User 144: categorising

2006-04-29T08:16:10Z

categorising

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:16, 29 April 2006
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	== See Also ==		== See Also ==
	[[liquer]]		*[[liquer]]
	[[mixed drink]]		*[[mixed drink]]

	[[category:alcohol]]		[[category:alcohol]]
			[[category:food]]

Paul Matisz at 17:30, 4 January 2006

2006-01-04T17:30:42Z

New page

'''Liquor''' refers to a distilled [[alcohol|alcoholic]] beverage, such as [[vodka]], [[whiskey]] or [[brandy]]. Distilled liquor (pronounced something like ''LIK-er'') is very high in alcoholic content (sometimes as high as forty-percent alcohol per volume, or ''eighty-proof'') and can rapidly cause [[drunk|drunkeness]].

Distilled liquor was uncommon in the early medieval period, but became
increasingly common toward the end. It was discovered by [[Muslim]] scholars in the [[8th Century]], and made its way to [[Europe]] by the [[10th Century]], but was widely used more as a [[medicine]] than as a recreational beverage. Examples of this include [[brandy]], [[aqua vitae]] and [[whiskey]], but by the end of the medival era most modern types of distilled liquor were distinctly recognizable in their modern forms.

Distilling most kinds of liquor involves fermenting a ''mash'' of grains such as [[barley]] or [[rye]] (or fruits, [[berries]] or even [[potato]]es]), into an alcoholic mix then heating the mash in special vessels. This evaporates the alcohol, which is then cooled and collected, typically in an assembly of coiled [[copper]] tubing.
Local variations in the ingredients of the mash, the specific details of the distillation process, and even the heat source create the wide variety of distilled liquors available. [[Scotch]] whiskey, [[Irish]] whiskey and [[Rye]] whiskey are all types of whiskey, for example, but have distinct flavours and subtle differences in colour which stem from the differences in their ingredients and distillation. In addition, many commercially available liquors are ''aged'', allowed to sit for years or even decades, to mellow and enrich their flavour.

Typically consumed in small doses or ''shots'', the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) in [[Canada]] officially defines a single [[drink]] of liquor as a single fluid ounce.

'''NOTE:''' ''In most countries, including the [[United States]], [[Canada]] and [[Australia]], distilling liquor without a license is a serious criminal offence.

== See Also ==
[[liquer]]
[[mixed drink]]

[[category:alcohol]]

Liquor - Revision history

User 144: categorising

Paul Matisz at 17:30, 4 January 2006