Bar Basics · Spirits 101
Types of AlcoholA Beginner's Guide to Spirits, Liqueurs, Wine and Beer (and What to Make With Each)
The main types of alcohol and liquor explained: vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, brandy, liqueurs, wine and beer, with one easy drink to make from each.
5 min read5 drinks ⇄ 5 twins ↓
The main types of alcohol are spirits (vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey and brandy), liqueurs, wine, beer and fortified wines like vermouth. Spirits are distilled and about 40% alcohol by volume (ABV); wine is about 12% and beer about 5%.
This beginner’s guide explains each type, what it is made from and how it tastes, and gives you one easy drink to try with each. Every drink has a zero-proof twin, too, so you can see what each spirit actually does in a glass.
What Are the Main Types of Alcohol?
Alcohol falls into two big groups: fermented drinks (wine, beer and cider), made by fermenting sugar into alcohol, and distilled drinks (spirits), made by concentrating that alcohol by distillation. Liqueurs are spirits with sugar and flavor added, and fortified wines like vermouth are wines with a little spirit added.
Wine and beer are fermented, not distilled, so they are much lower in alcohol than spirits.
Alcohol by Type: What It Is Made From, ABV and a Drink to Start With
| Type | Made from | Typical ABV | Taste | Start-here drink |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka | Grain or potato | 40% | Neutral, clean | Vodka soda |
| Gin | Grain, flavored with juniper | 40% | Piney, herbal | Gin and tonic |
| Rum | Sugarcane | 40% | Sweet, caramel | Dark rum and ginger beer |
| Tequila | Blue agave | 40% | Earthy, peppery | Margarita |
| Whiskey | Grain, aged in wood | 40 to 50% | Caramel, spice, smoke | Scotch and soda |
| Brandy | Wine or fruit | 40% | Fruity, warm | Horse’s Neck |
| Liqueur | Spirit plus sugar and flavor | 15 to 30% | Sweet, flavored | Orange liqueur in a margarita |
| Wine | Grapes | 11 to 14% | Fruity, dry or sweet | Spritz |
| Beer | Grain | 4 to 6% | Malty, hoppy | Shandy |
| Vermouth | Wine plus herbs | 15 to 18% | Herbal | Vermouth and tonic |
Spirits: Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Whiskey and Brandy
Clear spirits are vodka, gin and white rum. Vodka is neutral, gin is flavored with juniper and other botanicals and white rum is sweet and grassy. Tequila (blue agave) and mezcal (smoky, from roasted agave) are clear too.
Brown spirits are aged in wood, which gives them their color and flavor: bourbon and rye (American whiskey), Scotch and Irish whiskey, aged rum and brandy.
Horse’s Neck (brandy)
Brandy, ginger ale and a long spiral of lemon peel: a simple, old-fashioned highball.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
HighballBuilt2 minMedium · 12%
HighballBuilt2 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6 oz
The pour · 6 oz
Horse's Neck
Ginger Ale Peel Highball
Brandy, ginger ale and a long spiral of lemon peel.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLong spiral of lemon peel
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLong spiral of lemon peel
Method
- 1Hang a long spiral of lemon peel in a tall glass and fill with ice.
- 2Add the brandy and bitters.
- 3Top with ginger ale and stir once.
Method
- 1Hang a long spiral of lemon peel in a tall glass and fill with ice.
- 2Add the tea, bitters and salt.
- 3Top with ginger ale and stir once.
How the swap works
Tea brings the tannic warmth of brandy, and the lemon peel and ginger do the rest.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Dark Rum and Ginger Beer
Pour the rum last so it floats on top. It is the easiest rum drink there is.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
HighballBuilt2 minMedium · 11%
HighballBuilt2 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6½ oz
The pour · 5⅔ oz
Dark Rum and Ginger Beer
Molasses Ginger Fizz
Ginger beer with dark rum floated on top.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLime wedge
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLime wedge
Method
- 1Fill a tall glass with ice and add the lime juice.
- 2Top with ginger beer.
- 3Slowly pour the rum over the back of a spoon so it floats on top.
Method
- 1Stir the molasses into the tea in a tall glass, then add the lime juice and ice.
- 2Top with ginger beer.
- 3Garnish with a lime wedge.
How the swap works
A little molasses brings dark rum's sweet, burnt-sugar flavor, and tea adds depth.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Scotch and Soda
The simplest way to taste a whisky: just Scotch, soda and ice. A big clear ice cube keeps it from watering down.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
HighballBuilt2 minMedium · 12%
HighballBuilt2 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6 oz
The pour · 6 oz
Scotch and Soda
Smoky Tea and Soda
The simplest way to taste a whisky.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLemon peel
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLemon peel
Method
- 1Fill a tall glass with ice (or one large clear spear) and add the Scotch.
- 2Top with very cold soda and stir once.
Method
- 1Fill a tall glass with ice and add the tea and salt.
- 2Top with very cold soda and stir once.
How the swap works
Lapsang souchong is smoked over pine, so it has a campfire note that suggests peaty Scotch.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Mezcal and Grapefruit Soda
Smoky, tart and refreshing: mezcal, lime and grapefruit soda with a chili salt rim.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Rocks glassBuilt3 minMedium · 14%
Rocks glassBuilt3 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 5½ oz
The pour · 5 oz
Mezcal Grapefruit Soda
Smoky Grapefruit Soda
Smoky mezcal, lime and grapefruit soda.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishChili salt rim and a grapefruit wedge
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishChili salt rim and a grapefruit wedge
Method
- 1Rim a rocks glass with chili salt and fill with ice.
