The Different Types of Spirits & Liquor [Explorer’s Guide]
The Different Types of Spirits & Liquor [Explorer’s Guide]
Written by Taster's Club Internal Team | Updated October 2026
Maybe you’ve tried a beginner-friendly whiskey, and you’re looking to step up your game with a fun bourbon, or see how beautiful an aged tequila can be.
Well, you’re in the right place. This spirits guide will walk you through all the different types of liquor and spirits, from basics to unique takes that even connoisseurs may find interesting. Finally, showing you how to try a new spirit every month.
How to Enjoy the Best Types of Liquor & Bottles
Before we dive into the different types of spirits, it’s important to understand how to best experience new types of spirits and liquor. And, typically, the hard part is knowing which bottle to buy next. That is why we built the Stock the Bar Club.
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Not only do you get expertly curated full-size bottles every month, but you’ll also receive our custom digital tasting guide that’s like having a personal guide right in your living room as you serve and enjoy.
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Elevate Your Home Bar Today
Stock your bar with these premium spirits and create unforgettable moments for you and your guests.
Whiskey
Whiskey is a beautifully diverse spirit that’s stood the test of time as one of the most sought-after types of spirits around the world. It has many different types, flavor profiles, history, and enough depth for a complete lifetime of exploration.
It’s perfect for spirit lovers who want a rich, warm flavor, made from grains like barley, corn, rye, or wheat. The grain is mashed, fermented, distilled, and then rested in various types of wooden barrels, depending on the distiller's process. Over time, the wood gives whiskey its color and flavors like vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak.
Why whiskey is so popular
Exploring whiskey is like exploring various regions of the world, each with a different experience and flavor profile that makes it so enjoyable to sip and compare over the years.
For instance, in the US, whiskey must be made from grain and bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV) or higher.
Whereas Scotch must be made in Scotland and aged at least three years in oak, and Irish whiskey follows the same three-year rule. Those rules, plus the grain used, create very different styles. Taking it a step further, Scotch from the island of Islay can taste much smokier than Scotch from other regions. So, as you dive deeper into the different types of whiskey, you'll find endless exploration opportunities.
How to Find The Best Whiskey
Since whiskey is so dynamic, with thousands of bottles to choose from, it can be overwhelming when it comes time to get a bottle and have a fun sipping experience. It’s that reason why we created the Whiskey Subscription. It’s a curated monthly experience where our in-house experts select dynamic whiskey picks and ship them to your door every month. Explore the whiskey subscription today.
Other Whiskey Bottle Guides
Bourbon
If you want to dig deeper into American-specific whiskey. Bourbon is the spirit for you that’s earned its own category because of its unique profile that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.
This type of whiskey is made from corn, for a sweeter and smoother type of whiskey that’s a great first-time pour, but also uplevels with age for richer developments that come from the oak barrels. The funny thing about bourbon is that all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.
Barrel aging is key
To tie it all together, the barrel aging is where bourbon gets its signature taste. By law, bourbon must age in a brand new oak barrel that has been either charred or burned. That burnt wood adds deep notes of caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar.
Ingredients matter
Finally, what makes this spirit unique is that bourbon must also be made in the USA and, use a recipe of at least 51% corn, and be bottled at 80 proof or higher with nothing added but water.
Deeper specifics
Similar to Scotch, Bourbon takes things even deeper with different types of bourbon you can sip and enjoy. From smooth wheated bourbons to strong bottled-in-bond bourbon, or even high-rye, there is a whole world of American whiskey that’s available to explore.
Wheated bourbons, like Maker's Mark, taste soft, while high-rye bourbons bring more spice. And single barrel ensures that the entire bottle comes from one single barrel, for the true connoisseur.
Finally, most bourbon lands between 40% and 65% ABV.
How to Find The Best Bourbon
Similar to Whiskey, it can be a mental maze to understand what type of bourbon you should get for your home bar. And with new releases and many different categories, you’ll want to ensure you’re getting the right ones every month. Our bourbon subscription helps you do exactly that. We curate specific bourbons from fun craft bottles to classics, delivered to your door every month. Explore the bourbon subscription.
