The alcoholic beverages known as clear liquors are colorless and well-known for their distinctive flavor and scent. Due to their various levels of alcohol content, they are frequently utilized in the creation of cocktails and are a favorite among drinkers. However, it’s not always clear which clear liquors are which or whether they can be mixed together. For example, is tequila a type of rum? Here is why the answer is no.
The Mexican native blue agave plant is used to make tequila, a distilled alcoholic beverage. The juice from the harvested agave plant’s core is boiled, mashed, and then fermented before being distilled to make tequila. Rum, on the other hand, is created by fermenting and distilling sugarcane juice or byproducts like molasses.
Tequila and rum both have distinctive smells and aromas that are a result of their various production processes and constituents. Rum tastes sweet and delicious, whereas tequila has a strong, earthy flavor. As a result, rum cannot be used in place of tequila to create a drink with a tequila-like flavor, and vice versa.
There are three other clear alcoholic beverages besides tequila and rum: vodka, gin, and white rum. Vodka is a smooth, flavorless liquor manufactured from grains or potatoes. Gin is a flavored liquor manufactured from juniper berries and other botanicals; the botanicals used to make it determine how it tastes. Similar to its darker sibling, white rum has a gentler flavor that makes it ideal for mixed beverages.
It’s important to remember that clear liquors are all alcohol. The chemical reaction that occurs during the fermentation of carbohydrates produces alcohol. Depending on the type of liquor, the alcohol percentage might range from 20% to 80% alcohol by volume (ABV). Pure alcohol, commonly referred to as ethyl alcohol or ethanol, is an odorless, colorless liquid that is used as a solvent and in the production of alcoholic beverages.
Everclear, a grain alcohol with a 95% ABV, is the strongest alcoholic beverage. Due to its high alcohol concentration, it is prohibited in some US jurisdictions but is frequently used as the foundation for homemade alcoholic beverages.
Tequila is not a rum, to sum up. Although both liquors are transparent, their distinctive flavors and fragrances come from their various production processes and ingredients. Drinkers frequently choose clear liquors, which are frequently used to make cocktails. Due to their high alcohol content, it’s important to take them in moderation.