Why are alcoholic drinks called spirits?: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Oct. 19, 2026

News •

Supreme Court agrees to review a Reconstruction-era ban on distilling spirits in private homes • Oct. 19, 2026, 10:34 AM ET (AP)

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A photo of a variety of liquor bottles, including whiskey, rum, and gin, displayed on shelves in a pub in Bucharest, Romania.

Illustration of a flame overlaid on a vintage distillery, with drawings of wheat, sugar, and bubbles around it.

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