Distilled beverages that are bottled with added sugar and added flavorings, such as [[Grand Marnier]], [[Frangelico]], and [[Schnapps|American schnapps]], are [[liqueur]]s. [[Fortified wine]]s are created by adding a distilled beverage to a wine. ==Distillation history== Since 1438 '''burned water''' is mentioned in the high noble German County of [[Katzenelnbogen]]<ref> http://www.graf-von-katzenelnbogen.de/ The County of Katzenelnbogen, Burned Water and the first Riesling of the World</ref>. It was served in a long, tall glass called goderulffe. [[Beer]] and [[wine]] were historically limited to a maximum alcohol content of about 15% by volume, beyond which yeast is adversely affected and cannot ferment. Alcohol levels higher than 15 percent have been obtained in a number of ways. Wine heated in an animal bladder draws out water and leaves alcohol behind (the bladder has a natural property which removes water), but there is no evidence this method was used before modern times. {{Fact|date=July 2007}} The first evidence of distillation comes from [[Babylonia]] and dates from the [[2nd millennium BC]]. Specially shaped clay pots were used to extract small amounts of distilled alcohol through natural cooling for use in perfumes. By the 3rd century AD, [[alchemy|alchemists]] in [[Alexandria]], [[Egypt]], may have used an early form of distillation to produce alcohol for sublimation or for colouring metal.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} === Middle East === Alcohol was fully purified for the first time by [[Alchemy (Islam)|Muslim chemists]] in the 8th and 9th centuries.<ref name=Hassan>[[Ahmad Y Hassan]], [http://www.history-science-technology.com/Articles/articles%2072.htm Technology Transfer in the Chemical Industries]</ref> The development of the [[still]] with cooled collector—necessary for the efficient distillation of spirits without freezing—was an invention of Muslim alchemists during this time. In particular, [[Geber]] (Jabir Ibn Hayyan, 721–815) invented the [[alembic]] still; he observed that heated wine from this still released a flammable vapor, which he described as "of little use, but of great importance to science". Not much later [[Al-Razi]] (864–930) described the distillation of alcohol and its use in medicine. By that time, distilled spirits had become fairly popular beverages: the [[poet]] [[Abu Nuwas]] (d. [[813]]) describes a wine that "has the colour of rain-water but is as hot inside the ribs as a burning firebrand". The terms "alembic" and "alcohol", and possibly the metaphors "spirit" and ''aqua vitæ'' ("life-water") for the distilled product, can be traced to [[Alchemy (Islam)|Arabic alchemy]].<ref name=Hassan/> Names like "life water" have continued to be the inspiration for the names of several types of beverages, like [[Goidelic languages|Gaelic]] [[whisky]], [[Scandinavia]]n [[akvavit]], [[France|French]] [[eaux-de-vie]] and possibly [[vodka]]. === Central Asia === [[Freeze distillation]], the "Mongolian still", is known to have been in use in Central Asia sometime in the early [[Middle Ages]]. The first method involves freezing the alcoholic beverage and removing water crystals. The freezing method had limitations in geography and implementation and thus did not have widespread use, but remained in limited use, for example during the American colonial period [[applejack (beverage)|applejack]] was made from [[cider]] using this method.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} === Medieval Europe === Distilled alcohol beverages first appeared in Europe in the mid-[[12th century]] among alchemists, who were more interested in medical "elixirs" than making gold from lead. It first appears under the name ''aqua ardens'' (burning water) in the ''Compendium Salerni'' from the medical school at [[Salerno]]. The recipe was written in code, suggesting it was kept a secret. [[Taddeo Alderotti]] in his ''Consilia medicinalis'' referred to the "serpente" which is believed to have been the coiled tube of a still. [[Paracelsus]] gave alcohol its modern name, taking it from the Arabic word which means "finely divided", in reference to what is done to wine. His test was to burn a spoonful without leaving any residue. Other ways of testing were to burn a cloth soaked in it without actually harming the cloth. In both cases, to achieve this effect the alcohol had to have been at least 95 percent, close to the maximum concentration attainable through fractional distillation (see [[Ethanol#Purification|purification of ethanol]]). Claims on the origins of specific beverages are controversial, often invoking national pride, but they are plausible after the 12th century when [[Irish whiskey]], German [[Hausbrand]] and German [[brandy]] can all be safely said to have arrived. These beverages would have had much lower alcohol content than the alchemists' pure distillations (around 40 percent by volume), and were likely first thought of as medicinal elixirs. Consumption of distilled beverages rose dramatically in Europe in and after the mid 14th century, when distilled liquors were commonly used as remedies for the [[Black Death]]. Around 1400 it was discovered how to distill spirits from wheat, barley, and rye beers; even sawdust was used to make alcohol, a much cheaper option than grapes. Thus began the "national" drinks of Europe: [[jenever]] (Belgium and the Netherlands), [[gin]] (England), [[schnapps]] (Germany), [[grappa]] (Italy), [[akvavit]] (Scandinavia), [[vodka]] (Russia and Poland), [[rakia]] (the Balkans), [[poitín]] (Ireland). The actual names only emerged in the 16th century but the drinks were well known prior to that date. === Modern distillation === The actual process of distillation itself has not changed since the 8th century. There have, however, been many changes in both the methods by which organic material is prepared for the still and in the ways the distilled beverage is finished and marketed. Knowledge of the principles of sanitation and access to standardised yeast strains have improved the quality of the base