Alcoholic Beverages: Definition, Production, and Ingredients

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Alcoholic Beverages: Definition, Production, and
Ingredients
 
 
B L O G  |  V I L L A G E  W A R E H O U S E  W I N E  &  S P I R I T S
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Whether you choose to drink
beer, wines, or spirits, they all
contain alcohol. Get your facts
straight about alcohol and the
processes and ingredients
involved in its production. 
Alcohol drinking by different
cultures predates written
history. It is no longer
recommended for therapeutic
purposes because of its ability
to intoxicate users when taken
in large amounts. 
Whether you choose to drink
beer, wines, or spirits, they all
contain alcohol. Get your facts
straight about alcohol and the
processes and ingredients
involved in its production. 
What Is Alcohol?  
As mentioned above, alcohol
ethanol is present in beers,
wines, and spirits and may
cause drunkenness. 
Alcohol is classified as a
sedative-hypnotic drug. It can
depress the central nervous
system when taken
excessively. Alcohol may also
affect different organs,
depending on the blood
alcohol concentration (BAC)
over time. At lower doses, it
can act as a stimulant,
inducing feelings of euphoria. 
How Is Alcohol Made?  
Alcohol is produced by
fermenting a natural source of
sugar with a catalyst, usually
yeast. This process is called
fermentation. With
carbohydrates like starches
and sugars as the main source,
carbon dioxide and ethanol are
the end products of alcoholic
fermentation.
Many brands keep their
recipes a secret, known only
to their distillers or brewers.
However, all types of alcoholic
drinks follow this basic
process. 
Although all alcoholic
beverages are produced by
fermentation, others are
further purified via distillation. 
Fermented drinks are
consumed as is after the
removal of sediments through
filtration. The fermentation of
beers and wines may produce
other byproducts, which
include methanol, but they are
only present in extremely low
amounts and cannot cause
health problems. 
Distilled drinks, known as
spirits, start as fermented
drinks, but then distillation
occurs. The drink is heated at
a controlled temperature to
separate the mixture’s
components according to
boiling points. The portion that
boils first at a lower
temperature is known as the
“heads.” It includes methanol
and is removed quickly. The
ethanol boils next, which is
recovered and bottled. 
At higher temperatures, the
“tails” boil. Some of these may
be included in the final product
to add unique flavors. Some
additional ingredients like
coloring and flavoring are
mixed in distilled spirits to
make the final drink. 
Fermented alcoholic
beverages have lower alcohol
content than spirits. A typical
spirit is 80 proof, which is
equal to 40% alcohol by
volume. 
What Are the Main Ingredients
of Your Favorite Alcoholic
Beverages?  
Just about any plant matter can
be used to produce alcohol. Here
are some of the source materials
for several popular alcoholic
drinks. 
 
Port Wine 
 
The most special feature of port
wine is its sweet taste.
Traditionally made in Portugal,
this is a dessert wine that is made
using a wide variety of grapes or
sometimes blackberries. 
Beer
Barley, yeast, water, and hops
are the four main ingredients in
beer. The sugar from the
barley is extracted and
converted to alcohol by the
yeast through fermentation.
Other grains like rye, maize,
wheat, and rice can also be
used to make beers. 
Whiskey
Whiskey is a distilled alcoholic
drink, generally made from a
mash of grain like wheat, corn,
barley, and rye. 
The unique taste of this drink
is achieved after its
fermentation in a block of
charred white oak wood. Aging
only stops once it is bottled. A
good whiskey contains
approximately 40% alcohol. 
Vodka
Your favorite vodka is often
made from potatoes or
fermented cereal grains.
Others also make it from fruits
or sugar. You can drink vodka
as is or in a cocktail like a
Martini and Bloody Mary. 
Brandy  
Brandy can be made from any
fruit, but only grapes can give
it a higher acidity. Brandy is a
perfect after-dinner drink. It
contains approximately 35-
60% alcohol, and, unlike
whiskey, this is aged either
through caramel coloring or in
wooden barrels. 
Rum  
Another well-loved alcoholic
drink is rum. This one is made
using the products of sugar
cane and its juice that is
distilled. This liquid is then
aged in barrels. 
Gin  
Similar to vodka, gin gets its
name from Juniper berries. It is
made from citrus peel, juniper,
cinnamon, coriander, and
almond, with neutral grain
alcohol. The flavors in gin are
all-natural.
Vermouth  
Infused with seeds, roots,
barks, flowers, spices, and
herbs, then fortified by adding
brandy, this drink is an
aromatic wine. 
You can enjoy two types of
vermouth: the sweet, and the
dry. This is a favorite
ingredient in Martinis! 
Tequila 
Everybody loves tequila! This
popular Mexican drink is
distilled from blue agave. 
Drinking alcohol, whatever the
type, should be done in
moderation. Experts
recommend women stick to a
maximum of one drink per day,
and men to 2. 
Check some of the best
alcoholic beverages from the
shelves of Village Warehouse
Wine and Spirits. Check our
stores in in Avon, Edwards, or
Vail, CO. You are guaranteed
good quality and great prices!  
(970) 949-5999
PHONE NUMBER
https://villagewarehousewineandspirits.com/
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