Spirits Guide

17 articles · The Craft Pour

Understanding spirits is what separates someone who follows recipes from someone who can actually craft drinks. Once you know what makes a good gin versus a mediocre one, why rye whiskey tastes different from bourbon, or how a well-made rum can taste like nothing you expected — everything else clicks into place.

This section covers the major spirits used in cocktails: gin (London dry vs. contemporary vs. navy strength), whiskey (bourbon, rye, Scotch, Irish — and when each fits), rum (agricole vs. molasses, aged vs. white), vodka (when it matters and when it doesn't), and the supporting cast — bitters, vermouths, liqueurs, and syrups that tie a cocktail together.

Each guide explains the production process in plain language, recommends specific bottles at different price points, and — crucially — explains how the spirit behaves in a glass. Theory and practice, together.

— Elena Cruz, Lead Editor & Cocktail Writer