European Alcoholic Beverages

Whisky or whiskey is a spirit made from fermented grains, typically corn, rye, wheat, and barley, and is always aged, predominantly in oak barrels. The story of its discovery provokes heated debates, since both Irish and Scots claim whisk... READ MORE

Popularly known as the gold standard of sparkling wine, true Champagne only comes from the actual Champagne region in France. It is produced using the so-called méthode Champenoise; the process in which secondary fermentat... READ MORE

Scotch is the renowned whisky variety hailing from Scotland. Although it can be made with the addition of other grains or cereals, the original Scottish whisky has to be made with a base of water and malted barley—barley that has be... READ MORE

Vodka is a distillate that is mainly produced from fermented grains or potatoes, and even though many purists disagree, fruit or molasses can also be used. The base material can be distilled many times, and each distillation produces stro... READ MORE

Gin is a clear, light-bodied spirit that owes its taste profile to a variety of spices (primarily juniper) which are added to the basic grain. Most producers usually avoid distilling their base spirit and prefer to buy supplies of neutral... READ MORE

This classic French brandy is distilled from grapes in order to produce eau-de-vie, which is then aged and blended to make cognac. The drink originated when it was revealed that eau-de-vie brandy of the Charente region develops d... READ MORE

Sangria is a fruity Spanish cocktail made with red wine and chopped fruits such as pears, peaches, berries, apples, nectarines, or pineapple. The beverage is often combined with sugar, orange juice, sparkling water, and even brandy. It is... READ MORE

Along with ale, lager is one of the two main beer categories, and in terms of production, it is the most common beer style in the world. The main distinction between lagers and ales depends on the type of yeast. Lagers use Saccharomyc... READ MORE

Bordeaux region is the largest wine growing area in France that comprises of more than fifty different appellations. Bordeaux wines can range from massively produced everyday table wines to prestigious and expensive vintages. The predomin... READ MORE

Mimosa is a classic breakfast cocktail that transforms a simple morning meal into a decadent event. The cocktail is made with freshly squeezed orange juice and Champagne or any dry sparkling wine. Grand Marnier or bitters can also be adde... READ MORE

Amaro is a potent digestif with a silky, sometimes even syrupy structure that originated in the 1800s. It is traditionally produced by macerating several herbs, flowers, aromatic bark, citrus peels, and spices in alcohol, either spirits o... READ MORE

Rioja was the first Spanish appellation that received protected status. This renowned Spanish region is located in the north of the country, on both sides of the river Ebro. It is best known for its red varietals and blends, and while Tem... READ MORE

Burgundy is a world-famous French wine region that produces some of the best and most expensive wines in the world. Located in the east-central part of France, the area is dominated by Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Other red and white grapes... READ MORE

Merlot is one of the most widely planted and popular red wine grape varieties in the world. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, Merlot is known for producing soft, elegant, and fruit-forward wines. It is often used both as a single var... READ MORE

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized and celebrated red wine grape varieties. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, it has spread to virtually every major wine-producing country, becoming a key component of man... READ MORE

Chardonnay is a popular and widely cultivated white grape variety that is used to produce white wine. Originating from the Burgundy region of France, Chardonnay is now grown in wine regions around the world, including the United States, Australia,... READ MORE

Riesling most likely hails from the Rhine region of Germany, but it has shown great success in other European wine regions, primary Austria and Alsace, as well as the United States and Australia. However, the best expressions of the grape... READ MORE

This acclaimed cream liqueur is produced with a combination of neutral alcohol, triple distilled Irish whiskey, and cream, which is supplied by small, local Irish family farms. The base of the liqueur is additionally enriched with vanilla, cocoa, ... READ MORE

Pilsner is a beer style that originated in Pilsen (Plzeň), a city in western Bohemia. It was first brewed in 1842, making it one of the youngest beer styles to appear in modern brewing. The style originated when the citizens of Pilsen, wh... READ MORE

This supreme Spanish sparkling wine is made with a blend of grape varieties indigenous to Spain, mainly Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarello. Rosé Cava, called rosat in Spanish, is produced by adding Trepat, Garnacha, or other red grapes, which ... READ MORE

Although the name pale ale originated in 18th-century England, it was mainly used for brews that were made with pale barley malt and which were slightly lighter than the standard dark and brown beers. To add to the confusion, the name was... READ MORE

