Glossary of Bar Terms Flashcards
American Whiskey
a. An american spirit made from a fermented mash of grain, distilled to less than 95% abv
b. stored in oak barrels
c. bottled no less than 40% abv
d. can contain other distillates that do not meet these standards
e. brands
i. Random The Emerald, Koval Four Grain
Bourbon
a. An American spirit (does not have to be made in Kentucky) made up of at least 51% corn (typically, but not required, including rye or wheat and malted barley)
b. Distilled no higher than 80% abv
c. Aged in charred new oak barrels at no higher than 62.5%abv.
d. Bottled no less than 40%abv
e. Brands
i. Four Roses Yellow Label, Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare 10 year
Straight Bourbon
A Bourbon aged a minimum of two years
Brands: Old Granddad 114, Elijah Craig 12 year, Stagg Jr.
Wheated Bourbon
A bourbon who’s secondary grain (outside of corn) is wheat
Brands: Maker’s Mark, Weller 12year, Pappy Van Winkle 23 year
Ryed Bourbon
A bourbon thats secondary grain (outside of corn) is rye.
Brands: Russell’s Reserve 10 year, Old Forrester Birthday Bourbon, Four Roses Yellow Label
Single Bourbon
A bourbon bottled exclusively from a single barrel selected from a warehouse.
Brands: Four Roses Single Barrel, Knob Creek Single Barrel
Wheat Whiskey
An American spirit made according to the same requirements as bourbon, but whose primary grain is wheat instead of corn.
Brands: Bernheim Wheat Whiskey, Parker’s Heritage 8th Edition
American Rye
An American Spirit made according to the same requirements as Bourbon, but whose primary grain is rye instead of corn.
Brands: Rittenhouse Bonded, Bulleit Rye, Thomas Handy
Tennessee Whiskey
A straight bourbon produced in the state of Tennessee. Commonly, Tennessee whiskey is filtered through 10 feet of sugar-maple charcoal.
Brands: George Dickel White Label
Canadian Whisky
A loosely regulated spirit usually distilled to higher proofs, such as 180 proof. Traditionally Canadian whisky was made with rye or wheat. Canadian whisky producers are permitted to add 9.09% of additives to their spirits (rum, brandy, caramel, coloring, syrup, coke zero….you get the idea.)
Brands: Forty Creel, Canadian Club 100% Rye
Scotch Whisky
A Scottish spirit that must meet the following legal requirements (amongst others)
- Produced at a Scottish distillery from water and malted barley to which only whole grains of other cereals may be added (meaning your malted grain must be barley, not another grain)
- Distilled below 98.8% abv, but bottled at or above 40% abv.
- Matured in Scotland in Oak casks no greater than 700 liters.
Brands: Cylenish 14year, Compass Box Oak Cross, Highland Park 12year
Single Malt Whisk(e)y
a whiskey made from malt from a single distillery. Most commonly this term is used to describe Scotch, but recently “single malts” have been produced throughout the world including, but not limited to, The United States, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia.
Brands: Cao Ila 12 Year, Springbank 10 year, Glenlivet 16 year Nadurra
Blended Malt Scotch Whiskey
A whiskey made from a blend of single malt whiskeys. This term is typically not recognized in the Scotch industry, but is know as blended malt whiskey.
Brands: Compass Box Peat Monster, Compass Box Hedonism, Sheep Dip
Blended Scotch Whiskey
A whiskey made from a blend of single malt and grain whiskeys.
Brands: Famous Grouse, Great King Street, Pig’s Nose
Malt
A grain that has been watered for germination and dried to stop growth. During germination, grains release natural enzymes that are converted to sugar when added to hot water.
Wort
The mixture of heated water and malted grains.
Yeast
A microorganism that converts malted sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Peat
Dense, partially decomposed plant matter that may be burnt in order to dry out malted grains. Peat gives off a distinct smoky flavor to the grains it dries, resulting in the term a “peated whiskey”.
Brands: Ardbeg 10 year, Laphroaig 25 year, Lagavulin 16 year
Irish Whiskey
An irish barley-based whiskey traditionally distilled three times, unlike Scotch, which is traditionally distilled twice.
Brands: Redbreast 12 year, Powers Gold, Green Spot
Japanese Whiskey
A Japanese barley-based whisky that typically blends a variety of whiskies produced from the same distillery, unlike blended Scotch, which typically uses a blend of whiskies from different distilleries.
Brands: Yamazaki 18 year, Hibiki
Moonshine
A rural American spirit typically comprised of grain and sugar, or fruit components
White Whiskey
an unaged whiskey
Brands: Death’s Door, High West OMG
Rum
A sugarcane based spirit made from fresh can juice, molasses, or other sugar production by-products
Brands: El Dorado 5 year, Pampero Anniversario, Ron Zacapa 23 year Solera
Rhum Agricole
A Martinique spirits made form pressed cane juice distilled to about 70% abv. On Martinique the distillers have adopted the AOC Martinique Rhum Agricola mark, which is similar to the AOC mark for Cognac or Champagne. Preventing other fresh pressed cane juice-based rums from calling themselves rum-agricole. Additionally, rum auricle produced in the traditional sense utilizes more airborne yeasts as opposed to indoctrinated yeasts, giving them a distinct quality and taste. No all “rum auricles” are created equal.