- 2Add the mezcal and lime juice.
- 3Top with grapefruit soda and stir once.
Method
- 1Rim a rocks glass with chili salt and fill with ice.
- 2Add the tea and lime juice.
- 3Top with grapefruit soda and stir once.
How the swap works
Smoked tea suggests mezcal's campfire flavor, and the chili salt rim adds the heat and bite.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Liqueurs and Bitters
Liqueurs are spirits with sugar and flavor added: orange, coffee, cherry, almond, herbs and many more. They run from about 15% to 30% ABV and add sweetness and aroma to cocktails. Bitters are highly concentrated flavorings used a few drops at a time; they are technically alcoholic, but so small a dose that they do not affect a drink’s strength.
Wine, Fortified Wine and Vermouth
Wine is fermented grape juice, at about 11 to 14% ABV. Fortified wines like vermouth and port have a little spirit added, which raises the strength to about 15 to 20% and helps them keep. Vermouth is wine flavored with herbs and spices, and it is the “dry” or “sweet” part of a martini or a Manhattan. Keep opened vermouth in the fridge.
Vermouth and Tonic
A low-alcohol aperitif to start a meal: vermouth, tonic, an orange slice and a sprig of rosemary.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Wine glassBuilt2 minLight · 5%
Wine glassBuilt2 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6 oz
The pour · 6¼ oz
Vermouth and Tonic
Herbal Tonic Spritz
A low-alcohol aperitif of vermouth and tonic.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishOrange slice and a sprig of rosemary
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishOrange slice and a sprig of rosemary
Method
- 1Fill a large wine glass with ice and add the vermouth.
- 2Top with tonic and stir gently.
- 3Garnish with an orange slice and rosemary.
Method
- 1Fill a large wine glass with ice and add the tea, verjus and rosemary syrup.
- 2Top with tonic and stir gently.
- 3Garnish with an orange slice and rosemary.
How the swap works
Verjus supplies vermouth's wine-like acidity, rosemary syrup stands in for the herbs and tonic adds bitterness.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Beer, Cider and Hard Seltzer
Beer, cider and hard seltzer are fermented drinks at about 4 to 8% ABV. They are not usually used in cocktails, with exceptions like the shandy (beer and lemonade) and the michelada. A can of hard seltzer is similar in strength to a beer. If you like the idea of a lighter fizzy drink, try vodka seltzer, which you control yourself.
What Is a Standard Drink?
In the US, a standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol: 12 oz of regular beer (5%), 5 oz of wine (12%) or 1½ oz of 80-proof (40%) spirits. A jigger shows you what 1½ oz actually looks like, which is often less than a bar or a heavy home pour. Cocktails often contain more than one standard drink.
Always drink responsibly and only if you are of legal drinking age.
Alcoholic Drinks to Start With
Start with one bottle from each family you actually like, and build from there. Vodka, gin and bourbon cover most of the classic cocktails, and one liqueur (orange) and one vermouth cover most of the rest.
Good next steps: the easy cocktail recipes, the classic cocktails and the vodka mixed drinks. The bar glossary explains the rest of the terms.
Non-Alcoholic Spirits: What They Are
Non-alcoholic spirits are distilled or macerated botanical drinks with the alcohol removed or never added, made to stand in for gin, whiskey or an aperitif. They usually contain up to 0.5% ABV, so check labels if you need a strict zero. You do not need them to make good zero-proof drinks, though: the card twins above use strong tea, ginger, citrus and salt.
See the non-alcoholic drinks guide and how to make mocktails for more.
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Last call
Questions from the bar
Q1What are the different types of alcohol?
The main types are spirits (vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, brandy), liqueurs, wine, beer, cider and fortified wines like vermouth. Spirits are distilled and about 40% ABV; wine, beer and cider are fermented and much lower.
Q2What is the difference between liquor and liqueur?
"Liquor" or "spirits" are distilled drinks like vodka, gin and whiskey, with no added sugar. A liqueur is a spirit with sugar and flavor added, such as orange, coffee or cherry liqueur, and it is sweeter and usually lower in alcohol.
Bar glossary ↗Q3What are the main types of liquor?
Vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey (including bourbon, rye and Scotch) and brandy are the main liquors, plus mezcal and cachaça as regional spirits.
Classic cocktails ↗Q4What is the strongest type of alcohol?
Neutral grain spirits can be as high as 95% ABV, but the strongest bottles you will usually see are overproof rums and some whiskeys at 50 to 75%. Most spirits are 40% (80 proof).
Q5What alcohol is best for beginners?
Start with a simple highball: vodka and soda, gin and tonic, or whiskey and ginger ale. Lower-alcohol options like a spritz or vermouth and tonic are also easy to enjoy.
Easy cocktail recipes ↗Q6What is a standard drink?
In the US, a standard drink is about 14 g of pure alcohol: 12 oz of beer (5%), 5 oz of wine (12%) or 1½ oz of 80-proof spirits. Cocktails often contain more than one standard drink.
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