Saturday, December 26, 2015
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Aguardiente
This spirit’s name means ‘fire water’ which is pretty high
on the name scale of awesomeness. Columbia is aguardiente’s native land, though
South and Central America are known to produce their own brands. Distilled in a
similar process as rum, aguardiente starts as molasses from sugarcane fields, and
is brought to distilleries. Anise is then added (which differentiates from rum
distillation), and it undergoes its distillation process. The taste
is similar to licorice, but with more throat burning. As Columbia’s national
drink, it is brewed into their culture and is widely used during celebration.
Columbians are known to walk around festivals with shot glasses around their
necks ready to receive any aguardiente being poured. With an ABV of
around 30%, this spirit is one of the weaker on the liquor shelf, but you can be sure Columbian’s
make up for the lower alcohol intensity by drinking a higher volume.
Links
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Awamori
Awamori
originated in the 15th century when its rugged ancestor was imported
into Okinawa from Thailand, using Thai Rice as its main distillate. Thai rice
is still used today in the distillation process, but over the centuries Okinawans
have refined the process making it a point of pride for their island.
Awamori’s history hit a bit of turbulence in the 1940’s due to WWII; with the heavy
bombings on the island, the liquor almost became extinct. Fortunately it
revived itself after the war and is now a popular feature of island tourism.
Variations of this
spirit exist, notably kusu (meaning ‘old liquor’) which is awamori aged in a
cask, sometimes for as long as 300 years. Distilled almost exclusively in
Okinawa Japan, Awamori is often associated with the other famous Japanese
alcoholic beverages: Sake and Shochu. The spirit is generally lower proof then
other liquors (around 60 proof, 30%ABV) and is generally healthy when compared
to other liquors.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Pisco
Pisco is a 40% ABV grape brandy first created in the 16th century, whose origin is hotly contested between two Spanish speaking neighbors. Peru and Chile both claim to be the originators of the spirit and each have given it the honor of being their national drink. Overall, Peru exports more pisco by volume, but each nation puts its own variation on the grape brandy. Peru mandates that its spirit must be distilled in a coastal region, distilled to proof, not be aged in barrels, and must be single distilled from grape wine as opposed to leftover juice from wine production. Chilean pisco, on the other hand, can be aged in barrels, can be distilled multiple times, and does not have to be distilled to proof. Choice of what country you want your pisco from is ultimately up to personal preference but each provide the sweet-sour taste and the base ingredient for the infamous pisco sour.
Links
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Raki
The Turkish spirit known as raki (Arrack) has been a popular
drink in the region since the days of the Ottoman Empire. It is a clear brandy,
distilled from grape wine, mixed with anise for flavor, and is aged in barrels
for a short period, leading to a spirit with a 40-50% ABV. The clear liquid
becomes milky in appearance when water is added, which has led to the nickname
‘Lions Milk’ (Link 1). Typically, it is sipped with meals, following the
tradition of a ‘Raki Table’ in which philosophers and leaders would eat appetizers
and discuss important ideas while under the influence (Link 2). Turkey’s modern
founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, was an avid drinker of the spirit and he would
often sport a glass while conversing about politics, especially when it would
anger his more traditional rivals (Link 3).
Raki remains popular today despite pressure from non-secular
government officials in the Muslim nation. That popularity may soon take a
downward spiral, as non-secular political parties have increased pressures
through taxation and limiting advertisement and celebration of Turkey’s
unofficial liquor. These government crackdowns on raki are having an added side
effect of increases in unregulated liquor, causing multiple deaths in recent
times (Link 4).
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