Bar Terminology

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Absinthe - A bitter, green or yellow alcoholic drink flavoured with wormwood. Due to its toxicity it was banned at the beginning of the 20th century, and is now known in a milder form as Pastis.

Absolut Citron Vodka - A lemon flavoured vodka made in Sweden. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Absolut Currant Vodka - A black-currant flavoured vodka made in Sweden. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Absolut Mandarin - A madarin flavoured vodka made in Sweden. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Absolut Peppar Vodka - A pepper flavoured vodka made in Sweden. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Absolut Vodka - Neutral flavoured vodka made in Sweden. 40 per cent alcohol by volume. They also make a 100 proof vodka.

Advocaat - Liqueur from the Netherlands, made of brandy, egg yolks, vanilla and sugar, between 15 and 18 per cent alcohol by volume.

After Shock - A peppermint and cinnamon flavoured liqueur.

Agavero Tequila Liqueur - A blend of tequila and the damiana herb, a reputed aphrodisiac.

Aguardiente - Aguardiente Juanito El Caminero is an alcoholic beverage made from sugar cane and produced in Puebla, Mexico. It is sold in 335 ml. bottles and contains 38 per cent alcohol per volume.

Akvavit - A spirit distilled from grain or potatoes and flavoured with caraway seeds, among others. Is also spelt Aquavit.

Alcopop - A generic name in the United Kingdom for bottled drink containing alcohol and pop (usually vodka/rum and lemonade/cider). Very close to the North American coolers.

Ale - 1. An aromatic malt beer originally flavoured with hops -now other cereals can be used for the fermentation. 2.In Britain, a generic term for blonde or pale beer.

Alize - A passion fruit flavoured liqueur. You can also find Alize Red Passion with cranberry juice added.

Almaden Dry White Wine - Dry white wine coming from Almaden, a wine-producing region in central California.

Amaretto - A liqueur made from apricot pits, with an almond flavour.

Amaretto Di Amore - A famous Italian brand of Amaretto.

Amarula Cream Liqueur - A liqueur made from the fruit of the marula tree (South Africa).

Amber Rum - Rum that has an amber colour, a result from an aging process and a caramel colouring.

Amer Picon - A bitter, orange and gentian flavoured aperitif. Usually mixed with lemon syrup and beer.

American Cream Liqueur - A cream liqueur made with grain neutral spirits and brandy by the Heublein Co. (34 proof) proof.

Amontillado Sherry - An old dry sherry.

Anejo Rum - Spanish for aged rum.

Angelica Root - The root of angelina, an aromatic plant used in medicine, or as a preserve, or as a sweet. There is also a liqueur called Angelica from France at 80 proof.

Angostura Bitters - A brand of bitter aromatic tonic used to flavour aperitifs and longer drinks. It was invented around 1825, in Venezuela, by a French Doctor to fight illnesses among
Bolivar's troops.

Anis - A liqueur flavoured with anise seed, giving a licorice flavour.

Anise - A plant growing in the Mediterranean basin, with licorice-flavoured seeds.

Anisette - A liqueur flavoured with anise seed, giving a licorice flavour. It is a sweeter version of Anis.

Apple Pucker - An apple-flavoured schnapps made By De Kuyper. 30 proof. They also make a Cheri-Beri and Grape Pucker.

Apple Sourpuss - A light liqueur made with sour apples, 15.5 per cent alcohol by volume.

Applejack - A brandy distilled from apple cider.

Apricot Brandy - A grape brandy flavoured with apricot.

Apry - A liqueur produced by the maceration of apricots in sweetened brandy.

Aquavit - A spirit distilled from grain or potatoes and flavoured with caraway seeds, among others. Can also be spelt Akvavit.

Archers - A brand of peach schnapps (mainly sold in Great Britain).

Armagnac - Its origins being in the Gascogne region, the Armagnac is a genuine earth "Brandy" which has obtained its title of nobility along with a definite recognition from the customers worldwide. The Armagnac X.O only comes from the best "Eaux de vie" originated from vineyards such as: Folles, St Emilion, Colombar and Jurançon. Distilled following the traditional methods and slowly aged in oak vats for at least 10 years, the Armagnac X.O acquires all its identity: fruitfulness, body and aroma. It is only then, that you are going to enjoy its full potential.

Asbach Uralt Brandy - A famous brand from Germany distilled at 76 proof.

Aurum - It's an Italian pale gold liqueur, orange-flavoured.

Avalanche Peppermint Schnapps - It is an 80 proof peppermint schnapps, blue in colour and with sugar crystals in the bottom of the bottle.





B and B - A dry blended liqueur made from Benedictine and old Cognac and produced in France. (See Benedictine and Cognac)

Bacardi 151 Black Bat Rum - A well-known brand of rum, flavourful, smooth and rich in taste. 75.5 per cent alcohol by volume.

Bacardi 151 Proof Rum - A well-known brand of rum, 151 proof. 75.5 per cent alcohol by volume.

Bacardi Amber Rum - Bacardi's rum that has an amber colour, a result from an aging process and a caramel colouring.

Bacardi Anejo - White Bacardi aged for 6 years. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Bacardi Black Rum - The richest spirit produced by Bacardi is a blend of selected rums aged fro periods of up to four years. Charcoal-filtred for smoothness before mellowing in oak barrels, this rum retains the rich flavour and full body of the original blend without any harshness in taste.

Bacardi Breezer - Bottled cocktail with a rum base produced by Bacardi.

Bacardi Gold - A rum made with the same blend of light spirits as Bacardi White Rum, but that is aged for up to two years and is not filtred again after its time in oak casks. The result is a smooth, amber-coloured rum with a fuller body and a pleasing wood flavour (see Bacardi White Rum).

Bacardi Limon - A well-known brand of rum flavoured with citrus. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Bacardi Rum - A well-known brand of white rum originating from Puerto Rico.

Bacardi Spice Rum - A blend of rich golden rums, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg spices, which combine to give a smooth, flavourful rum.

Bacardi White Rum - Bacardi White is blended, charcoal-filtrered, aged for a least one year, then charcoal-filtrered again to produce a subtle, delicate rum that is clear in colour, light in body and dry in flavour.

