Let’s be honest—there’s nothing quite like clinking glasses with friends after a long, tiring day. Whether it’s a crisp draught beer, a glass of smooth wine, or something a bit stronger, these drinks have a special way of bringing us all together and starting a conversation with - “How was your day?”
From the crispness of a lager to the warmth of a whiskey, alcoholic drinks have long been a staple of social gatherings and culinary experiences. In this article, we shall learn about the most popular types of alcoholic drink names, their varieties, and their ingredients. Without any delay, let’s dive in!
Alcoholic drinks are beverages that contain ethanol, is commonly referred to as alcohol. Ethanol is produced through the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or other microorganisms. The amount of alcohol in a beverage is typically measured by alcohol by volume (ABV), which represents the percentage of ethanol in the total liquid. Let’s also find out the basic differences between fermented and distilled alcoholic drinks.
Differences Between Fermented and Distilled Beverages
Understanding the difference between fermented and distilled beverages is crucial to appreciating the variety of alcoholic drinks available in the market.
Aspect | Fermented Beverages | Distilled Beverages |
Production Process | Made by fermenting sugars from grains, fruits, or vegetables using yeast. | Starts with fermentation, followed by distillation to separate alcohol from water. |
Alcohol Content (ABV) | Generally lower, typically ranging from 3% to 15%. | Higher alcohol content, usually 20% to 50% or more. |
Examples | Beer, Wine, Cider | Whiskey, Vodka, Rum, Gin, Tequila |
Flavor Profile | Typically milder and varies based on ingredients and fermentation process. | Stronger flavours, often more concentrated and complex due to distillation. |
Carbonation | Often naturally carbonated (especially in beers). | Usually non-carbonated, though some exceptions exist (e.g., sparkling spirits). |
Common Ingredients | Grains, fruits, or vegetables. | Fermented grains, fruits, or vegetables, followed by distillation. |
Common Brands in India | Brands like Kingfisher, Budweiser, Corona, TuborgDraught beers are also common in India | Fratelli Wines, Sula Vineyard(Wine) Royal Stag, Black and White, Amrut(Whiskeys) Magic Moments, Smirnoff (Vodka) Old Monk, McDowells No. 1 (Rum) |
Highlighting the main distinctions in production, alcohol content, and flavor profiles, this table provides a diverse understanding of common alcoholic drink names and ingredients.
Fermented Alcoholic Drinks
Fermented alcoholic drinks are among the oldest forms of beverages, rooted deeply in history and culture. Their preparation involves a natural process where microorganisms like yeast convert sugars into alcohol, creating a variety of flavors and alcohol levels. Let’s explore how these drinks are made and the different types available, with a special focus on those popular in India.
Process of Natural Fermentation by Yeasts
The magic behind fermented alcoholic drinks lies in the process of fermentation. Fermentation is a natural metabolic process where yeasts, a type of microorganism, break down sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Here’s a brief overview of how this works:
Raw Ingredients: The process begins with raw materials rich in sugars. These can be grains (like barley or rice), fruits (such as grapes or apples), or honey.
Mashing or Juicing: Depending on the type of drink, the raw ingredients are either mashed (as in the case of beer) or juiced (as with wine or cider). This step extracts the sugars needed for fermentation.
Fermentation: The extracted liquid, now rich in sugars, is mixed with yeast. The yeast consumes the sugars and converts them into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the drink being produced.
Maturation: Some fermented drinks, like wine, undergo a maturation process where they are aged to develop their flavor profile further.
Filtration and Bottling: After fermentation, the liquid is filtered to remove any solid particles and then bottled for consumption.
Types of Fermented Alcoholic Drinks
Beer
Did You Know? Beer is one of the oldest beverages in the world, with evidence of its production dating back to 5,000 BC in ancient Mesopotamia.
