Why is Alcohol called Spirits?!


Question:

Why is Alcohol called Spirits?

I have heard that Alcohol is sometimes Called Spirits. Does this Only refer to Whiskey and other Hard Alcohol or Does it Refer to Beer as Well?
Why is Alcohol called Spirits?

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19 hours ago
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Answers:

Generally spirits refer to drinks with a high alcohol level, like at least over 30% so it generally refers to hard liquor. Beer and wine typically don't have such a high level.

Considering that in latin "spirit" has to do with one's breath, or the breathing of life into someone or something to animate it, (one's spirit) the association with the word has to do with the livelyhood that alcohol elicits. Back in the dark ages (in europe mind you, where the word spirits is used to this day, not so much in the us) when alchemists were trying to find the elixir of life and stuff like that, they would note the considerable effects alcohol would have on living creatures, experiment with it and associated the term then.




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