Brands: Rhum JM, La Favorite, Rhum Neisson
Cachaca
A Brazilian spirit made form fresh pressed can juice distilled between 38% abv and 48% abv
Brands: Velho Barrerio, Mae de Ouro
Aguardiente
A term for rural or economical spirits produced in Latin America that typically do not meet higher standards of production for more stable spirits (rum, cachaca, mezcal, etc.) In some cultures, aguardiente are commonly flavored; Colombian aguardiente for example typically are flavored with anise.
Mezcal
Originally, a term used to describe the wine produced from the agave plant. Today, mezcal is an agave based spirit with a noticeable smoked quality. Mezcal is produced most notably in Oaxaca, but legally recognized in 8 Mexican States. Mezcal however is a term used to describe all agave-based spirits in Mexico, as it has been used for centuries by producers and consumers alike.
Brands: Del Maguey, mezcal Vago
Tequila
A specific type of agave spirit made exclusively from a single species of agave (tequiliana weber, or blue weber) in one of five states in Mexico, most notably jalisco.
Brands: Siembra Azul, El Tesoro, Tequila Ocho
Mixto Tequila
A Tequila made form a minimum of 51% tequiliana weber based spirit, which is supplemented with other spirits (more tequila, rum, neutral spirits, etc.) but no other agave-based spirit.
Bacanora
An agave-based spirit made in the State of Sonora, just south of Arizona
Brands: Cielo Rojo
Sotol
A spirit similar to agave-based spirits, but made from a different plant commonly called sotol (dasylirion wheerli, or desert spoon) in the state of Chihuahua (but also make wherever sotol is grown - aka desolate fold in West Texas and elsewhere)
Brands: Ocho Cientos
Blanco Tequila
Unnamed of rested up to 4 weeks in stainless steel (also called silver or platinum)
Brands: Siembra Azul Blanco, Tequila Ocho Plata, Charbay Blanco
Joven Tequila
A blend of blanco and reposado tequila, Joven means young
Reposado Tequila
A tequila aged two months to one year, there are not regulations on barrel size, let alone that it must be in a barrel at all, just that it touches wood.
brands: Fortaleza Reposado, El Tesoro Reposado, Tequila Ocho Reposado
Anejo Tequila
A tequila aged at one to three years. Barrels cannot exceed 600 liters.
brands: siembra azul anejo, el tesoro anejo, tequila ocho anejo
Extra Anejo Tequila
a tequila aged more than three years
brands: siembra azul extra anejo, tapatío excelencia
Gold Tequila
a tequila colored with caramel to produce a gold color
London Dry Gin
The driest and most common type of gin, distilled in column stills with a bold juniper flavor accented by other minority botanicals.
Brands: beefeater, tanqueray
Old Tom Gin
A slightly sweetened, rounded style of gin. Historically, sweetened or aged to overcome spirit flaws in the 1700’s, but ultimately rising to the status of a distinct style of gin in the late 1800’s. A style defunct until recent revitalization over the past decade.
brands: Hayman’s Old Tom, Ransom
Genever
A dutch, partially malted-grain based spirit flavored with juniper and other minority botanicals.
brands: Bols Genever
Steinhager
A German neutral grain based spirit flavored exclusively of juniper.
New Western Dry Gin
A new gin label advocated by alternative gin producers, who’s products are typically more diverse in botanical use and weight and incorporate more spiced qualities.
brands: Aviation, Hendricks, Citadelle
Cognac
a twice pot-distilled french brandy produced in the Cognac region from six grapes (most commonly uni blanc up to 98%, colombard, and folly blanche) that is typically blended.
Brands: Pierre Ferrand, Paul Beau
Armagnac
Traditionally a single alembic-distilled french brandy produced in the Armagnac region from six grapes (most commonly uni blanc, colombard, folly blanche and back) that is typically blended or sold in single vintages
brands: Tariquet
Applejack
An american spirit made form a blend of apple brandy and neutral grain spirits, not to be confused with bonded american apple spirits produced by the same distiller (i.e. Laird’s Bonded Straight Apple Brandy vs. Laird’s Applejack)
brands: Laird’s
Calvados
An apple and pear brandy from the Calvados region in France.
brands: Daron, Domain Dupont
Eau de Vie
An unnamed brandy usually made from a single fruit base (i.e. Pear, Cherry, Apricot, etc.)