Beer is made with fermenting grains, usually barley, water, hops, and yeast. The barley is malted (soaked and germinated) to convert its starches into fermentable sugars. After mashing, the liquid (wort) is boiled with hops for flavor and then fermented with yeast to produce alcohol.
Bangalore's microbreweries, like Toit, Arbor Brewing, and Byg Brewski, offer a diverse range of craft beers in vibrant settings. From light ales to rich stouts, each venue provides a unique drinking experience, making the city a true craft beer paradise. Boho is one place that offers a wide range of Beer Pints and Beers on Taps.
Popular Brands in India:
Kingfisher is India's most widely recognized beer brand, offering varieties like Kingfisher Premium and Kingfisher Ultra and with the best-selling Beer Brand across India, starting with the lowest prices of ₹95-₹100 for the cans.
Bira 91 is popular among craft beer enthusiasts and is known for its Bira White and Bira Blonde, with prices starting from ₹140
Draught Beers
Draught beer (also spelled "draft beer") refers to beer that is served from a keg rather than from a bottle or can. This type of beer is typically poured directly from a tap or pump, which is why you often see it served in bars, pubs, and restaurants. The term "draught" comes from the Old English word "dragan," meaning "to pull," referencing the way beer was traditionally pulled from casks using hand pumps.
Boho the Bar offers the best draught beers in Bangalore. If you love beer, you must visit Boho in Koramangala for a groovy dance floor or Boho Whitefield for rooftop dining.
2. Mead
Mead is often referred to as “honey wine” and is considered one of the oldest known alcoholic beverages, enjoyed by ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Egyptians.
Mead is made by fermenting honey with water, and sometimes fruits, spices, or herbs are added to enhance flavor. The yeast converts the sugars in honey into alcohol. The process can produce sweet, semi-sweet, or dry meads depending on the fermentation time.
3. Sake
Sake, often called Japanese rice wine, is made by fermenting polished rice. The process involves converting the starches in rice into sugars using a mold called koji, followed by fermentation with yeast. This results in a unique beverage with an alcohol content typically around 15-20%. Although often referred to as rice wine, sake production is more akin to beer brewing due to the use of grains rather than fruit.
4. Cider
Cider is made by fermenting apple juice (or sometimes pear juice, known as perry). The apples are pressed to extract juice, which is then fermented with yeast. Depending on the type of apples and the fermentation process, cider can be sweet, dry, or sparkling.
Popular Brands in India: Sheppy’s Cider is one of the few imported brands available in India, offering a range of traditional British ciders.
In many countries, cider is considered a low-alcohol alternative to beer, but it can sometimes have an alcohol content as high as some wines.
Types of Wine
Wine has steadily gained popularity in India, and with a growing market, there's a variety of wines available that cater to different tastes and preferences. Vineyards are pretty famous tourist attractions lately and people have started to enjoy the process of wine making and tasting sessions. Let’s explore the different types of wine, focusing on examples that are popular in India.
1. Red Wine
Red wines in India are flourishing, with wineries like Sula and Grover producing excellent varieties. Light-bodied reds, like Sula Rasa Shiraz, pair well with tandoori dishes. Medium-bodied wines, such as Fratelli Sangiovese, complement biryanis. Full-bodied options, like Sula Dindori Reserve, match rich curries and red meats perfectly. Restopubs like Boho offer a variety of red wines, If you haven’t tried, you must!
2. White Wine
White wines in India are favored for their refreshing qualities. Light-bodied options like Sula Chenin Blanc are crisp, pairing well with seafood and salads. Medium-bodied wines like Grover Zampa Soirée Brut complement creamy curries. Full-bodied varieties, such as Fratelli Chardonnay, offer rich flavors, ideal for cream-based dishes and grilled fish.
3. Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wines are gaining popularity in India for both celebrations and casual sipping. Champagne, like Moët & Chandon, offers luxurious, complex flavors, perfect with appetizers or Indian sweets. Prosecco, such as Zampa Soirée Brut, is lighter and fruitier, pairing well with sushi. Cava provides refreshing acidity, complementing tapas and spicy snacks.
