In this section we hope to help you understand the differences between the many types of spirits. Spirits are commonly divided into two categories, white and brown. The main difference between the two is that brown spirits are aged in oak as found in cognacs and brandies; sometimes caramel coloring is added to create a reddish-brown tone, such as in dark rums. On the other hand, vodkas and gins are good examples of white spirits, not aged in oak, but rather distilled many times over in steel barrels.

All spirits come from ethyl alcohol. Of the many types of ethyl alcohol, those distilled from fruit, grain, grape, potato, and cane are the most often used.

The word "proof", commonly used when referring to the strength of spirits, is the standard measurement of alcohol strength or content. In simple terms, one degree of proof equals one-half of one percent of alcohol. An 80 proof product contains 40% alcohol by volume and 100 proof product carries 50% alcohol by volume.

At Little Rooster, our selection includes all the major brands including both imported and domestic.