Pisco
A peruvian or chilean brandy made from grapes
brands: Enacanto
Kirschwasser
a cherry brandy
Slivovitz
a plum brandy
Grappa
an italian grape brandy made from the byproduct of producing wine
Benedictine
a brandy-based french herbal liqueur
Chartreuse
a herbal liqueur made by the Carthusian monks with up to 130 herbal extracts: available in a variety of offerings including Yellow, Green and VEP
Sloe Gin
a gin based liqueur flavored with sloe berries
brands: Hayman’s
Damson Gin
a gin-based liqueur flavored with damson plums
Xtabentun
a mexican liqueur made from rum, anise and honey
brands: D’Aristi
Amaro
a traditional italian herbal liqueur that balances herbal, spice, and fruit flavors with bitterness
brands: Ramazzotti, Montenegro, Averna
Fernet
a type of Amaro with e menthol finish classically derived from an italian mushroom species and from saffron.
brands: Fernet Branca, Branca Menta, Angelico
Pastis
an anisette or anise-flavored liqueur
brands: Herbsaint Legendaire
Absinthe
An anisette principally made from a blend of three primary ingredients: wormwood, fennel, and anise along with other secondary botanicals
brands: Kubler, Tennyson, Vieux Pontarlier
Creme de Violette
a liqueur with violet flavoring
brands: Rothmans & Winter Creme de Violette
Creme de Cacao
a liqueur of cacao beans
brands: Tempus Fugit
Maraschino Liqueur
a liqueur made from maraska cherries
brands: Luxardo
Arrack
an indonesian spirit made from red rice and sugarcane
brands: Batavia-Arrack van Oosten
Aquavit
A Scandinavian caraway flavored spirit that also uses dill, coriander, fennel, and other botanicals.
brands: Krogstad, Linie
Kummel
a german or dutch liqueur of caraway, cumin and fennel
brands: Helbing
Curacao
a sweeter orange liqueur
brands: Combier Royal, Gran Marnier, Paula Texas Orange
Triple Sec
A drier orange liqueur
brands: Combier, Cointreau
Pimento Dram
an allspice liqueur
brands: Hamilton Pimento Dram
Swedish Punsch
a traditional Scandinavian liqueur made from a base of Batavia-Arrack, spices, and sugar
brands: Kronan
Vermouth
a fortified wine infused with botanicals and a slight bitterness. Traditionally, the bittering component of vermouth was wormwood, though today gentian and quinine are commonly used.
brands: Dolin Dry, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Dolin Blanc
Quinquina
a fortified wine infused with botanicals and a slight bitterness. traditionally the bittering component in quinquinas was quinine
brands: Bonal, Kina L’Avion D’Or
Americano
a fortified wine infused with botanicals and a slight bitterness. traditionally the bittering component of americanos was gentian
brands: Cocchi Americano
Sweet Vermouth
originally, an Italian Vermouth; sweet vermouth was the first type pf vermouth developed. its flavor varies greatly based upon its region of origin, producer and style (also called rosso or rouge)
brands: Carpano Punt e Mes, Carpano Antica Formula, Dolin Rouge
Dry Vermouth
originally, a french vermouth. its flavor varies greatly based upon region of origin, producer and style.
brands: dolin dry
Blanc Vermouth
a sweeter style of white vermouth that originated in Chambery (where dolin vermouth is made)
brands: dolin blanc
Vermouth alla Vaniglia
a sweet vermouth flavored with vanilla
brands: Carpano Antica Formula
Vermouth con Bitter
a vermouth with additional bitterness added
brands: Carpano Punt e Mes
Vodka
a neutral spirit with no discernible taste or odor.
brands: aylesbury duck
Bitters
a concentrated infusion of botanicals and spiced into alcohol used in small doses to balance flavors in cocktails and food.
brands: angostura, peychaud’s, regan’s orange bitters
bitter
a liqueur made from bitter herbs, botanicals and barks
brands: campari, aperol, gran classico
aromatic bitters
bitters with noticeable aromatic or spiced qualities
brands: angostura, peychaud’s
flavored bitters
bitters that showcase a specific flavor or profile
brands: bittermen’s Xocolatl Mole Bitters, Regan’s Orange Bitters
Tincture
a concentrated infusion into alcohol of one or more flavors
types: House Habanero Tincture, House Salt Tincture
Navy Strength
57% abv (100 proof in england) or the traditional proof at which spirits were provided to British Navy personnel. The lowest proof at which gunpowder would still ignite if spilled on.
brands: Hayman’s Royal Dock Gin, Smith & Cross Rum
Bonded
a spirit which has been stored for 4 years in a federally sealed and monitored warehouse, bottled at 100 proof.
brands: Rittenhouse Bonded Rye, laird’s Bonded Apple Brandy
Overproof
a loose term used to describe spirits that have higher than typical alcohol content levels.
brands: Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum, George T. Stagg Bourbon, Aberlour A’Bunadh Scotch
Charcoal Filtered
a spirit that has been filtered through charcoal for clarity
Cask or Barrel Strength
a spirit that has been bottled as its proof upon exiting a barrel.
brands: Glenlivet 16 year Nadurra, Thomas Handy Rye, George T. Stagg
Pot-Distilled
a spirit made from pot stills
Column-Distilled
a spirit made form column stills
ABV
alcohol by volume, or the percentage of alcohol in a spirit
Shrub
a flavored vinegar used in cocktails OR a house made liqueur or cordial comprises of fruit, sugar, and a spirit
