Spirits

Spirits are prepared by distilling fermented liquids to concentrate the alcohol and some of the flavor components. They are often used to flavor and give complexity to sauces. Spirits usually contain both volatile and nonvolatile components. Volatile components are those that come off the still during distillation and develop to some degree while the spirit is aging. These components cook off rapidly when spirits are heated. Nonvolatile components comprise mostly wood extracts that work their way into the spirit during aging. These tend to remain during cooking and may even be concentrated.