Boho the bar, offers the best wine in Bangalore, from Sula Chiraz to Jacob’s Creek, Boho has the best-selling wine in both of their outlets of Koramangala and Brookfield. Call us now to book a table for a celebration!
4. Dessert Wine
Dessert wines are sweet and indulgent, ideal for concluding a meal. Late Harvest wines like Sula Late Harvest Chenin Blanc offer concentrated honey and apricot flavors, perfect with Indian sweets like gulab jamun. Imported Ice Wines, such as Jackson-Triggs, provide rich, fruity notes, pairing excellently with cheesecake or dried fruits.
Now that we explored the fermented alcoholic drinks, let’s jump into the distilled alcoholic drinks - also called the hard drinks!
Distilled Alcoholic Drinks
Distilled alcoholic drinks, commonly referred to as spirits, are produced by distilling fermented beverages to increase their alcohol content.
The process of distillation involves heating the fermented liquid to separate the alcohol from water and other components, resulting in a more concentrated and potent beverage. These spirits come in various types, each with its unique characteristics and cultural significance.
Spirits Created by Distilling Fermented Beverages
Brandy, gin, mezcal, rum, tequila, vodka, whisky (or wiskey), baijiu, shōchū and soju are the common spirits. The type of spirit—like whiskey from grains or rum from sugarcane—depends on the raw materials and process. Some spirits are aged for enhanced flavor. Let’s explore some of the common ones.
Types of Whiskey
Whiskey comes in various styles, each with its unique characteristics based on the ingredients, distillation process, and aging methods. Here’s a look at some of the most popular types of whiskey:
1. Scotch Whiskey
Scotch whiskey, originating from Scotland, is known for its rich, complex flavors, often with smoky notes from the use of peat during the malting process. There are several types of Scotch, including single malt and blended Scotch, each offering distinct tastes.
Ingredients: Scotch is made primarily from malted barley.
Aging: It must be aged for a minimum of 3 years in oak barrels.
Popular Brands:
Johnnie Walker (Blended)
Glenfiddich (Single Malt)
Laphroaig (Peated)
2. Bourbon
Originating from the United States, particularly Kentucky, Bourbon is known for its rich, sweet flavor profile, with notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak. The charring of the barrels also imparts a deep amber color to the whiskey.
Ingredients: Bourbon is made primarily from corn (at least 51%).
Aging: It is aged in new charred oak barrels, which give it a distinctive sweet, caramelized flavor.
Popular Brands:
Maker’s Mark
Jim Beam
Woodford Reserve
3. Rye Whiskey
Rye whiskey is originated from Pennsylvania, known for its bold, spicy flavor, with a peppery finish. It’s particularly popular in the United States and Canada, where it’s often used in classic cocktails like the Manhattan and Old Fashioned.
Ingredients: Made primarily from rye grain.
Aging: Aged in oak barrels, similar to bourbon, but with a focus on the spicy and peppery notes from the rye.
Popular Brands:
Bulleit Rye
Sazerac Rye
Wild Turkey Rye
4. Irish Whiskey
Irish whiskey can be either peated, giving it a smoky flavor, or unpeated, which results in a cleaner, smoother taste. Known for its smoothness and subtlety, Irish whiskey is often less intense than Scotch, making it more approachable for new whiskey drinkers.
Ingredients: Made from a mixture of malted and unmalted barley.
Distillation: Irish whiskey is typically triple-distilled, resulting in a smoother, lighter flavor.
Popular Brands:
Jameson
Bushmills
Redbreast
Types of Rum
Rum is a versatile spirit that varies greatly in flavor, color, and strength, depending on its production and aging process. Derived primarily from sugarcane byproducts like molasses or sugarcane juice, rum is enjoyed in many forms across the world. Here’s a detailed look at the different types of rum:
1. White Rum
White rum is clear and light in color, often referred to as "silver" or "light" rum.
