There are six primary liquors — whiskey, brandy, vodka, rum, gin and tequila. These beverages fall under the liquor category because they use a similar distilling method, but each has a distinct flavor that arises from using different ingredients and aging processes.

Vodka, gin, baijiu, shōchū, soju, tequila, rum, whisky, brandy, and singani are examples of distilled drinks. Beer, wine, cider, sake, and huangjiu are examples of fermented drinks.

Bourbon (whiskey), named for Bourbon County, Kentucky, is a corn whiskey aged in charred oak barrels. It was proclaimed the U.S. National Spirit by an act of Congress in 1964.