What does "spirits" mean?

Question

It says "Beer, Wine, and Spirits", but what on Earth does it mean by that?

Answer 1

Hard alcohol. They give off vapours, a heavy smell to them, which is why it was first referred to as spirits. So vodka, whiskey, and similar alcohol falls into the category of spirits.

Answer 2

Bourbon, scotch, gin, vodka, rum, etc. Stronger than beer or wine. I was on some island the the Caribbean once (I don't remember which one), and the signs over the liquor stores said "Intoxicating spirits sold here", I thought that was kinda neat.

Answer 3

The precise origin of the name spirits which is commonly given to alcoholic beverage is unknown. However, the words "alembic" and "alcohol", as well as possibly the metaphors aqua vitæ (meaning "life-water") and "spirit" given to the distilled product, may stem from Middle Eastern alchemy. Distilled alcohol was first noted in Europe among alchemists during the mid 12th century. These alchemists were more involved in medical "elixirs" than in creating gold from lead. The term spirit is Middle English with its roots in Anglo-French or Latin; it stems from the Anglo-French term espirit, spirit; and from the Latin word spiritus, which literally means breath; from the term spirare, meaning to blow, breathe. The term spirits is typically given to those distilled beverages which are low in sugars and which contain a minimum of thirty five per cent alcohol by volume. Some of the common types of spirits include Gin, vodka and rum

Answer 4

It was believed in medieval days that when a man was drunk and mean that evil spirits entered him from the drink. Hence alcohol became known as spirits. Very superstitious huh?

Answer 5

Spirits is an old term for whiskey, etc. People back then believed there was an evil spirit in the bottle because people would act funny and act possesed by the devil when they drank it.

Answer 6

spirits are like heavy alcohalic drink like shots and margaitas.....things that dont quite fit into the beer or wine catagory

Answer 7

The reference is to alcoholic drinks which are distilled as opposed to fermented. They have a much higher alcoholic content.

Answer 8

Liquor has an indefinite shelf life, So that's way they refer liquor to spirits....

Answer 9

good stuff that will fizzy you up in the head if you drink too much.

Answer 10

Distilled alcohol - rum, gin, whiskey, vodka, etc.