Bailey's Irish Cream - A brand of Irish Cream, made of Irish whiskey blended with fresh cream, spirits and a little chocolate.

Baja Rosa - Made with imported tequila and strawberry cream liquor (17 per cent alcohol per volume). Prepared by White Rock Distilleries Inc., Lewiston, Maine, U.S.A.

Banana Ramazotti - A banana liqueur made by Ramazotti, an Italian producer. They also make amaretto (60 proof) and sambuca (80 proof).

Bar Mix - A mixture of lemon juice and sugar syrup (see Sour Mix in the Drink Recipes). Also called Sweet and Sour Mix.

Barenjager - It is a honey liqueur produced in Germany made with vodka, honey and some secret ingredients!

Barley - This is a non-alcoholic fruit drink (usually citrus flavours) available in the U.K. It has a murky appearance due to the barley sugar content but has a richer, fuller flavour than a standard cordial.

Beefeater Dry Gin - A well-known brand of gin.

Beer - An alcoholic beverage, brewed from malted barley, sugar, hops and water.

Benedictine - A brandy-based liqueur with a secret herb formula produced by Benedictine monks in France and in Spain.

Bitters - Bitter tasting spirits made of/flavoured with plant extracts, barks and roots.

Black Currant Liqueur - A liqueur made from maceration and infusion of black currant.

Black Currant Vodka - Vodka flavoured with black currant.

Black Haus - A brand of German blackberry schnapps, 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Blackberry Brandy - A liqueur made of sugar, blackberries and brandy.

Blavod - A type of black vodka.

Blended Scotch Whisky - A whisky containing malt whisky and grain whisky. Twenty to forty different malt whiskies can be part of a blend.

Bloody Mary Mix - A mixture that enables you to make easy Bloody Mary just by adding vodka. (See Bloody Mary Recipes)

Blue Curacao - A liqueur made from white curacao and blue colouring.

Blue Label Smirnoff - 100 proof Smirnoff vodka.

Blue Raspberry Sourball Schnapps - A type of raspberry schnapps made by Hiram Walker.

Blueberry Liqueur - A liqueur produced by maceration and infusion of blueberries.

Blueberry Schnapps - A strong dry spirit produced by the distillation of blueberries.

Bollinger Champagne - A brand of champagne.

Bols Creme de Banane - A brand of creme de banane.

Bols Peach Brandy - A brand of peach brandy.

Bombay Dry Gin - A brand of dry gin, 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Bombay Saphire - A brand of gin produced in England and sold in a light blue coloured bottle (94 proof).

Boodle's Gin - A brand of gin, 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Boone Strawberry Hill Wine - It is an unexpensive wine made from citrus wines blended with strawberry flavours and with a low alcohol percentage. (Thanks to Danny-boy at Virginia Tech)

Bourbon Whiskey - Bourbon Whiskey is America's only native spirit. It is distilled from a minimum of 51% corn and a blend of barley and rye or wheat. For a product to be called 'bourbon" it must be produced in Bourbon County. That is what makes it different from sour mash whisky. The bourbon county that matters is the old Bourbon county. When you see a label that says "Old Bourbon" it is referring to the old county and not the age of the drink. The old Bourbon county encompasses about 30 plus modern counties.

Brandy - An alcoholic spirit distilled from fermented fruits usually bottled at 80 proof.

Bulmers Cider - A brand of cider produced in England.

Bundaberg Rum - A rum producer from Queensland, Australia.

Burgundy Wine - Wine from the famous Burgundy region of France.

Bushmill's Irish Whiskey - A smoky flavoured whiskey produced in Ireland.

Butter Shots - A schnapps produced by John De Kuyper & Son, Inc. (30 proof).

Byrrh - A bitter wine usually served as an aperitif, and produced in France.




Cabernet - A type of red wine, high in tannin and medium to full bodied with a distinctive flavour of blackcurrant. Also called Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cachaca - This can be either rum or a white sugar cane alcohol.

Cadbury's Chocolate Liqueur - A chocolate flavourite liqueur.

Caguamas Tecate - It is a mexican beer, darker than Corona with more flavour.

Calvados - A brandy distilled from apple cider, produced only in the French region of Normandy.

Campari - A bright red type of orange bitters named after its Italian inventor. 24 per cent alcohol by volume.

Canada Dry - A type of ginger ale.

Canadian Club - A brand of blended whisky. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Canadian Mist - A whisky produced in Collingwood, Ontario, and which contains corn and malted barley. Very light-tasting, smooth and mellow.

Canadian Whisky - A whisky mainly made of rye, usually lighter-bodied than American whiskeys. It usually matures in oak casks for 5 years, but can be bottled at 2.

Candyshot Syrup - Candyshots are premium liquid candy syrups imported from Sweden that are used to make colorful, candy-flavored vodka shots, candy martinis, candy mixed drinks, as well as non-alcoholic drinks.

Cape Velvet Cream Liqueur - Cape Velvet comes from the country of South Africa, so named because of Cape Town. It is made by the Diageo Corp (www.diageo.com).

Captain Morgan's Coconut Rum - A brand of coconut flavoured rum made in Puerto Rico -See Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Coconut Rum

Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Coconut Rum - It is another name for Captain Morgan's Coconut Rum, a 48 proof white Puerto Rican rum with a natural coconut flavoring.

Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum - A brand of rum, 'spice' standing for 'the spice of life'. 35 per cent alcohol by volume.

Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur - A brand of Irish Cream Liqueur made in Ireland by TJ Carolan and Son Ltd. 17 per cent alcohol per volume.

Chambord - A well-know brand of raspberry liqueur.

Champagne - 1. The most refined sparkling wine, produced only in the Champagne region of France. 2. The region where the champagne is made. Only champagne made in Champagne should be called 'champagne'. On some other similar sparkling wines you may find 'methode champenoise', thus meaning that the wine does not come from the Champagne region, but that it was produced following the method used in Champagne.

