Spirits

The birth of spirits: an ancient history that continues to this day

Distillates are spirits with an ancient history dating back to the peoples of Mesopotamia. Today, the world of spirits is vast and ever-growing, with a wide range of products from the great classics to the creative innovations of bartenders.

The production process of spirits is long and complex, requiring the use of high quality raw materials. The preparation of the wort is the first fundamental step, which consists of the selection and pressing or grinding of raw materials rich in water and simple sugars, or malting and infusion in heated water for more complex raw materials such as cereals and tubers.

The second step is alcoholic fermentation, in which the sugars in the must are transformed into ethyl alcohol and other secondary substances by yeasts such as Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. Fermentation can last from 2-4 days up to a month.

The third step is distillation, which consists of separating the volatile components of the fermented product according to boiling temperature and condensing them into fine liquids. Alembic stills are used, which can be either continuous or discontinuous distillation, performing one 'crush' at a time. At this stage, it is important to select the best part of the product: the less valuable heads are discarded, while the nobler hearts are kept. The tails, the final steams, are the heaviest ones, rich in alcohols and of poor quality.

The history of spirits continues today with the production of a wide range of products, including the spirits featured on xtrawine.com. Discover our distillate selections on the site.

The best spirits to try

Whisky

Whisky is a traditional and fine distillate, loved all over the world. Xtrawine offers a wide selection of whiskies from different parts of the world, such as Scotch, Irish, Japanese and American whisky. Whiskies are available in different alcohol contents, types of ageing casks and flavours. A particularly popular product is Lagavulin 16-year-old whisky, which has an intense smoky taste.

Cognac

Cognac is a fine French spirit made from grapes grown in the Cognac region of France. Xtrawine offers a wide selection of high-quality cognacs, including the famous Hennessy VSOP cognac. The Hennessy VSOP cognac has a smooth and harmonious taste with notes of vanilla and spices.

Grappa

Grappa is an Italian distillate made from the distillation of marc. Xtrawine offers a wide selection of grappas from the best Italian wineries. Among the most popular grappas are grappa Nonino Monovitigno Chardonnay and grappa Jacopo Poli Riserva Moscato.

Gin

Gin is a distillate made from herbs and spices, including the juniper berry. Xtrawine offers a wide selection of gins from different parts of the world, including Gin Tonic Signature Collection 31, a premium gin with a secret recipe, perfect for a refined gin and tonic.

Vodka

Vodka is a traditional Russian spirit, made by distilling grain and potatoes. Xtrawine offers a wide selection of vodkas from different parts of the world, such as Beluga Noble vodka, a premium vodka with crystal-clear purity and a smooth taste.

Rum

Rum is a distillate from the Caribbean islands, made by distilling molasses or sugar cane juice. Xtrawine offers a wide selection of high quality rums, including Zacapa Centenario 23-year-old rum with an intense and smooth taste.

In summary, at xtrawine.com on the Distillates page, you can find a wide selection of high-quality spirits from all over the world. From Italian grappas to Scottish whiskies, via French cognacs and Russian vodkas, there is a wide range of products to choose from.