Brief description of alcoholic beverages
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Wines are made from a variety of fruits, such as grapes,
peaches, plums or apricots. The most common wines are
produced from grapes. The soil in which the grapes are
grown and the weather conditions in the growing season
determine the quality and taste of the grapes which in
turn affects the taste and quality of wines. When ripe, the
grapes are crushed and fermented in large vats to pro-
duce wine.
Beer is also made by the process of fermentation. A liquid
mix, called wort, is prepared by combining yeast and
malted cereal, such as corn, rye, wheat or barely.
Fermentation of this liquid mix produces alcohol and car-
bon dioxide. The process of fermentation is stopped
before it is completed to limit the alcohol content. The
alcohol so produced is called beer. It contains 4 to 8 per
cent of alcohol.
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Whisky is made by distilling the fermented juice of cereal
grains such as corn, rye or barley. Scotch whisky was orig-
inally made in Scotland. The word "Scotch" has become
almost synonymous with whisky of good quality.
Rum is a distilled beverage made from fermented
molasses or sugarcane juice and is aged for at least three
years. Caramel is sometimes used for colouring.
Brandy is distilled from fermented fruit juices. Brandy is
usually aged in oak casks. The colour of brandy comes
either from the casks or from caramel that is added.
Gin is a distilled beverage. It is a combination of alcohol,
water and various flavours. Gin does not improve with
age, so it is not stored in wooden casks.
Liqueurs are made by adding sugar and flavouring such as
fruits, herbs or flowers to brandy or to a combination of
alcohol and water. Most liqueurs contain 20-65 per cent
alcohol. They are usually consumed in small quantities
after dinner.
Types of alcoholic beverages |
| Beverage | Source | Alcohol content |
| | (percentage) |
| Brandy | Fruit juices | 40 - 50 |
| Whisky | Cereal grains | 40 - 55 |
| Rum | Molasses/sugarcane | 40 - 55 |
| Wines (Port, Sherry, Champagne, etc) | Grapes (also other fruits) | 10 - 22 |
| Beer | Cereals | 4-8 |
