Salt Lake Cocktails 

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Lookin' at Your Liquor
A guide to spirits and how to use them.
By Erin Moore

Most everyone has a favorite drink—and probably one they hate. But everyone could use this reminder: Whatever was in the well at the bar where you last tried a cocktail that you hated is not always the best representation of what good gin, rum, tequila, whiskey or vodka can be.

Well liquor is usually cheaper than the stuff up on the shelves. It's made of lower-quality spirits that often hit the back of your throat and your system harsher and harder. So here's a quick primer on what's what and what's good.

What to know about gin
The common styles of gin are "dry" and "botanical." Both are known for their piney, aromatic juniper flavor, often combined with citrus. Botanical gins go on to use a variety of herbs, spices, roots and citrus to build their flavor out—they can also be a sweeter spirit because of the presence of licorice in the distillation (it doesn't taste like licorice, though).

How to drink gin
You've probably had dry gins in martinis or a stomach-settling, in-flight G&T. But gin is also at home in cocktails with a lot of citrus or sweetness—such as a gimlet (you can make many variations on the basic combination of gin, lime juice and simple syrup), a bittersweet Negroni, or the martini's father figure, the Martinez, and its sweet cherry liqueur.

Local gin to look for
Beehive Distilling's Jack Rabbit Gin, New World Distilling's Oomaw Gin, Ogden's Own Madam Pattirini Gin, Holystone Distillings' delicious varieties and—from the new kids on the block—Proverbial Spirits' No Rest for the Wicked Gin.

What to know about rum
Rum is the backbone of some of the funnest and tastiest drinks out there. Distilled from various forms of processed sugar cane, and then sometimes aged in oak barrels, it's also one of the most naturally sweet and approachable liquors. Among light and dark varieties there are sippers and mixers alike.

How to drink rum
If you like piña coladas ... you'll like everything else in the tiki drink genre. The tropical drinks pull from a variety of island flavors that offer a certain retro gleam, thanks to their mid-century popularity. Try a simple daiquiri (rum, lime juice, simple syrup) or more complex drinks like the mai tai (for an introduction to the magic of orgeat) or the jungle bird. Or perhaps mix a big batch of fruity punch for your next barbecue.

Local rum to look for
Outlaw Distillery crafts a Spiced Rum, Sugar House Distillery makes delectable Silver and Gold rums, and Proverbial Spirits offers Loose Lips Sink Ships Rum.

What to know about tequila
So much. Mexico has strict laws about what can and cannot be defined as "tequila," down to the percentages of blue agave spirit in the drink. The agave plant that tequila is made from can take years to cultivate, making the agave spirit precious. The more agave spirit that is in your tequila—as in a bottle labeled "100% Blue Agave"—the less sugars and congeners, the over-presence of which can contribute to a nasty hangover. Cheaper brands of tequila are more likely to contain lower quality mixes of spirits—ergo, hangover. If you've sworn off tequila because of the next-day effects, look for a bottle that's 100% blue agave, and give it another shot.

How to drink tequila
Obviously, margaritas are really, really fun—they're salty, sweet and sour. If you're into smoky flavors, try swapping the traditional tequila for mezcal (which comes from agave roasted with wood and charcoal) and mixing some grapefruit juice in with the traditional lime. Or just use your imagination—there are tons of margarita riffs out there to gain inspiration from. Speaking of grapefruit, try a paloma.

Local tequila to look for
Locally owned but produced in Mexico, Vida Tequila is a mainstay at local bars. And look for New World Distillery's Blanco Agave Spirit, which they legally can't call tequila because of restrictions on the term.

What to know about whiskey
What you need to know about whiskey is that it's sometimes also spelled "whisky," and it doesn't really matter besides indicating the country of origin. Both are made from grains like corn, barley malt, rye and wheat, which are fermented, distilled and then aged in barrels of various types of wood, giving the spirit its toasty, warm flavors. Barrel aging also produces those previously mentioned congeners, which can explain why whiskey hangovers tend to be more painful than those from other spirits. There are two popular whiskey categories to know about: the sweeter bourbon—which uses corn as a major ingredient, and the tangy rye—which uses rye as a major ingredient.

How to drink whiskey
Whiskey is one of America's most popular liquors for a reason. Feeling sick? Make a sweet, spicy, citrus-spiked hot toddy. Feeling all too well? Well enough for a boozy one? Try a Boulevardier, which includes bourbon, sweet vermouth, Campari and an orange twist. Or try a whiskey sour, but sub the egg for aquafaba (juice from a can o' beans) to make it vegan-friendly. And we already know you probably love Old Fashioneds.

Local whiskey to look for
Name dropping Sugar House Distilling again here because they make some of the best local whiskey around, truly. There's also High West's popular products, but if you've already sampled them, try another Park City-based distillery, Alpine Distilling, or the Robbers Roost line from West Valley's Waterpocket Distillery.

What to know about vodka
The most important thing about vodka is that it is, indeed, the catch-all, go-anywhere spirit. While craft vodkas are out there and can seem all flowery and different, vodka is distilled to disappear in your mouth, to go down smooth, to be an effortless and intangible imbibe. Unless you're drinking bottom-shelf, throat-burning stuff, vodka is designed to be a straightforward ride. It can be made from potatoes, grains, corn, rice and sometimes sugar-beet molasses or fruit—but it will always taste like whatever ingredients you decide to mix it with.

How to drink vodka
In anything! There's a reason it's the ultimate spiking agent.

Local vodka to look for
Most distilleries make vodka, because it's the easiest and cheapest to make, and because people really like vodka. But specific vodka makers include Salt City Vodka, and the most popular local vodka is likely Five Wives Vodka by Ogden's Own. Dented Brick also makes a vodka that is the standard in wells across area bars.

Complet List of Utah Distilleries