Other Bourbon Bottle Guides
Scotch
Scotch is similar to bourbon in the sense that it comes from one specific country, Scotland. Exploring Scotch is all about exploring a sub-type of whiskey that’s rich in history and depth in its flavor profile.
Scotch’s strict requirements
By law, Scotch must age in oak casks for at least three years and be made in Scotland. This aging process is where different scotches can have completely different flavor profiles, as some distillers use ex-bourbon barrels, which add vanilla and honey. Others use ex-sherry wine barrels, which bring notes of dried fruit, chocolate, and spice.
Deeper specifics
The fun thing about Scotch is that the longer Scotch ages, the deeper and smoother it gets. Which is why you see ages like 18-year, reserved for the connoisseurs who want to sip and experience a “statement in a bottle”.
Similar to bourbon, Scotch takes things even deeper with different types you can sip and enjoy. From a single malt made at one distillery to a blended Scotch that mixes whiskies from many, Scotch offers a whole world to explore. Finally, most Scotch lands between 40% and 46% ABV, while cask strength bottles can top 60%.
How to Find The Best Scotch
Similar to whiskey, it can be a mental maze to know which Scotch to get for your home bar. With so many regions, cask types, and age statements, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the right bottles every month. Our Scotch subscription helps you do exactly that. We curate Scotch from hidden gem distilleries to well-loved classics, delivered to your door every month. Explore the Scotch subscription.
Other Scotch Bottle Guides
Tequila
Tequila is a much different spirit than a whiskey or bourbon and has so many dynamic ways to taste and sip. From fun party shots to sophisticated sipping tequilas, tequila is deeply concentrated and must come from Mexico, with many different types and takes.
How tequila is unique
Legal tequila uses only blue Weber agave. Farmers cut away the spiky leaves to reach the piña. From there, the piñas are slowly cooked and crushed to pull the juices from the plant, which is then fermented and distilled to bring you that amazingly sweet and peppery tequila.
Regions that tequila can come from
Tequila can only be made in Mexico, and more specifically, must come from the state of Jalisco and parts of four other states to officially be a tequila. This highly specific region differs from spirits like whiskey or gin, which can come from different countries around the world.
This narrower scope gives tequila fewer types, but it offers deeper exploration for intermediate explorers and connoisseurs who want to dive into a single sub-region or style.
Deeper specifics
The different ways that tequila is aged are how the different types of tequila are created. A blanco is left unaged or rested for a small amount of time, up to two months. A blanco provides that fresh agave flavor.
From there, reposado rests for two months to a year in oak and picks up a touch of vanilla.
The next type is Añejo, which ages for one to three years and turns rich and smooth, and Extra Añejo goes even longer for an ultra-premium tequila experience.
Finally, there is also Cristalino, an aged tequila filtered back to clear, with most tequila bottled at 40% ABV.
How to Find The Best Tequila
Since tequila comes in so many styles, from bright blancos to smooth añejos, and not every bottle is 100% agave, it can be overwhelming when it comes time to get a bottle and have a fun sipping experience.
This curated monthly experience, where our in-house experts select dynamic tequila picks and ship them to your door every month. Explore the tequila subscription today.
Other Tequila Bottle Guides
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The Perfect Gift for Spirit Lovers
Join the club that brings that special someone expertly selected spirits you won’t find on every shelf. Discover something new every month.
Rum
Next, we head to the tropics. Rum is a versatile and widely enjoyed spirit, derived from sugarcane byproducts, primarily molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice. Its production varies significantly across regions, leading to a broad spectrum of styles and flavors.
The rules of Rum
The rules of Rum aren’t as strict as whiskey or tequila, since each country sets its own regulations on what can be considered a rum. For instance, in the US, rum must be made from sugarcane and bottled at 80 proof or higher.
Deeper specifics
The freedom to give distillers more control over their final product provides a very wide range of rum.
With white rum, you’ll get a light and crisp sip that’s perfect for mixing. Whereas a gold or dark rum provides a richer-tasting experience that is friendlier for sweet cocktails or even sipping. Finally, we’ve got spiced rum, which has more cinnamon spice and vanilla than the others.
Most rum is 40% ABV, but overproof can top 60%. Bacardi, Appleton Estate, and Mount Gay are easy places to start.
