The term “spirits” when used to refer to bottles of alcohol has an interesting history. It is believed that the origins of this term can be traced back to the practice of distillation, which was commonly used by alchemists in ancient times. Distillation is a process that involves heating a liquid mixture and then condensing the vapor that is produced, resulting in the separation of different components based on their boiling points.
In the world of alchemy, the process of distillation was used to obtain purified substances, and the volatile substances that were separated during this process were referred to as “spirits.” This term was used to describe the ethereal nature of these substances, as they were believed to contain the essence or spirit of the original material.
Interestingly, the word “alcohol” itself has a connection to this concept. The word is derived from the Arabic term “al-koh'l,” which originally meant a fine powder used as a cosmetic, specifically made by distilling stibnite, a mineral containing antimony. Over time, the term “al-koh'l” began to be used more broadly to refer to anything that was distilled, including alcoholic beverages.
As the practice of distillation spread throughout Europe, the term “spirits” continued to be used to describe the volatile substances that were obtained through this process. This term also came to be associated with distilled alcoholic beverages, which were considered to be the essence or spirit of the original ingredients.
The use of the term “spirits” to refer to bottles of alcohol became more prevalent over time, and it has now become a widely accepted term in the industry. When you walk into a liquor store or browse a menu at a bar, you will often find a section dedicated to “spirits,” which includes various types of distilled alcoholic beverages such as vodka, whiskey, rum, gin, and tequila.
In my personal experience as a sommelier and brewer, I have often come across the term “spirits” when discussing different types of alcoholic beverages. It is interesting to think about the historical origins of this term and how it has evolved over time.
To summarize the evolution of the term “spirits” in relation to bottles of alcohol, it can be said that it originated from the alchemical practice of distillation, where volatile substances were referred to as “spirits” due to their ethereal nature. Over time, this term came to be associated with distilled alcoholic beverages, which were considered to be the essence or spirit of the original ingredients.