Types of Alcohol Explained – Beginner’s Guide to Japanese and Western Drinks

Hello everyone! Today I’ll be thoroughly explaining about “Types and Characteristics of Alcoholic Beverages.” ✨

“I drink beer and wine, but don’t know much about other alcoholic drinks…” “I want to be able to talk a little about alcohol at drinking parties and bars!” “I want to find the right drink for me!”

For those of you with such thoughts, I’ll introduce “basic knowledge about alcoholic beverages” that even beginners can understand. After reading this article, you’ll definitely enjoy the world of alcoholic beverages more! 🥂

😲 There Are So Many Types of Alcoholic Beverages!

What kind of alcoholic beverages do you usually drink? 🤔

Many of you might say “I’ll start with beer!” But actually, there are countless types of alcoholic beverages in the world.

Beer, wine, sake, whiskey, shochu, cocktails… the list goes on! With so many varieties, you might wonder, “Which one should I choose?”

But don’t worry! Since you’re drinking anyway, let’s learn about the types and characteristics to enjoy them more! 🍻

In this article, I’ll explain everything from the basic classification of alcoholic beverages to their characteristics and how to enjoy them in a way that’s easy for beginners to understand. After reading this, you might become a bit of an “alcohol connoisseur” at your next drinking party or bar visit! 😉

🧪 Classification of Alcoholic Beverages: 3 Main Types!

Alcoholic beverages can be divided into 3 main types based on how they’re made.

[The 3 Main Classifications of Alcoholic Beverages]

Just knowing these three differences will help you understand the basic structure of alcoholic beverages! Now, let’s look at each type in more detail. 🔍

🍺 Characteristics and Ways to Enjoy Fermented Beverages

Fermented beverages are made by fermenting grains or fruits. They typically have relatively low alcohol content, making many of them easy to drink even for beginners.

🍺 Beer

Characteristics:

• Main ingredients are malt, hops, water, and yeast
• Refreshing bitterness and carbonation are its appeals
• Alcohol content is about 4-6%

Types:

• Pilsner: The most common type. Clean taste (Example: Asahi Super Dry)
• Ale: Characterized by fruity aromas (Example: Yona Yona Ale)
• Stout: Dark beer. Coffee or chocolate-like flavor (Example: Guinness)

How to Enjoy:

• Best when cold (5-7°C)!
• Great with food! Especially good with oily dishes like yakitori and fried chicken
• Try craft beers to experience the depth of beer 🍻

🍶 Sake

Characteristics:

• Traditional Japanese alcohol made from rice and water
• Alcohol content is about 15-16%
• Interesting how the taste changes with temperature

Types:

• Junmai-shu: Made only with rice and rice koji. Simple umami flavor
• Ginjo-shu: Made with highly polished rice, resulting in fragrant aromas
• Daiginjo-shu: Made with even more polished rice, meticulously crafted premium sake

How to Enjoy:

• Chilled sake (around 10°C): Refreshing and fruity flavor
• Room temperature (15-20°C): Easier to taste umami and sweetness
• Warm sake (40-50°C): Enhances aroma and warms the body

For beginners, easy-to-drink sake like “Dassai” or “Hakkaisan” is recommended! 🍶

🍷 Wine

Characteristics:

• Made from grapes and loved worldwide
• Alcohol content is about 9-15%
• Diverse flavors depending on region and grape variety

Types:

• Red Wine: Characterized by astringency and body. Pairs well with meat dishes
• White Wine: Refreshing acidity. Good with fish dishes and appetizers
• Rosé Wine: Between red and white. Fruity and easy to drink
• Sparkling Wine: Has effervescence, perfect for celebrations

How to Enjoy:

• Best to drink red at around 18°C, white at around 10°C
• Use wine glasses to enjoy the aroma
• Enjoy with cheese, nuts, and other appetizers

For beginners, relatively inexpensive and easy-to-drink wines from Chile or Australia are recommended! 🍷

🥃 Characteristics and Ways to Enjoy Distilled Beverages

Distilled beverages are made by distilling fermented beverages and are characterized by high alcohol content. Often thought of as “strong drinks,” everyone can enjoy them depending on how they’re mixed or consumed!

🥃 Whiskey

Characteristics:

• Made by fermenting and distilling barley or grains, then aging in barrels
• Alcohol content is about 40-46%
• Flavor varies greatly depending on aging period and production method

Types:

• Scotch: From Scotland. Characterized by smoky aroma
• Bourbon: From America. Sweet and easy to drink
• Japanese Whiskey: From Japan. Known for delicacy and balance

How to Enjoy:

• Straight: Enjoy the pure taste of the original liquor
• On the rocks: Mellow with ice
• Highball: Refreshing when mixed with soda water (Recommended for beginners!)