Chartreuse - An herb liqueur created by Carthusian monks. You can find two versions of the liqueur (see Green Chartreuse and Yellow Chartreuse). In France, the monks also produce an Elixir which is 76% alcohol, sold in very small quantities and which is intended to cure things like soar throats and other such ailments. Then there is the V. E.P. Chartreuse, which comes in both a green and yellow variety (108 and 84 proof respectfully) and has a very long aging in oak barrels. VEP stands of Vieillissement Extrement Prolonge (Extremely prolonged aging). They only manufacture a small quantity of these bottles every year and it is a fantastic after dinner drink. Thank you to Patrick Gengoux for providing most valuable information.

Cherry Grand Marnier - The making of Cherry Marnier involves the use of Dalmatian cherries, famous for their outstanding flavour and the quality of their pulp. After delivery to Neauphle-le-Chateau (France), the cherries are crushed and then macerated for a long period of time in brandy and sugar syrup. Following control and checking of the degree of alcohol, Cherry Marnier is bottled at the Gaillon plant. Cherry Marnier, a particularly full-flavoured liqueur, is made available to the consumer in a bottle featuring an original, easily-recognized design.

Cherry Heering - A famous brand of cherry flavoured liqueur.

Cherry Pucker - An cherry-flavoured schnapps made By De Kuyper. 30 proof.

Cider - An alcoholic drink made from the fermentation of apple juice. You can have different varieties (strong, dry, medium, sweet), each having a different alcohol content.

Cisco - Cisco is a wine that was very common in the early to mid 90's and is still around. It comes in a variety of flavours and the alcohol content ranges from 13% to 19% depending on the flavour.

Clamato Juice - A drink made with tomato and clam juice.

Claret - Common name given to the red wines of the Bordeaux wine region in France.

Clear Springs - A type of everclear, 190 proof.

Cloudberry Liqueur - We need your help for this entry in the Bar None Drink Dictionary. Thanks!

Cocoa Cream - A cocoa-flavoured liqueur made from cacao beans; Between 25-30 per cent alcohol by volume.

Cocoribe - A liqueur produced in the USA and made from coconut milk and white rum.

Cognac - You've probably heard this: "All cognac is brandy but not all brandy is cognac". To be called cognac a brandy must be made from a certain type of grape that grows only in the area of Cognac, western France. It is rated the best brandy in the world, smooth with a heady scent. Subtle differences in the blending and aging process also account for the market taste differences between brands and products of the same brand (i.e. VS and VSOP). Just a little extra information: VS means Very Special; VSOP means Very Special Old Pale; XO means Extra Old.

Cointreau - A liqueur made from brandy and orange peel, 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Cola - The name of a sweet, brown carbonated soda, made from a blend of essence and herbs. Non-alcoholic.

Collins Mix - It's a bitter but slightly sugary mix.

Cooler - A fizzy drink with an alcoholic base (vodka/rum/wine, etc.) and different flavourings.

Copa de Ora - A brand of coffee liqueur.

Cork Gin - A brand of dry gin produced in Ireland.

Courvoisier Cognac - A very famous brand of cognac.

Cream Sherry - An extremely sweet sherry.

Creme d'Almond - The USA name for Creme de Noyau, a liqueur made of peach kernels (See Creme de Noyau).

Creme d'Armagnac - A smooth liqueur derived from Armagnac.

Creme de Banane - A banana-flavoured liqueur made by infusion and maceration; Usually 30 per cent alcohol by volume.

Creme de Cacao - A liqueur made from cocoa beans and flavoured with cocoa. Between 25-30 per cent alcohol by volume.

Creme de Cafe - A brown and sweetened liqueur made from spirit extracts of coffee; Between 26-31 per cent alcohol by volume.

Creme de Cassis - A blackcurrant liqueur made from both infusion and maceration methods; Between 18-25 per cent alcohol by volume.

Creme de Coconut - A liqueur made from rum, with coconut flavouring.

Creme de Framboise - A raspberry liqueur made from both infusion and maceration methods.

Creme de Menthe - A peppermint-flavoured liqueur that can be found colourless or green; 30 per cent alcohol by volume.

Creme de Noyeaux - An almond-flavoured liqueur produced in France and available in pink or white. 30 per cent alcohol by volume.

Creme de Violette - A violet-flavoured liqueur made with the oil of violets and vanilla; 30 per cent alcohol by volume.

Creme Yvette - A violet coloured liqueur made from Parma violets, but now almost impossible to find since the production has stopped.

Crown Royal - A brand of blended De Luxe Canadian Whisky (your Webmixer's favourite!) 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Cuarenta Y Tres - Cuarenta Y Tres is a Spanish liqueur with a pleasant vanilla flavour. The history of this liqueur goes back to around 200 BC. The formula has been passed down through all this time and contains over 43 basic elements which is mainly fruits and herbs. It is also called Licor 43.

Cuervo Gold Tequila - A well-know brand of tequila; gold referring to the colour of the liquor.

Cuervo Tequila - A well-know brand of tequila.

Curacao - An orange flavoured liqueur made from dried bitter orange peel.

Cutty Sark - A brand of blended Scots whisky produced in Glasgow. 43 per cent alcohol per volume.

Cynar - An aperitif made with artichokes and flavoured with quinine.




Daquiri Mix - A mix made of sugar, water, lime puree, etc. and that enables you to make easy cocktails, just by adding ice and alcohol.

Dark Puerto Rican Rum - Dark rum made in Puerto Rico!

Dark Rum - Aged rum, sometimes coloured with caramel.

De Kuyper - A producer of multiple liquoirs and Schnapps,.

Dom Perignon - Well-know brand of champagne.

Dr. McGillicuddy's - Dr. McGillicuddy's makes a mentholmint schnapps and a vanilla schnapps. They are produced in Canada at 48 Proof.

Drambuie - Whisky made on the Isle of Skye (Scotland), flavoured with honey and herbs. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Dry - A drink or alcohal that lacks sweetness.

Dry Gin - A type of gin, light in flavour but the aroma is still good.

Dry Martini - Well-known brand name for an Italian vermouth.

Dry Vermouth - A type of dry vermouth. (See Vermouth)

Dubonnet - A type of vermouth made from a mixture of wines from the south of France, spices and aged herbs. Made in Paris since 1846. You can find Dubonnet Blanc (white) or Rouge (red) all at 17 per cent alcohol by volume.

