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There are a couple of legends about the term "spirit" with regard to alcohol. Many point to early distillation in the Middle East. An ancient eyeliner, al-Koh'l, was created using a system similar to distillation. Another Arabic word, al-ghawl, is mentioned in the Qur'an and is another contender for the origin of the term "alcohol." It translates to "spirit" in English. As with many origins of alcohol through the ages, this one is lost to time.
We’re not talking paranormal here. A spirit, or liquor, is an alcoholic beverage that has been both fermented and distilled. Distillation removes much of the water during the process, allowing for a higher ABV inmost spirits. Further, a pure spirit or liquor will have no added sugars or flavors.
Spirits are required to be identified in certain ways by various alcohol regulating bodies around the world. Labels must include the kind of spirit in the bottle (see below), the ABV, written as a percentage or "proof," the country of origin, the name and address of the importer, and a warning about the dangers of over-consumption. Whiskies, specifically, must also list the age of the spirit if it is under four years.