Bartender's Diary -3

Hi Friends thank you for reading my blogs Bartender's Diary-1  & 2

In this blog I am giving you on liner for Beverages, basic knowledge of making it and basic brands we use behind the bar. It will surely help you in interview and working behind the bar.

Beverage – Beverage is drinks which quench our thirst. It can be alcoholic and non alcoholic, we can define it with below chart.

Alcohol-Alcohol is liquid which produced by the natural fermentation of sugars and is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks, and is also used as an industrial solvent and as fuel.

There is two type of alcohol

Ethyl – Ethyl is drinking alcohol, the principal type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts. Chemical formula is C₂H₆O.

Methyl- Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol among others, is a chemical with the formula CH₃OH. Methyl is not for human consumption. It’s mainly use as an antifreeze, solvent and fuel.

Fermentation- Fermentation is a metabolic process that converts sugar to alcohol. Alcoholic fermentation converts one mole of glucose into two moles of ethanol and two moles of carbon dioxide. Fermentation is: C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2 C₂H₅OH + 2 CO.

Yeasts- Yeast is microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom

There are two type of yeast use in beer Saccharomyces cerevisiae (in ale), Saccharomyces uvarum, formerly known as Saccharomyces carlsbergensis (in lager)

Distillation- The action of purifying alcohol by a process of heating and cooling is called distillation.

There are two types of Distillation – a) Pot Still   b) Column Stills

 

Pot Still- During distillation, we heat up bottom of the tank because boiling point of alcohol is (78.4°C) less than water (100°C) and other impurities so alcohol vapor travels up the swan neck at the top of the pot still and down the lyme arm after which it travels through the condenser, where is cooled to yield a distillate with a higher concentration of alcohol than the original liquid. This distillate, called "low wines" has a concentration of about 25–35% alcohol by volume.These low wines can be further distilled a second time in a pot still to yield a distillate with a higher concentration of alcohol. In the case of many Irish whiskeys the spirit is further distilled a third time. However, Cognac and most single malt Scotch whisky are only distilled twice.

According to Law Scotch whisky, single malt, cognac & Irish whiskey distilled by Pot still only

Column stills- Column Stills behave like a series of single pot stills, formed in a long vertical tube. The tube is filled with either porous packing or bubble plates. The rising vapor, which is low in alcohol, starts to condense in the cooler, higher level of the column. The temperature of each successively higher stage is slightly lower than the previous stage, so the vapor in equilibrium with the liquid at each stage is progressively more enriched with alcohol. Whereas a single pot still charged with wine might yield a vapor enriched to 40–50% alcohol, a column still can achieve a vapor alcohol content of 96%; an azeotropic mixture of alcohol and water.

 

 

Beer – Beer an alcoholic drink made from yeast-fermented malt flavored with hops. Alcohol content is 3.5 to 8 % ABV. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic drink; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea.

Brands which are easily available in India- Corona, Hoegaarden, Stella, Bira, Erdinger, Miller, Sol to name of few.

Rum- Rum is an alcoholic spirit distilled from sugar-cane residues or molasses. Rum is most consumable alcohol in India after beer. There is Rule in Europe Rum Should contain 37.5% or above alcohol. Rum also matured at least 18 months to 24 month. Served normally with Coke or water

Cocktails- Cuba Libra, Mojito, Daiquiri, Mai Tai, Hurricane, Plunter's Punch Etc.

Brands - Mount Gay, Jolly Roger, Bacardi, Old Monk, Ron Zacapa to name a few.

Vodka – Vodka is a clear alcoholic beverage of Russian origin, made by distillation of rye, wheat, potatoes and now a days with Grapes.Vodka is never aged.

Cocktails- Vodka Martini, Cosmopolitan, Screwdriver, Moscow mule, Bloody Merry, Black Russian, White Russian Etc.

Brands- Absolut, Smirnoff, Skyy, Stolichnaya, Ketel One, Grey Goose, Ciroc Etc.


Whisky - Spirit distilled from malted grain, especially barley or rye. read my previous blog on whisky 
Brands- Johnny Walker, Chivas, Ballantine, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Jack Denial, J&B Rare to name a few
Cocktails - Old Fashion, Rob Roy, Whisky sour, Manhattan, Rusty Nail etc

Gin – Gin is a clear alcoholic spirit distilled from grain or malt and flavored with juniper berries. According to European union law Gin should contain 37.5% alcohol and it aged at least 24 to 36 months. 

Cocktails- Gin Martini, Gimlet, Negroni, Singapore sling, Tom Collin, French 75 Etc.
Brands- Bombay Sapphire, Beefeaters, Gordons, Tanqueray & Hendrick's


Tequila - Tequila is an alcoholic spirit made from blue agave. According to Mexican Law Tequila only can made in Jaliscoin the state of Guanajuato Mexico. Tequila served neat or with salt and Lemon. Tequila term are

Silver for Blanco or Plata, Gold for Joven or Oro, Aged for Reposado, Extra-aged for Añejo, Ultra-aged for Extra Añejo

Cocktails- Margarita, Tequila Sunrise, Tequila sunset, & Banarita to name a few.
Brands- Viva Mojo, Sauza, La chica, Corralejo Etc.

Cognag- Cognag is a high-quality brandy, also called brunt wine optained from distilation of wine. And its only distilled in Cognac region in western France. 
Grades for Cognac- 
 Hors D'age - High quality production beyond the age limit or scale.
XO is Extra old youngest blend will be aged 10 year in cask
VSOP is Very superior old pale, youngest blend will be aged 4 year in cask
VS is Very Special youngest blend will be aged 2 year in cask
Brands- Hennessey, Remy Martin & Martell

Armagnac- Its type of brandy traditionally made in Aquitaine in SW France

Wine- Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented freshly gathered grape juice. 

(There is lots of things you should know when we are talking about wine please read my this Blog for wines

Champagne- Champagne is high quality sparkling wine from Champagne region in France. Only three grapes used to making in Champagne is Chardonnay, Piont Noir, Pinot Meunier.

Brands- Laurent Perrier, Louis Roederer Cristal, Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Dom Perignon Brut etc.

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