Dutch Genever Gin - It is a type of gin mainly produced in the Netherlands. Of very superior quality, its production is very similar to the one of malt whisky, with juniper and flavouring added to the final product. Dutch Genever -or Jenever- gin is not recommended for cocktails.




E&J - E&J stands for Ernest and Julio Gallo, a well known wine company, which makes Boones wines, Bartles, James wine coolers and Hornsby pub draft cider.

Eggnog - A beverage made of raw eggs, milk, sugar, spice, and liquor (traditionally rum, but now also brandy or whisky).

Espresso - Coffee made by forcing steam through the coffee grounds rather than the traditional boiling water method. Often misspelled as expresso. There is also a liqueur called Espresso produced by Stock S.P.A. from Italy at 54 proof.

Everclear - Everclear is 95% pure grain alcohol. (190 proof), clear in colour. There is also a product called Everclear, produced at 153 proof and an Everlclear Vodka produced at 84 Proof also. Both are made in St. Louis, Mo. U.S.A.




Falerno - A type of wine adapted from Ancient Rome and made in Italy. Now red and white Falernos are available.

Fernet Branca - A bitters made of herbs, with a strong medicinal flavour. Produced in France and Italy.

Finlandia Vodka - A well-know brand of vodka produced in Finland, 40 per cent alcohol by volume. Finlandia also make a 100 proof and a pineapple vodka.

Fino Sherry - A very dry type of sherry.

Firewater - What Native Americans used to call whiskey. By association, the old name for whiskey. There is also a cinnamon schnapps by the same name (100 proof).

Forbidden Fruit Liqueur - A liqueur made from a particular type of grapefruit (shaddock) as well as honey and brandy. It has not been made in a number of years.

Forester - A brand of cider produced in England.

Frangelico - A liqueur made of hazelnuts and an infusion of berries and flowers. 24 per cent alcohol by volume.

French Vermouth - Vermouth produced in France (see Vermouth). It is usually drier than the Italian vermouth, and has a spicy aroma.

Frost Brandy - A brand of brandy.




Galliano - A liqueur flavoured with herbs, roots and spices made in Italy. 35 per cent alcohol by volume.

Gentleman - Brand name of an American Bourbon whiskey, 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

George Dickel Tennessee Sour Mash - There are two types of this particular whiskey produced by Cascade Hollow Distillery, Tullahoma, Tn. : No.8 and No.12. No.8 is an 8 year old distilled and charcoal mellowed whiskey (80 proof). It is commonly referred to as "Black Label". No.12 is 12 years old (90 proof) and referred to as "White Label".

Gewurztraminer - A delicious medium to dry white wine high in sugar but low in acid. Buy a bottle from Alsace, France and you are in for a great experience. On a personal note, the ice wine made from the Gewurztraminer grape is to die for!

Gin - An alcoholic drink distilled from malted grain and flavoured with juniper berries. Invented by a Dutch chemist in the 17th century as a remedy it was brought to England and developed there as a favorite liquor for the working class.

Ginger Ale - In Britain it's a non-alcoholic fizzy drink flavoured with ginger or essence of ginger and coloured with caramel. In North America it's a non-alcoholic, lemon-flavoured fizzy drink.

Ginger Beer - A drink made by the fermentation of root ginger, sugar, water and yeast with a very low alcohol content.

Ginger Wine - A wine with a grape base to which ginger, spices, herbs and fruits have been added.

Godiva Liqueur - It is a chocolate liqueur available in white or dark chocolate. 17 per alcohol per volume.

Golden Pear - Golden Pear liqueur is a imitation pear liqueur from Hungary (60 proof).

Goldenbarr Chocolate Vodka - A chocolate flavoured vodka imported from Ukraine. Made from a secret recipe, Goldenbarr has the smoothness, flavor, and delicate aroma of chocolate. It is 80 proof.

Goldschlager - It is a cinnamon schnapps liqueur with 24k gold flakes floating in the bottle. Made in Switzerland and 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Goldwasser - A clear herb-flavoured liqueur with pieces of gold leaf in it. The original was made by the firm of Danziger and has a flavour of aniseed & caraway they also made a Silverwasser with flakes of silver in the bottle.

Gomme Syrup - A type of syrup used to sweeten cocktails (non-alcoholic).

Gordon's Wildberry Vodka - A wildberry flavoured vodka, produced by Gordon's.

Grain Alcohol - It is ethanol, made from the distillation of fermented grains and containing more or less 10% of water.

Gran Gala - A triple orange liqueur.

Grand Marnier - A cognac based liqueur flavoured with orange peel. You can find two versions of Grand Marnier: the high quality Cordon Rouge (see Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge) and the Cordon Jaune (lower quality, and lower alcohol content).

Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge - A cognac-based orange liqueur, enjoys an exclusive and inimitable status worldwide. The cognac used in production is aged at Chateau de Bourg, in the heart of the Charente region (France). Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge is actually produced at Neauphle-le-Chateau. After lengthy maceration followed by distillation, the orange peels yield a flavoured spirit that, when carefully proportioned and blended with the cognac and sugar syrup, will produce Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge. Subsequently, successive heating and cooling processes produce the constants necessary for stabilizing the degree of alcohol wherever the final destination of the product (hot or cold climates). Last but not least, prior to bottling, Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge is aged in oak casks and is carefully filtered several times.

Grappa - 1. The name of an Italian brandy made from the stalks of grapes. It can be found in 4 main categories: Young, aged, aromatic and flavoured (of course numerous variations exist in these categories). 2. A liquor distilled from cane sugar, flavoured with aniseed and made in South America.

Green Chartreuse - The Green Chartreuse is the only green liqueur in the world with a completely natural colour. It is powerful and different. Only three brothers know the names of the 130 plants and how to blend and to distill them. They are also the only ones who know which plants they have to macerate to produce the green and yellow colours. And they alone supervise the low aging in oak casks. The ingredients found in the Green Chartreuse are alcohol, sugar, 130 plants and flowers. Alcohol content : 55% (110° proof US).