ingredient; larger, more efficient stills produce more product per square foot and reduce waste; ingredients such as [[maize|corn]], [[rice]], and [[potatoes]] have been called into service as inexpensive replacements for traditional grains and fruit. Chemists have discovered the scientific principles behind aging, and have devised ways in which aging can be accelerated without introducing harsh flavours. Modern filters have allowed distillers to remove unwanted residue and produce smoother finished products. Most of all, marketing has developed a worldwide market for distilled beverages among populations which in earlier times did not drink spirits. [[Microdistilling]] is a trend that began to develop in the [[United States]] following the emergence and immense popularity of [[microbrewing]] and [[craft beer]] in the last decades of the 20th century. It is specifically differentiated from megadistilleries in the quantity, and arguably quality, of output. In most jurisdictions, including those which allow unlicensed individuals to [[homebrewing|make their own beer and wine]], it is illegal to distill beverage alcohol without a license - with the notable exception of [[New Zealand]] where personal alcohol distillation is legal (although selling still requires an appropriate license).<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.customs.govt.nz/manufacturers/licensing/exemptions.asp|title=Exemptions from manufacturing licensing requirements|publisher=New Zealand Customs Service|accessdate=2008-03-24}}</ref> Although illegal, [[moonshining]] has a long tradition in some locations. ==Chemical profile== A distilled beverage is typically manufactured by distillation, aging if applicable and dilution to the set percentage of [[ethanol]]. Distillation is done at least twice, due to the chemistry involved. Copper is typically used as a chemically near-inert metal for the equipment. However, it is still very much a [[transition metal]] [[catalyst]], and [[catalyze]]s the formation of poisonous and harmful by-products, such as [[ethyl carbamate|urethane]]. Removal of these is necessary and warrants a second distillation step. Most "colored" alcohols are distilled in a batch process, but continuous processes are found in the production of flavorless [[vodka]] and similar drinks. After distillation, the alcohol may be aged in traditional oak casks. Whiskey, for example, is aged at 77%. Dilution is done to attain the standard percentage, from 30 to 80%. The (arbitrary) percentage of 40% is the most common "standard". However, a lower percentages such as 38% may make the drink more palatable. Also people often mix water into the drink to suit their tastes. The final drink contains water, [[ethanol]], [[fusel oil]]s, and flavoring compounds. In some cases, sugar is added. Fusel alcohols are higher alcohols than ethanol, are mildly toxic, and have a strong, disagreeable smell and taste. Fusels in moderate quantities are considered to be essential parts of the taste profile of flavored drinks such as [[whiskey]] and [[cognac (drink)|cognac]]. In drinks intended to be relatively flavorless (such as [[vodka]]), they are defects. Incompetently distilled drinks also contain distillation heads, which are poisonous in large amounts and consist mostly of [[methanol]] and foul-smelling byproducts of fermentation. ==Etymology== The source for "liquor" and its close relative, ''liquid'', come from the Latin verb ''liquere'', meaning "to be fluid." According to the [[Oxford English Dictionary]], an early use of the word in the English language, meaning simply "a liquid", can be dated to at least 1225. The first use OED mentions in reference to a "liquid for drinking" comes from the early to mid 1300s, while its reference to an intoxicating alcoholic drink appears by at least the 16th century. ==Serving== Spirits may be served in a variety of ways, some of which include: * [[Wiktionary:On the rocks|On the rocks]] — spirits are to be served and drunk over ice. * [[Straight up (bartending)|Straight up]] — the spirit is to be shaken or stirred with ice, but drunk by itself, with the ice filtered out. * Neat — the spirit is served and consumed by itself, with nothing added. * With a simple mixer such as tonic water, cola, etc. * With water * With water poured over sugar, e.g. [[absinthe]]. * As ingredients in [[cocktail]]s ==See also== *[[American Whiskey Trail]] *[[Eau de vie]] *[[Moonshine]] *[[Rectified spirit]] *[[Fractional freezing]], sometimes called "freeze distillation" ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==References== {{Citations missing|date=August 2007}} * [[Joseph Needham|Needham, Joseph]]; <cite>Science and Civilization in China</cite>; Cambridge University Press; ISBN 0-521-08732-5; hardcover, 2004 * Forbes, Robert; <cite>Short History of the Art of Distillation from the Beginnings Up to the Death of Cellier Blumenthal</cite>; Brill Academic Publishers; ISBN 90-04-00617-6; hardcover, 1997 * Multhauf, Robert; <cite>The Origins of Chemistry</cite>; Gordon & Breach Science Pub; ISBN 2-88124-594-3; paperback, 1993 * The Word Origin Calendar,2006, word of the day May 23, 2006 ==External links== *[http://www.alexreisner.com/spirits History and Taxonomy of Distilled Spirits.] *[http://homedistiller.org Home Distillation of Alcohol]— A comprehensive guide. *[http://www.burningstill.com/ Burning Still]— Dedicated to the craft distilling community. *[http://www.mezcal.tv Mezcal TV — A website dedicated to mezcal, a traditional Mexican spirit.] *[http://www.discovervodka.com A website dedicated to categorizing and listing all types, flavors, and varieties of vodka.] {{Alcoholic beverages}} [[Category:Alcohol]] [[Category:Distillation]] [[Category:Distilled beverages|*]] [[cs:Pálenka]] [[de:Spirituosen]] [[es:Bebida destilada]] [[fr:Spiritueux]] [[it:Acquavite]] [[la:Distillatio alcoholis]] [[nl:Sterke drank]] [[ja:蒸留酒]] [[no:Brennevin]] [[nn:Brennevin]] [[pt:Bebida destilada]] [[ksh:Schabau (Üvversich)]] [[qu:Hayaq yaku]] [[ru:Крепкие спиртные напитки]] [[fi:Viina]] [[sv:Spritdryck]] [[zh:烈酒]]