For beginners, sweet bourbons like “Jim Beam” or “Maker’s Mark”, or Japanese whiskies like “Hibiki” or “Yamazaki” are recommended. 🥃

🍹 Shochu

Characteristics:

• Traditional Japanese distilled spirit
• Alcohol content is about 20-30%
• Character depends on the raw ingredients

Types:

• Barley Shochu: Less distinctive, clean taste
• Sweet Potato Shochu: Unique flavor and sweetness
• Rice Shochu: Smooth and easy to drink

How to Enjoy:

• With water: Clean taste when mixed with water
• With hot water: Enhances aroma and warms the body
• On the rocks: Enjoy the taste of the original liquor
• With pickled plum, lemon, etc.: Fun to customize!

For beginners, less distinctive shochu like “Iichiko” (barley) or “Hakutake” (rice) is recommended! 🍶

🍸 Other Distilled Spirits

Vodka:

• Characterized by being flavorless and odorless. Ideal as a cocktail base
• Russia and Poland are famous production regions

Gin:

• Alcohol flavored with botanicals like juniper berries
• Popular in cocktails like gin and tonic

Rum:

• Made from sugarcane
• Often used in cocktails for its tropical flavor

While distilled spirits are often thought of as “strong drinks,” anyone can enjoy them when properly mixed. Starting with cocktails might be a good approach! 🍸

🍹 Characteristics of Mixed Beverages (Liqueurs, Umeshu, etc.)

Mixed beverages are made by adding fruits or aromatic ingredients to distilled spirits. Many are sweet and easy to drink, making them recommended for alcohol beginners!

🍑 Umeshu (Plum Wine)

Characteristics:

• Made by steeping plums and sugar in shochu or sake
• Characterized by sweet and sour taste
• Alcohol content is about 10-15%

How to Enjoy:

• On the rocks: Refreshing with ice
• With soda: Refreshing when mixed with carbonated water
• With hot water: A warm way to drink, perfect for winter

🥂 Liqueurs

Characteristics:

• Made by flavoring distilled spirits with fruits or herbs
• Sweet and easy to drink
• Alcohol content varies by type (15-40%)

Popular Types:

• Cassis: Characterized by the sweet and sour taste of black currants
• Peach: Enjoy the sweet aroma of peaches
• Campari: Characterized by bitterness and herbal aroma

Simple Cocktail Recipes:

• Cassis Orange: Cassis liqueur + orange juice
• Fuzzy Navel: Peach liqueur + orange juice
• Campari Soda: Campari + soda

Easy to make at home, perfect for cocktail beginners! 🍹

🥂 Recommended Alcoholic Beverages by Occasion

Having “standard drinks” for each occasion can be helpful when choosing. Here are recommended alcoholic beverages for common occasions!

[Recommended Alcoholic Beverages by Occasion]

💡 Important Points for Enjoying Alcoholic Beverages

Alcoholic beverages are enjoyable, but it’s important to drink in moderation. Keep the following points in mind to enjoy alcohol healthily:

• Maintain your own pace: No need to force yourself to drink
• Stay hydrated: Drinking water while consuming alcohol helps prevent hangovers
• Eat while drinking: Avoid drinking on an empty stomach
• Consider your plans for the next day: Drinking too much affects the next day

Alcohol is about enjoying “quality” not “quantity.” Even in small amounts, you can enjoy a deeper experience by savoring the taste and aroma! 🌟

🎯 Summary: The More You Know About Alcohol, the More Enjoyable It Is!

In this article, I’ve introduced a wide range of information from the basic classification of alcoholic beverages to the characteristics of each type and how to enjoy them. What did you think?

The world of alcoholic beverages is truly profound, and the more you know, the more enjoyable it becomes. Finding alcoholic beverages that suit your taste will make the act of “drinking” much richer.

“Let’s try this wine with today’s dish” “This sake tastes completely different cold versus warm” “The maturity of this whiskey is amazing!”

Knowing the characteristics of alcoholic beverages like this will greatly enhance the value of each glass!

For beginners, it’s recommended to start with easy-to-drink types and gradually find your preferences. Even if you think you’re not good with “strong drinks,” you might enjoy them if you adjust how they’re mixed or consumed.

Next time, I’m planning to introduce “recommended brands” and “food pairings” in more detail. Stay tuned! 🍻

From today, you too can become a bit of an alcohol connoisseur. Cheers! 🥂✨

*Drinking by minors is prohibited by law. If you are under 20 years old, please use this as knowledge about alcoholic beverages. *Please drink responsibly and in moderation. *Never drink and drive.