American drink: alcohol, raw materials, famous brands

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Hollywood movies have taught us that heroes tend to drink. Some (of whom there are very few), however, are limited to milk or Cola, but most need strong support in order to perform feats or meanness, depending on the plot. Moreover, each hero chooses his own alcoholic American drink: just whiskey or bourbon, tequila, rum, gin. What are these drinks good for, how to drink them, what they are made from and what they eat, let's try to consider.

Whiskey: bourbon and other varieties

The most common alcoholic drink in America, according to statistics, should be considered whiskey. Since 1964, it has been considered (the US Congress decided) the national alcoholic beverage. This American alcoholic drink made from corn has conquered the whole country. It is drunk by all walks of life, since the quality of whiskey, and, accordingly, the prices vary greatly, and whiskeyavailable to everyone. Whiskey is made from corn and other grains.

Whiskey is called "bourbon" if it is made from corn (at least 51%). Distilled alcohol (no more than 80% of the strength) is poured into oak barrels for at least 2 years. The use of fragrances, dyes is prohibited. Such a whiskey, with a wonderful aftertaste, golden and slightly sweet, quite expensive.

Drink this kind of bourbon without mixing it with anything, unless a little ice helps, savor it in small sips, slowly. Then this "soft fire" will bring real pleasure.

The main difference between the American drink is that it is made from corn, and not from barley or wheat, like the European one.

Best varieties: Four Roses, Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Wild Turkey, Maker's Mark.

Besides bourbon, there are other types of whiskey: wheat whiskey - made from wheat with the addition of corn alcohol and corn whiskey (at least 80% corn) - the lowest quality and cheapest.

Gin: who is it for and how to distinguish a good drink?

Gin is a noble drink with juniper berries. This American drink in Russia is called "ladies' vodka" for a very soft, sweetish taste that is liked by the picky weaker sex. Citrus zest, various extracts, spices and often sugar, herbs are added to the drink: coriander, licorice (adds sweetness), violet root, angelica and many others. However, the strength of gin is about 40 degrees.

London dry is considered the best gin. It's so good that it doesn't requireadding sugar to improve taste.

The best brands of this gin are Gordons, Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, Boots, Gilbis, Plymouth, etc. But like all herbal tinctures, each batch of gin will vary slightly depending on the quality of the herbal raw material. Therefore, it is quite possible that a non-branded drink will not be bad either.

Real dry gin is distinguished by many small, fairly persistent bubbles that form when the sealed bottle is shaken. This, as well as the absence of excessive sweetness in the taste, indicates the presence of a good extract in the drink and its high quality.

Tequila as such

Tequila is a strong American alcoholic drink, it is obtained by distillation of blue agave juice, fermented in a certain way. Only agave from four Mexican states is used. The Aztecs greatly appreciated tequila, taking it as a gift from the gods. Today's tequila came from the town of Tequila, founded by the conquistadors. The conquerors considered the Aztec drink too weak. They tried distilling Aztec tequila in a copper cube, which made the drink suitable for their taste and strength. He received the name "mezcal", i.e. "made from agave" and became widespread in Mexico. Its official name "tequila mezcal" has shortened to just "tequila". So medieval mezcal and tequila are the same drink.

Since 1964, the promotion of the drink on the US market begins. It took about 10 years for tequila,to conquer the States and become a popular American drink. The name "tequila" today is the intellectual property of Mexico, as is the exclusive right to produce the drink. The special popularity of tequila began in 1968, during the Olympic Games in Mexico City. Its color, aroma and taste depend on the aging period, which ranges from 2 months to 3 years. Elite varieties insist up to 11 years.

Ley 925 Azteca is considered the best tequila in the world. But its price is simply sky-high. The best time-tested tequila: Olmeca, Sauza, Jose Cuervo. These brands have an adequate price and good quality.

How to drink and what to eat?

Drinking tequila is a whole ritual. Consider how this American drink is drunk correctly:

1. Drink should be in one gulp, having previously licked the s alt from the skin of the hand between the thumb and forefinger, eating right there with a slice of lime or lemon. This is how men drink.
2. Women drink using orange instead of lime and cinnamon instead of s alt.

Snacking tequila (strength - from 38 to 42 degrees) can be just fruits if you drink 1-2 glasses, and if you are going to drink for a long time, you need hot serious snacks.

Rum, Jamaican and more

Among strong American drinks, rum holds one of the first places. It appeared and spread widely in the Middle Ages. It got its name, most likely, from an abbreviation of one of the words of Dutch, Spanish, Latin or French origin, since the word was used primarily by sailors.

Rum is obtained fromcane sugar products (molasses and syrup) by fermentation, distillation and aging in oak (sometimes charred) barrels. Although rum is produced all over the world (Australia, India), most of it is produced in South America and the Caribbean.

Rum is an important part of the culture of the West Indies, usually associated with sailors (in the British Royal Navy they were en titled to a daily portion) and pirates. The most famous rum is the Jamaican brands Captain Morgan and Appleton Estate. But there are many varieties of good quality rum from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico. Light is added to cocktails, and dark and golden are used to prepare national dishes. Rum "Anejo", aged in barrels for a long time, is used in its pure form with ice.

Varieties

Unaged low-quality rum is the cheapest hard liquor in America, and only the popularization of whiskey has led to a decline in its consumption in this part of the world.

Today, there are the following varieties of rum: light, golden, dark, flavored (with fruits: mango, orange, lemon, coconut), strong (up to 60 degrees), aged (more than 5 years of exposure).

It is best to snack on a drink with fruits, oranges sprinkled with cinnamon are especially good. This rum was eaten by pirates who tried all kinds of fruits and spices as a snack. In this case, not ice is used, but coffee or hot chocolate. This rich combination of flavors is completed by a good cigar.