Green Creme de Menthe - A green peppermint-flavoured liqueur; 30 per cent alcohol by volume.

Green Ginger Wine - A type of wine produced in England, made from dried grapes, pure root ginger and aged for 9 months.

Green Grenadine - A non-alcoholic green syrup.

Grenadine - A non-alcoholic red syrup often used for colouring in cocktails. Also adds a bit of sugar in harsh drinks.

Guavaberry Liqueur - Actually called Guavaberry Island Folk Liqueur, it is produced in Saint Marten. If you have more information on this product, please let us know about it.

Guinness - A very famous stout coming from Ireland.





Haagen Dazs Cream Liqueur - Haagen Dazs Cream Liqueur is made by Hiram Walker & Sons. It is 34 proof.

Harvest Pear Schnapps - A brand of pear schnapps produced by John De Kuyper & Son (45 Proof).

Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry - A famous cream sherry (very sweet sherry) made by Harveys in Bristol (England).

Herradura Gold Tequila - Herradura is a high end tequila; they also make a silver label.

Honey Vodka - Honey-flavoured vodka made by Palmos (80 proof)

Hoopers Hooch - An alcoholic lemon drink made with the juice of real lemons. 4.7 per cent alcohol per volume.

Hot Damn - Brand name of a red cinnamon schnapps. It can be bought in both 80 and 100 proof.




Ice 101 - It is a 101 proof peppermint schnapps that is produced by Firewater Inc.

Irish Cream - A smooth, creamy, light brown liqueur with a whiskey base.

Irish Mist - A liqueur with a whiskey base and flavoured with honey and herbs. 35 per cent alcohol by volume.

Irish Whiskey - A whiskey made from malted cereals, barley, water and yeast. It is passed through the still 3 times (therefore has a high alcohol level), blended and aged minimum 5 years in used Sherry casks.

Isolabella - A tangerine liqueur made in Italy.

Italian Dry Vermouth - A type of vermouth produced in Italy (see Vermouth). It is usually a bit sweeter than the French vermouth.



Jack Daniel's Country Cocktail - Pre-mixed drinks made with Jack Daniel's Whiskey. The current line-up of flavours includes Red-Eyed Jack, Lynchburg Lemonade, Downhome Punch, Mountain Sipper, Blackberry Jack, Watermelon Spike, Cactus Kicker, Hurricane Punch, Tennessee Tea, Applejack, and Wildberry Jack.

Jack Daniel's Whiskey - A sour mash whiskey made in Tennessee, USA. 45 per cent alcohol by volume.

Jagermeister - A dark red herb liqueur made in Germany. It's a hunter's favourite in Europe.

Jamaica Rum - A dark rum made from molasses.

Jameson's Irish Whiskey - A type of Irish whiskey, matured in American oak barrels and made by a famous Irish whiskey produced.

Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey - The name of a sour mash bourbon made in Kentucky, USA.

Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch - A famous De Luxe blended scotch whisky made in Scotland. 43 per cent alcohol by volume.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch - A very special malt produced in small quantities and very, very expensive.

Johnnie Walker Red Label Scotch - A well-known blended scotch whisky made in Scotland.

Johnnie Walker Scotch - Any scotch whisky produced by John Walker and Sons (see Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch and Johnnie Walker Red Label Scotch). There are other different sorts, like Johnnie Walker Green Label Scotch, Johnnie Walker150, etc.

Jose Cuervo - Name of a famous producer of tequila.




Kahlua - A coffee liqueur produced in Mexico. 26 per cent alcohol by volume.

Kamora - A coffee liquor produced in Mexico. 26.5 per cent alcohol per volume.

Kibowi - A kiwi liqueur made in Holland and 40 proof.

King Kobra - A brand of beer.

Kirsch - Kirsh is a white brandy distilled from cherries and usually aged in a paraffin lined cask to prevent it from taking on the color of the wood. It is also another name for cherry schnapps.

Koskenkorva Peach - A sweet Finish vodka flavoured with peach.

Kummel - A clear liqueur distilled from grain alcohol and flavoured with caraway and anise seeds.







La Grande Passion Liqueur - It is a fine liqueur made with Armagnac, brandy, flavoured with passion fruit and other natural flavours. La Grande Passion is manufactured by the same French company that creates Grand Marnier.

Lager - Blonde beer fermented for a long time before being bottled.

Lambrusco - A red and sparkling wine made from the lambrusco grape and mainly produced in Italy.

Lava Schnapps - A red hot and spicy cinnamon flavoured schnapps produced by Hiram Walker.

Lemon Bar Mix - It's an unsweetened substitute for lemon juice, available in powder or in liquid concentrate.

Lemon Peel - The skin of the lemon. Often used as a garnish.

Lemon Syrup - A mixture of sugar dissolved in water and flavoured with lemon.

Lemonade - In North America, it's a non-alcoholic soft drink made with lemon juice, water and sugar. In Britain, it's a non-alcoholic, lemon-flavoured, fizzy drink.

Lemonchello - An brand of Italian lemon cordial.

Leroux Banana Liqueur - A banana liqueur made in the USA by Leroux, a famous liqueur producer.

Leroux Pina Colada Schnapps - A pina colada-flavoured liqueur made in the USA by Leroux, a famous liqueur producer.

Licor 43 - Licor 43 is a Spanish liqueur with a pleasant vanilla flavour. The history of this liqueur goes back to around 200 BC. The formula has been passed down through all this time and contains over 43 basic elements which is mainly fruits and herbs. It is also called Cuarenta Y Tres. (See Cuarenta Y Tres)

Lift - A lemon lime soda.

Light Beer - Beer with a lower count of calories and alcohol!

Light Cream - A type of cream made with skimmed milk, often reduced in calories.

Light Rum - A type of rum that is light in body and aged for 3 years or more. You may find light rum in different colours, ranging from white to silver to gold.

Lilikoi Syrup - Lilikoi is the Hawaian name for the passion fruit (from Lilikoi.com). So Lilikoi is a passion fruit syrup! :)

Lillet - A light, medium dry French aperitif (red or white) made with herbs, spices and fruits fortified with French Brandy, and a Bordeaux wine base.

