distillate

distillate

distillate a liquid product condensed from vapor during distillation 2. something concentrated or extracted as if by distilling

Gin combines with a palo santo and bruised cucumber for a smooth, lightly smokey, and refreshingly crisp sip.—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 June 2025But as the popularity of palomas spread across the U.S., bartenders saw an opportunity to elevate the simple serve by using fresh grapefruit juice, perhaps enhanced with different liqueurs and other fruits, or substituting tequila with various Mexican distillates such as mezcal.—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025That means flavor elements like fruits and herbs are made into distillates for more consistent application in cocktails, and that each drink is pre-batched and individually bottled for speed of service and perfect consistency.—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 May 2025As opposed to reposado and añejo tequilas, where aging is meant to impart flavor, this category is supposed to be a more direct expression of the agave .—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 May 2025See All Example Sentences

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of distillates was in 1839

Rhymes for distillate

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Browse Nearby Words

distilland
distillate
distillation

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Cite this Entry

“Distillate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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Kids Definition

distillate

noun

dis·​til·​late ˈdis-tə-ˌlāt  

-lət;

 

dis-ˈtil-ət
: a liquid product cooled from vapor during distillation

Medical Definition

distillate

noun

dis·​til·​late ˈdis-tə-ˌlāt  -lət; dis-ˈtil-ət 
: a liquid product condensed from vapor during distillation

More from Merriam-Webster on distillate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about distillate

Last Updated:  – Updated example sentences

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