How To Find The Best Rum Bottles
Since rum is made all over the world, from light and crisp white rums to rich, dark aged bottles, it can be overwhelming when it comes time to get a bottle and have a fun rum experience. That’s where the Rum Subscription comes in to help you on your tasting journey.
It’s a curated monthly experience where our in-house experts select dynamic rum picks and ship them to your door every month. Explore the rum subscription today.
Discover Other Rum Bottle Guides
Gin
Gin is all about providing a fresh and herbal-forward flavor profile, perfect for fun or classy cocktails. Gin starts as a clean, neutral spirit, often made from grain.
Juniper berries give gin its iconic piney taste. That said, every brand uses a different blend of botanicals, even up to 40+ different types, for a diverse world to discover.
The main rule
The main rule for gin is that juniper must be the leading flavor. In the US, gin must also be bottled at 80 proof or higher. "London Dry" gin can be made anywhere, but all its flavor must come from distilling.
Deeper specifics
There are various styles of gin, including London Dry, which is known for its crisp, clean taste, and Old Tom, which is slightly sweeter and richer. Craft distilleries have also innovated with the incorporation of diverse botanicals such as citrus peels, herbs, and spices, resulting in a wide array of flavors and profiles.
London Dry is the classic style. While Old Tom is a little sweeter, and New Western gins are much more fruity than the rest. And most gins fall between 40% and 47% ABV, with the exception of a Navy Strength gin, which is about 57% ABV, perfect for sweeter cocktails.
How To Find The Best Gin Bottles
Since every gin has its own unique blend of botanicals, with new craft gins popping up every year, it can be overwhelming when it comes time to get a bottle and have a fun cocktail experience.
Our Gin of the Month Club takes all that guesswork out as it’s a curated monthly experience where our in-house experts select dynamic gin picks and ship them to your door every month. Explore the gin subscription today.
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Vodka
Vodka is similar to other worldly spirit types, in that it can be made from regions around the world. On top of that, the great thing about vodka is that it’s friendly for beginners, especially when it comes to cocktails.
How vodka is unique
The unique thing about vodka is that it can be made from various ingredients such as wheat, rye, corn, and potatoes, which are most common, and some vodka is even made from grapes. That said, in the US, vodka must be distilled to at least 95% alcohol before water is added, then bottled at 80 proof or higher.
Deeper specifics
The base of your vodka can vary how your cocktail or sipping experience goes. Wheat vodka tastes soft and a bit sweet (like wheated whiskey, which is softer). Rye vodka has a hint of spice, and potato vodka feels creamy, which is where it gets it popularity, and corn vodka is smooth with a light sweetness. Almost every vodka is bottled at 40% ABV.
Vodka is a very different spirit than whiskey, but the use of various grains similarly influences how it develops sweetness or a richer flavor profile.
How To Find The Best Vodka Bottles
Since vodka can be made from wheat, rye, corn, potatoes, and even grapes, and there are hundreds of brands to choose from, it can be overwhelming when it's time to pick a bottle for a fun cocktail or sipping experience.
That is where the Taster’s Club Vodka Subscription comes in. It’s a curated monthly experience where our in-house experts select dynamic vodka picks and ship them to your door every month. Explore the vodka subscription today.
Discover Other Vodka Bottle Guides
Build Your Home Bar One Bottle at a Time
If you still can’t decide on what type of spirits you should start with to build your home bar, we highly recommend you check out our Stock the Bar Club. It’s a premium spirits subscription that showcases a different type of spirit every single month. All expertly curated so you know you’re getting a great pick, no matter if it’s a whiskey, gin, or tequila. Check out our Stock The Bar Club today.
Discover Other Spirit Guides
Make Every Month a Spirits Adventure
At Taster’s Club, pursuing the best spirits becomes an exciting adventure, check out our extensive bottle shop, or if you want a more personalized spirits experience, join our Stock The Bar Club!
Make Every Month a Spirits Adventure
At Taster’s Club, pursuing the best spirits becomes an exciting adventure, check out our extensive bottle shop, or if you want a more personalized spirits experience, join our Stock The Bar Club!