Lime Bar Mix - It's an unsweetened substitute for lime juice, available in powder or in liquid concentrate.

Lime Cordial - 1. A non-alcoholic lime syrup (see Syrup, definition 2). 2. A mixture of concentrated lime juice and sugar, often used in cocktails.

Lime Mix - A mix made of sugar, water, and lime puree, etc. that enables you to make easy cocktails like daiquiris and margaritas, just by adding ice and alcohol.

Limeade - A soft drink made with sweetened lime juice and carbonated water.

Linie Akvavit - The most widely diffused and exported brand of Norwegian Akvavit.

Liquor - A name used in the USA to designate an alcoholic beverage, usually distilled rather than fermented, without any reference to its liquid composition.

Loganberry Juice - A type of raspberry juice, loganberries being raspberries from Logan.

London Dry Gin - 1. A brand of very dry gin made around London. 2. Any very dry gin.

Long Island Iced Tea Mix - A combinaison of alcohol to which you only have to add ice, lime juice and cola in order to make a Long-Island Iced Tea.

Lychee Nuts - The fruits of a Chinese tree. The lychee nut has a red-brown shell, a whitish skin and is very perfumy.








Mace - Spice made from the dried outer casting of the nutmeg.

Mad Melon Watermelon Schnapps - The brand name of a schnapps flavoured with melon and watermelon.

Madeira - A fortified wine produced in the island of Maderia, a possession of Portugal. The wine is aged between 4 to 6 months in casks in a very warm chamber.

Maggi Seasoning - A strong liquid seasoning made by Maggi.

Mainstay Cane - The brand name of a double distilled cane liquor made in South Africa.

Makers Mark - A brand of bourbon.

Malibu Rum - A coconut flavoured rum, 28 per cent alcohol by volume.

Malt Liquor - An alcoholic beverage made in the USA, in the same manner as beer, but with a much higher alcoholic content. Each state sets the maximum permitted alcohol level, 8 degree being the max.

Mandarine Napoleon - A liqueur made of rare tangerines, whose skins are macerated in grape brandy. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Mandrin Liqueur - A liqueur flavoured with mandarin oranges, which are small and similar to tangarines in taste.

Manila Dark Rum - A brand of dark rum produced in the Philippine Islands.

Maraschino Liqueur - A cherry liqueur made from Maraska cherries grown in Dalmatia. They are sour cherries, tasting a bit like bitter almonds. 30 per cent alcohol by volume.

Marasquin - A cherry flavoured liqueur made from the distillation of green cherry kernels, and produced by De Kuyper.

Margarita Mix - A mix made of sugar, water, and lime puree, etc. that enables you to make easy margaritas, just by adding ice and alcohol.

Martini and Rossi Dry Vermouth - A well-known brand of Italian vermouth (see Vermouth).

Martini and Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth - A well-known brand of Italian vermouth (see Vermouth).

Martini Bianco - A type of white Italian vermouth produced by the famous Martini and Rossi (see Vermouth).

Martini Rosso - A type of red Italian vermouth produced by the famous Martini and Rossi (see Vermouth).

Melon Deoria - A watermelon-flavoured liqueur.

Mescal - Also spelt mezcal, it's a spirit distilled like tequila, but of much inferior quality, because the cactus used to obtain the sap is not the famous blue agave.

Metaxa - A well-known brand of Greek brandy. The producers use stars to define the age of the liquor, each star denoting one year of aging.

Metaxa 7 Star - A 7 year old brandy made by Mataxa.

Mezcal - A spirit made from the distillation of the maguey (agave) and produced in small quantities in Mexico. Also spelt mescal, it is distilled like tequila.

Midori - The brand name of a famous bright green musk melon liqueur. 30 per cent alcohol by volume.

Mint - Any plant with the aromatic family 'mentha'. The leaves are used to make essential oil or for seasoning and flavouring.

Mirage - A drink made with vodka, citrus fruit and white wine, produced in England.

Monin Passion Fruit - A famous brand of passion fruit syrup (see Syrup, definition 2).

Moselle Wine - Wine that is produced in the Saar-Ruwer region of Germany, and through which the river Moselle runs.

Mount Gay Barbados Rum - A type of rum produced by Mount Gay, a famous distillery in the Barbados.

Mozart Liqueur - An Austrian chocolate liqueur. 15-17 percent alcohol by volume depending on variety.

Muscat Wine - A very flavoury wine, made with the Muscat grape, a small type of grape that can be very sweet.

Muscatel - A sweet dessert wine.

Myer's Rum - A type of rum made by the Jamaican distillery Myers. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.






Nassau Orange - A bitter orange-flavoured liqueur produced in the Netherlands.

Noilly Prat - A French vermouth made with 40 different herbs (see Vermouth). 17 per cent alcohol by volume.






151 Proof Rum - A type of rum with a high content of alcohol (75.5 per cent alcohol by volume).

Ojen - A dry anise liquor made in Spain. 42 per cent alcohol by volume.

Olive Brine = The solution made of salt and water in which olives are kept when put in jars. It has a strong olive taste due to the maceration of the olives.

Olives - The fruits (black or green) of a Mediterranean tree, eaten as a relish, pressed to make olive oil or used as a garnish in cocktails.

Orange Bitters = A type of bitters with an orange base widely used in cocktails.

Orange Curacao - A type of Curacao originally made with oranges from the Island of Curacao.

Orange Flower Water - An essence of orange flower made by the distillation method and often used in cooking.

Orange Gin - An orange flavoured gin made by macerating orange peels in gin for up to 2 months. You can find it sweetened or unsweetened.

Ouzo - Greek aperitif with a strong anise flavour. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.







Pacharan - Typical liquor from the north of Spain (Basque Country and Navarra) made from sloes infused in base alcohol.

Parfait Amour - 1. A type of light purple Curacao flavoured with rose petals, vanilla and almonds and made in France. 2. A purple liqueur made from spirit, lemon, coriander and sugar and produced in the USA.
Paso Fino - The brand name of a rum.

Passion Fruit Liqueur - A sweet liqueur with a citrus base and made in Australia.