Flavor Profile: It has a mild, subtle flavor with hints of sweetness. White rum typically has a lighter body compared to darker rums, making it an ideal base for cocktails.
Aging: White rum is usually aged for a short period in stainless steel or neutral oak barrels, which imparts little to no color. After aging, it is often filtered to remove any color that might have been picked up from the barrels.
Uses: White rum is commonly used in a variety of cocktails due to its light flavor, which blends well without overpowering other ingredients. It’s the key ingredient in popular drinks like the Mojito, Daiquiri, and Pina Colada. Have you tried a Piña Colada from Boho the bar in Bangalore? Well, you must. Boho has the best-selling signature cocktails.
Popular Brands:
Bacardi Superior: One of the most recognized white rums globally, known for its smoothness.
Havana Club 3 Años: A Cuban white rum, praised for its balanced flavor and versatility in cocktails.
2. Dark Rum
Dark rum is characterized by its deep brown or amber color, which it acquires from aging in heavily charred oak barrels.
Flavor Profile: Dark rum is rich, with bold flavors that often include notes of caramel, molasses, spices, and sometimes smokiness. The longer aging process enhances these flavors, making dark rum more complex and full-bodied than white rum.
Aging: Dark rum is typically aged for several years in oak barrels, which impart color and depth to the rum. The aging process also mellows the spirit, contributing to its smooth, rich character.
Uses: Dark rum is often sipped neat or on the rocks, allowing the deep flavors to be fully appreciated. It’s also used in cocktails that require a more robust flavor, such as the Dark ‘n’ Stormy or Rum Punch. Additionally, dark rum is a popular ingredient in baking and cooking, adding richness to desserts like rum cake and sauces.
Popular Brands:
Old Monk: An iconic Indian dark rum, known for its smooth, rich flavor and loyal fan base. This Desi Daaru is one of the best-selling liquor in India. In states like Karnataka, Old monk also comes in tetra packs of ₹100.
Myers’s Original Dark: A Jamaican rum, famous for its deep, full-bodied flavor, ideal for both sipping and mixing.
3. Spiced Rum
Spiced rum can vary in color from light amber to dark brown, depending on the base rum used and the spices added.
Flavor Profile: As the name suggests, spiced rum is infused with a variety of spices and flavorings, which can include cinnamon, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, and ginger. This infusion gives spiced rum a distinctive, aromatic flavor with a warm, slightly sweet finish.
Aging: Spiced rums are usually made by adding spices and sometimes caramel to a base rum, which is often aged but not always for as long as dark rums. The spices and flavors are typically added during or after the aging process.
Uses: Spiced rum is versatile and can be enjoyed straight, on the rocks, or mixed into cocktails. It adds a unique twist to classic rum drinks like Rum and Coke and can also be used in creating festive drinks like spiced rum punch. Its flavor profile also makes it a popular choice for winter warmers and holiday-themed beverages.
Popular Brands:
Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum: One of the most well-known spiced rums globally, offering a smooth, balanced flavor that’s perfect for mixing.
Sailor Jerry: A popular choice among spiced rum enthusiasts, known for its bold, spicy kick with a hint of vanilla.
Conclusion
We explored the diverse world of alcoholic beverages, delving into fermented drinks like beer and wine, and distilled spirits such as whiskey, rum, and vodka. We covered types, preparation methods, popular brands in India, and the unique characteristics that make each drink special, offering a comprehensive understanding of these beloved beverages.
Boho the bar, is a famous restopub in Bangalore with two of their outlets in Koramangala and Brookfield Mall of Whitefield. This pub offers one of the best selling liquor and signature cocktails in the city! With various options to choose from, people of Bangalore opt for Boho for its ambiance, night life and date nights on a rooftop setting! If you are looking for bulk booking or corporate events, talk to us now!
