Infinite Spirit

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What is culinary alcohol?

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Culinary alcohol, also known as cooking alcohol or culinary spirits, refers to various types of alcoholic beverages that are used in cooking to enhance flavor or to deglaze pans. Common culinary alcohols include wine, beer, sherry, port, brandy, whiskey, and other spirits.

Culinary alcohol is used in cooking for several reasons. It can add complexity and depth to a dish, enhance the flavor of ingredients, tenderize meat, and even help to preserve food. Alcohol also has the ability to extract flavors from herbs and spices, making it a popular ingredient in marinades and sauces.

However, it’s important to note that not all types of alcohol are suitable for cooking. Low-quality alcohol or alcohol that has been improperly stored can impart unpleasant flavors to dishes. Additionally, some cooking methods, such as flambéing or adding alcohol to a hot pan, can be dangerous and should be done with caution.

It’s also worth mentioning that alcohol does not completely evaporate during cooking, so dishes that contain culinary alcohol may still contain some residual alcohol content. While the amount of alcohol left in the dish will depend on several factors, such as the cooking time and temperature, it’s generally considered safe to consume as the alcohol content will be very low.

A brief history of Luxardo

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Luxardo is a family-owned liqueur company founded in 1821 in the city of Zara (now Zadar), in what is now Croatia. The founder, Girolamo Luxardo, was originally from Genoa, Italy, and had settled in Zara where he began producing a cherry liqueur known as Maraschino.

The Luxardo family quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality liqueurs, and in 1905 they opened a new production facility in Torreglia, near Padua, Italy. The company expanded its product line to include other liqueurs such as Limoncello, Amaretto, and Sambuca.

During World War II, the Luxardo factory was destroyed by Allied bombs, and the family fled to Italy. The company was rebuilt in the 1950s, and the family continued to expand their line of liqueurs and spirits.

In the late 20th century, the Luxardo brand became known worldwide, and its products were distributed in more than 80 countries. The company remains family-owned and operated, with the sixth generation of the Luxardo family now running the business.

Today, Luxardo is perhaps best known for its Maraschino liqueur, which is made from Marasca cherries grown exclusively in the Veneto region of Italy. The cherries are macerated in neutral spirit, then distilled in copper pot stills before being aged in ashwood barrels for up to two years. The resulting liqueur has a distinct almond flavor and is used in a variety of classic cocktails, including the Aviation and the Last Word.