Sauvignon Blanc is a widely cultivated white grape variety known for producing crisp, aromatic, and refreshing wines. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, Sauvignon Blanc is now grown in many wine regions worldwide, including New Zealan... READ MORE

Considered to be one of the first grape brandy varieties produced in France, Armagnac originated in Gascony, a historic area now divided between the regions of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie. The first written records on Armagnac date b... READ MORE

Chartreuse is one of the oldest and most popular French liqueurs. It is believed that the drink originates from an ancient manuscript that was sent to the Grande Chartreuse monastery at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1764, the Cart... READ MORE

Pinot Noir is a highly esteemed red wine grape variety known for producing some of the world's finest and most elegant wines. Originating from the Burgundy region of France, Pinot Noir is revered for its complex flavors, silky texture, and ability... READ MORE

This classic liqueur is made with different combinations of neutral spirits, caramel, sweet or bitter almonds, various herbs, spices, and occasionally apricot kernel oil. Though its name stems from the Italian amaro, meaning bitterREAD MORE

This alcoholic beverage is produced with a base of a neutral spirit that is infused with a blend of botanicals, primarily the leaves of Artemisia absinthium, an ancient medicinal plant that is also known as wormwood or simply absinthe. Ot... READ MORE

This vibrant red, dry Italian liqueur is produced with a neutral alcohol base that is infused with an extract of various bitters and aromatics such as pomegranate, ginseng, orange peel, the bark of cascarilla trees, and citrus oil. It was invented... READ MORE

Vermouth is a quintessential European aperitif. This sweetened and fortified wine is aromatized with various botanicals, and it is usually classified as red (sweet) or white (dry). The origin of vermouth is ancient and closely connected t... READ MORE

Italian grappa is distilled from fermented pomace—solid components of grapes that are left after the juice has been pressed. The taste profile of grappa varies, and each variety is distinguished for their unique character that depen... READ MORE

Although Syrah is an internationally known grape that is planted worldwide, it attains distinctive character in northern Rhône—which is often dubbed as Mecca for Syrah. There are several theories about the origin of the grape,... READ MORE

Bellini is a classic Italian cocktail made with a combination of Prosecco and white peach nectar or white peach purée. Peach purée or nectar is first poured into a chilled flute glass, and it is then topped with Prosecco bef... READ MORE

Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio in Italy, is a white wine grape variety that is believed to be a mutation of the Pinot Noir grape. It is known for producing wines that can vary widely in style depending on the region and winemaking techniqu... READ MORE

Beaujolais is a light-bodied red wine, with relatively high amounts of acidity. It is made in the historical wine producing region Province of Beaujolais, mostly from thin-skinned Gamay grape, which makes it very low in tannins, and there... READ MORE

Ribera del Duero is a Spanish appellation located in several provinces of Castilla and Leon, in north-central Spain. The region is best known for big and bold varietals made with Tempranillo, also known as Tinto Fino or Tinta del Pais. Th... READ MORE

Stouts are top-fermented beers that are typically dark and have distinctive roasted flavors. Their introduction is closely connected to British porter—a style that was developed in London sometime in the 18th century. Stout evolved ... READ MORE

One of the most exported Italian white wines, Prosecco is a sparkling wine that comes in three levels of perlage, the bubbliest spumante (sparkling), followed by frizzante (semi-sparkling), and tranquillo (still... READ MORE

Port is a fortified wine that has its origins in the Duoro Valley. It is produced from various grape varieties, though Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francesca, and Tinta Cão are considered the best for the r... READ MORE

Sherry is a fortified white wine from Andalusia. It comes in a variety of styles, from light dry wines to complex and aromatic sweet varieties. They are mostly produced from Palomino grape, though sweet sherry wines also employ Pedro Xim&... READ MORE

Kvass is an ancient, traditional Russian beverage made from buckwheat meal, wheat, rye, rye bread, or barley, but it can be made from any ingredient that can be fermented. It has a relatively low alcoholic content (from 0,7-2.0 %) as a re... READ MORE

Ireland was presumably the first country that introduced distillation, primarily to produce a clear distillate known as uisge beatha—which is generally considered to be a predecessor of modern-day whiskey. Only produced and matured ... READ MORE

Brown ale is an old and versatile beer style whose origins lie in the British brewing tradition. In the 19th century, the name was used as a generic term for various types of beers that were produced from brown malt. With the introduction... READ MORE