Which statement best differentiates distilled spirits from other alcoholic beverages?

• A. Distilled spirits are produced by fermentation.
• B. Distilled spirits are stronger than fermented beverages and produced by distillation.
• C. Distilled spirits are lighter than beer.
• D. Distilled spirits are non-alcoholic.

Answer: (B)

Distilled spirits are defined by the distillation step that follows fermentation, which concentrates the alcohol to a much higher strength. After fermentation creates alcohol, distillation uses heat to vaporize the alcohol (which boils before water) and then condenses it back into liquid, removing much of the water and other components. This produces a beverage with a significantly higher alcohol content than fermented drinks like beer or wine. The other statements don’t fit because fermentation alone can yield beverages with lower strength, spirits aren’t lighter than beer, and they are not non-alcoholic.