Our Spirits Selection in Lawrenceville

Learn more about the spirits selection at Joe Canal’s in Lawrenceville, NJ:

Blended Scotch- Blended scotch whiskeys are produced by blending together various single malt and grain whiskeys, generally resulting in a well-rounded flavor and a lingering finish. Blended scotches tend to be smoother than single malt or single grain whiskeys as well.

Bourbon- Bourbon is without a doubt the most popular type of American whiskey. To be classified as "bourbon," it not only has to be produced in the U.S., but it must contain 51 percent corn. Bourbon must also be kept in new charred-oak barrels and distilled at or less than 160 proof and bottled at no less than 80 proof. This is what sets Bourbon apart from all other types of whiskeys, both in terms of its production as well as in the resulting taste, which is generally sweeter than other types of whiskey, such as scotch or Irish whiskey.

Brandy- Brandies are often thought of as being somewhat similar to whiskey because of their high alcohol concentration and similar oak barrel aging process, but they tend to be much sweeter and fruitier, which is why brandy is frequently enjoyed as a digestif following a meal. However, unlike whiskey, brandy is a distilled wine made from fermented fruit juice. There are several different types of brandy, the two most popular being Cognac and Armagnac, both of which originally hail from France. Cognac can only be produced in the region of Cognac, France, and must be made using specific grapes and following specific aging restrictions. Most cognacs end up containing a blend of brandies. Armagnac is a lot fruitier than cognac and often contains notes of toffee and caramel.

Cordials- If you're looking for a liquor that's a little sweeter than other types of alcohol, then you should consider picking up a cordial. Cordials and liqueurs are often confused for one another, but cordials are a bit different even though they are technically a type of liqueur. Like liqueurs, cordials contain a minimum of 2.5 percent sugar and/or dextrose. They also do not have nearly as much alcohol as other types of liquor. Most cordials are lower than 40 percent alcohol by volume. The main difference between cordials and other liqueurs is cordials are produced using an infusion process, whereas liqueurs are produced using distillation processes. Cordials are made using a base liquor, such as brandy or whiskey, which is then infused with flavors of fruits, spices, herbs and more. The sweetness of a cordial makes it a popular dessert drink.

Cordials & Liqueurs- Anyone who prefers their liquor to be on the sweeter side should consider picking up a liqueur or a cordial. Both liqueurs and cordials are known for not only being sweeter than typical liquors but also more flavorful and less strong. This is because they tend to have less alcohol than other types of liquor, such as whiskey or tequila. Liqueurs are often enjoyed following a meal due to their sweet nature (which makes them great "dessert" drinks) as well as their ability to aid digestion as digestifs. However, cordials and liqueurs are not the same. Although cordials are considered a type of liqueur, not all liqueurs are cordials. The main difference between the two comes in the production process. Whereas cordials are made by infusing a base liquor, such as whiskey or brandy, with flavors that include spices, fruits and herbs, liqueurs are produced using a distillation process.

Gin- One of the interesting things about gin is that unlike other types of liquor, gin is more suitable to drink as part of a cocktail than by itself. First developed in The Netherlands, gin is distilled from fermented grain or malt along with juniper berries. These juniper berries add an aromatic base for the addition of other flavors from lemon peel to spices. Because of how well-suited gin is to mixed drinks, it shouldn't be too surprising that some of the most popular cocktails in the world are made using gin. These include martinis, gin-and-tonics, negronis and gimlets.

Rum- Rum is a popular type of liquor that tends to be on the sweeter side. It is distilled using either fermented molasses or freshly pressed sugar cane juice. Rum made from fermented molasses will often taste like molasses and other tropical fruits, while rum made from sugar cane juice will have more grassy notes. The touch of sweetness rum contains make it a popular mixer for tropical-style drinks, like Mojitos and Piña Coladas. Rum originally hails comes from the Caribbean, where it was first produced in the 1700s using the islands’ abundant sugar cane resources.

Single Malt Scotch- Single malt scotch is a type of whiskey and one of several types of scotch whiskey. There are numerous standards that a whiskey must meet in order to be categorized as single malt scotch. Not only must single malt scotch be produced in matured oak casks for at least three years, it must be made from a mash of malted grain and distilled at a single distillery in Scotland using a pot still distillation process.

Tequila- The majority of all tequilas are produced in Jalisco, Mexico. However, there is a Mexican law that allows tequila to be produced in limited municipalities in several other Mexican states as well. Tequila is a liquor distilled from the cooked and fermented juice of the agave plant. The legal requirement for tequila to be called tequila is that it must be made from 51 percent blue agave. There are several types of tequila as well. Tequila Silver is clear and unaged and provides the purest of the agave flavor. Tequila Gold is made using colorants and flavorings and is typically used for mixed drinks, such as margaritas. Tequila Reposado is a tequila that's been aged for two to 11 months in wood barrels or storage tanks. Once a tequila has been aged at least a year, it's classified as a Tequila Añejo.  

Vodka- Vodka is an interesting type of liquor because it lacks a distinctive taste, aroma or character, not to mention color. This actually makes it an excellent choice for mixed drinks, such as a Bloody Mary, Cosmopolitan and Moscow Mule, to name a few. However, vodka is often enjoyed by itself as well. One of the common misconceptions about vodka is that it's made using potatoes; however, only one percent of the world's vodka is produced this way. The majority are distilled from grain, such as corn, wheat or rye. Vodka can taste differently depending on how often it's distilled. Additionally, some vodkas are passed through activated charcoal or have flavors added to them.