Some meforshim describe Shechor as a distilled spirit. While in Europe distillation was not started untill late Middle Ages, the Greeks, and possibly even the Egyptians certainly knew of the process and utilized it. There is a difference between Shechor Mitzri and Shechor haModoi (Medean shechor), with one being beer and the other hard liquor. Neither used sherry casks, though.