Passoa - A coral-red liquor made by Cointreau (Spain) with a fresh scent of passion-fruit and citrus. 20 per cent alcohol by volume. (Thanks Stephan!)

Pastis - An anise-based liquor made in France.

Pat O'Brien's Hurricane Cocktail Mix - The brand name of a cocktail mix, that helps you make Hurricane Cocktails.

Peach Brandy - A grape brandy base flavoured with peaches and peach kernels.

Peach Pucker - A brand of peach schnapps made by De Kuyper.

Peach Schnapps - A strong dry spirit produced by the distillation of peaches.

Peach Tree Schnapps - A peach schnapps made by De Kuyper.

Pepper Vodka - A pepper flavoured vodka. Can be made by fermenting a hot pepper in the bottle for a length of time depending on how hot you like your vodka!

Peppermint Schnapps - A peppermint spirit, more fluid and usually with a higher alcohol content than the Creme de Menthe (see Creme de Menthe).

Pernod - An anise-based liquor made in France.

Peychaud Bitters - The brand name of a bitters produced in the South of the United States.

Pina Colada Mix - A mix made of sugar, water, concentrate of pineapple juice, etc. and that enables you to make easy Pina Colada cocktails, just by adding ice and alcohol.

Pink Champagne - 1. A Champagne rose made in the Champagne region of France. 2. In the USA, any type of pink sparkling wine made by the "methode champenoise" (see Champagne).

Pisang Ambon - It's a sweet,bright green, herb and green banana flavoured liqueur. The name comes from Ambon which is an Indonesian island where Pisang means banana.

Pisco - A type of brandy made from Muscat wine (see Muscat Wine).

Plymouth Gin - A type of gin made with Italian juniper.

Polish Pure Spirit - A very strong spirit (80 per cent alcohol by volume) made in Poland and similar to vodka. Also known as Polish White Spirit.

Port - A fortified red wine produced in Portugal. You can find many different varieties.

Prunella Brandy - A plum-flavoured brandy.

Pusser's Rum - A type of rum produced in England. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.







Quetsch - A schnapps, made by the distillation method, from a variety of plum called 'quetsch'.








Raki - A liquor made from anise and licorice. Also Turkey's national drink!

Raspberry Sourpuss - A light liqueur made with raspberries, 15.5 per cent alcohol by volume.

Razzmatazz - Raspberry liqueur made by De Kuyper.

Rebel Yell 101 - This is a double cinnamon spiced liqueur, bottled by Rebel Yell Distillery, Owensboro,KY. 101 proof.

Red Curacao - A type of Curacao, red in colour (see Curacao).

Red Stripe Beer - A type of lager made in England.

Rhine Wine - Wine produced around the Rhine, a river that runs along the border of France, Germany and Switzerland.

Ricard - An anise-based liquor made in France.

Riesling - A dry white wine high in acid but low in alcohol. For a good Riesling try a bottle from Alsace or Germany.

Rock and Rye - Sweetened rye whiskey, sometimes bottled with rock candy syrup and fruit slices (lemons, oranges, cherries).

Ronrico White Rum - A brand of white rum made in the Caribbean.

Rose's Lime Juice - A famous brand name for concentrated lime juice.

Ruby Port - A young blended port, deep red in colour.

Rum - A liquor made from fermented and distilled molasses. Light rums are usually produced in Puerto Rico, Barbados, Cuba, etc...and do not age for very long. Dark rums come mostly from Jamaica, Martinique, Haiti, etc…and can mature from 3 to 12 years. Usually their colour is due to the aging process, but sometimes caramel is added to the spirit. Now you can find very different types of rum, in many flavours and varieties.

Rumple Minze - A brand of peppermint schnapps, 50 per cent alcohol by volume.

Rye Whiskey - A whiskey made from a mash that contains a minimum of 51% rye, and that is aged in new oak barrels.







Safari - A yellow Dutch liqueur flavoured with exotic fruits (mango, papaya, wild limes, etc…). 20 per cent alcohol by volume.

Sake - A beer made from rice and originating from Osaka, Japan.

Sambuca - A liqueur produced by the infusion of Witch elder bush and licorice. It can be flavoured with sweet anise and now can be found in different varieties. It is similar to Anisette but has a higher alcoholic level and is less sugary. (See Anisette).

Sangria - A beverage originating from Spain. It is made with red wine, sugar and fruits, and is garnished with fresh fruits and berries. There are lots of recipes to make sangria, but there should always be red wine and fruits.

Sauterne - A dry white wine produced in California. Don't get it mixed up with Sauternes, which
is quite different

Sauternes - A white wine produced in the South-West of France. Its alcohol content must be 13% minimum. It is quite a sweet and delicious wine, perfect for desserts.

Sauza Tequila - The brand name of a tequila produced in Mexico.

Schnapps - Another name for spirit, usually implying quite a strong alcohol content.

Scotch - A term used to designate whisky made in Scotland.

Seagram's 7 Crown - A type of American whiskey produced by Seagram, the famous Canadian company.

Seagram's Extra Dry Gin - An extra dry gin produced by Seagram, the famous Canadian company.

Seagram's Gin - A gin produced by Seagram, the famous Canadian company.

Sherry - Name given to the fortified wines produced in Andalusia (Spain)

Shochu - A Chinese aqua vitae made through the distillation of rice wine or sweet potato.

Silver Rum - A type of rum named silver because of its colour - as opposed to Gold Rum.

Simple Syrup - A mixture of sugar and boiling water (see Simple Syrup in the Drink Recipes).

Single Malt Scotch Whisky - A whisky that is brewed from a single batch of wort. Also a whisky from one particular distillery. There are more than a hundred distilleries in Scotland, each producing their own, distinctive Single Malt.

Sirop de Menthe - French for "peppermint syrup".

Skyy Vodka - Skyy Vodka is a smooth 80 proof vodka.

Slivovitz - Slivovitz is a Serbian plum brandy which used to be 100 proof but now is down to 80 proof.

Sloe Gin - A gin flavoured with sloe berries. Produced by the maceration of the berries in some gin with sugar.

Smirnoff Vodka - A famous brand of vodka that was originally produced in Poland, but that is now made in the UK and in the USA. It comes in different varieties and flavours.

Soho - A lychee liqueur.

Soju - Soju is a Korean sweet potato vodka, 25%. One brand, Jinro soju, is the world's number one selling spirit, by volume.

Sour Apple Pucker - A sour apple schnapps made by De Kuyper (30 proof)

Southern Comfort - A blend of bourbon, orange and peach liqueur. 35 per cent alcohol by volume.

Sparkling Wine - A wine containing a large amount of carbon dioxide, the source of the beverage's bubbles, so that pressure inside the bottle rises to several atmospheres. There are four ways of putting the CO2 in the bottle: the methode champenoise (see Champagne), injection, the cuve close method or the Charmat (a type of cuve close method).

St. Hallvard - A Norwegian herb flavoured liqueur with a potato based spirit.

St. Raphael - A fortified red wine flavoured with quinine and invented in 1830 by Jupet, a blind Frenchman.

Steinhaeger - A brand of German gin, flavoured with juniper.

Stolichnaya Vodka - The most popular Russian vodka, also called the vodka of Moscow, it comes in many different flavours. Stolichnaya Cinnamon Vodka, Stolichnaya Coffee Vodka, Stolichnaya Lemon Vodka, Stolichnaya Orange Vodka, Stolichnaya Peach Vodka, Stolichnaya Pepper Vodka, Stolichnaya Raspberry Vodka, Stolichnaya Strawberry Vodka, Stolichnaya Vanilla Vodka. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Stout - Dark, strong English beer.

Strega - A yellow liqueur made from herbs, spices, plants and produced in Italy (Strega meaning "witch" in Italian).

Stroh Rum - A brand of rum produced in Austria.

Suze - A bitter French aperitif with a gentian and herb base.

Swedish Punch - A mixture of spices, tea, lemon, sugar and spirit (usually rum) to which wine is added after a few months of maceration.

Sweet and Sour Mix - A mixture of lemon juice and sugar syrup, also called sour mix (see Sour Mix in the Drink Recipes).

Sweet Sherry - A smooth type of sherry with a high sugar content -as opposed to dry sherry.

Sweet Vermouth - A type of vermouth which has a sweet taste to it.






Taboo - A combination of wine, vodka and spices sold mainly in the UK.

Tanqueray Gin - The brand name of an unsweetened gin produced in England since 1830.

Tawny Port - Golden, blended port, produced in Portugal, that has been aged in casks for at least 6 years.

Tennesse Whiskey - A type of whisky that is produced like Bourbon, but which is mellowed before being stocked in barrels. It has thus a smoky sweetness, and is considered by law as a separate category of whiskey.

Tequila - A spirit that is only produced in two region of Mexico and that is made from a minimum of 51% of distilled blue agave sap.

Tequila Casa Noble Gold - A golden coloured tequila produced by Casa Noble, made with 100% blue agave. 40 per cent alcohol per volume (80 proof).

Tequila Casa Noble Reposado - An aged premium tequila produced by Casa Noble, made with 100% blue agave. 40 per cent alcohol per volume (80 proof).

Tequila Gold - A gold coloured tequila that has usually aged between 2 to 4 years in oak casks.

Tequila Rose - A strawberry flavoured cream liqueur and tequila. It is a real sweet liquor with a hint of tang to it and tastes like melted strawberry ice cream.

Tequila Silver - Young, colourless tequila -as opposed to Tequila Gold.

Tia Maria - A rum-based coffee liqueur produced in Jamaica. 26.5 per cent alcohol by volume.

Tia Maria Chocolate Liqueur - The name of a Jamaican chocolate flavoured liqueur.

Tio Pepe Sherry - The brand name for a Spanish fine sherry.

Triple Sec - A very refined, white Curacao. Very sweet.

Tropico Liqueur - Tropico is a balance of premium Bacardi Gold Rum and exotic fruit juices, including mango, passion fruit, guarana, and carambola. It is similar to Alize...but, while Alize is cognac-based, Tropico is rum-based with a combination of seven different fruits.

Tuaca - An Italian sweet liqueur, flavoured with citrus.






Underberg - A German digestive aged in oak casks and made from the maceration of water, herbs, roots and alcohol.






Van Der Hum Liqueur - A South African liqueur made from Cape tangerines, brandy, plants, seeds and barks.

Vat 69 - A blended Scotch whisky produced by William Sanderson and Son and which is named after the original vat blend. 40 per cent alcohol by volume.

Vermouth - A wine flavoured with herbs, spices, barks and flowers. Can be found in different varieties (red, white, dry, sweet, etc.), and is produced mainly in France and Italy. The most common herbs and spices used to make vermouth are: angelica, bitter orange, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, gentian, hyssop, marjoram, sage and thyme.

Vodka - A clear alcoholic spirit originating in Russia, made from grain.






Whiskey - A spirit made by distilling fermented cereals then aged in oak barrels. Note that Canadian whisky is spelled without the "e".

White Creme de Cacao - A cocoa flavoured liqueur made from cacao beans and white in colour.

White Creme de Menthe - A colourless peppermint-flavoured liqueur; 30 per cent alcohol by volume.

Wild Spirit Liqueur - A distinct raspberry/chocolate flavoured schnapps.

Wild Turkey - The brand name of a bourbon whiskey (see Bourbon) and a bourbon-based liqueur produced in the USA.

Wildberry Schnapps - It is a sweet liqueur made of wild fruit, berries and cherries. 23 per cent alcohol per volume.

Windsor Canadian Whisky - The brand name of a Canadian whisky.

Wine - An alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of grapes.






Yellow Chartreuse - The Yellow Chartreuse is mellow and sweet, flavoured with orange and myrtle. Alcohol content : 40% (80° proof US). (See Chartreuse)

Yukon Jack - A Canadian brand of whisky.







Zima - A clear, refreshing, malt beverage very similar to beer with 4.8 per cent of alcohol per volume.

Zubrowka - Also called Zubrovka or Zubrowka Grass. It is a yellowish vodka made in Poland and Hungary, and each bottle contains a blade of bison grass.