1. REV Q (start)

Question 1

What are the four key steps involved in all spirit production?

Answer 1

1. Processing raw material
2. Fermentation
3. Distillation
4. After distillation

Question 2

What is the aim of processing raw materials?

Answer 2

To create a sugary liquid to that fermentation can take place

Question 3

What types of raw materials can be used?

Answer 3

Those of plant origin, although any plant can be used, in reality only a small number are.

Question 4

What is the aim of fermentation?

Answer 4

To turn a sugary liquid into an alcoholic liquid

Question 5

How does fermentation happen?

Answer 5

Yeast eats sugar to create the alcohol and carbon dioxide gas. After fermentation the alcohol liquid is typically around 10% ABV.

Fermentation also creates extra flavours, in particular fruity flavours are created by yeast.

Question 6

What is the aim of distillation?

Answer 6

To concentrate the level of alcohol in the fermented alcoholic liquid

Question 7

What happens during distillation?

Answer 7

An alcoholic liquid is boiled and turned into vapour, the vapours are then collected and condensed into a new liquid. Which is more alcoholic than the original one.

Question 8

What are the four steps involved in distillation?

Answer 8

1. Distillation starts with a fermented alcoholic liquid.
2. The liquid is heated and brought to the boil.
3. To seperate the alcohol from the rest of the liquid, pure ethanol boils at a lower temperature than pure water. When an alcoholic liquid boils, the vapours that are created contain a higher proportion of alcohol than the boiling liquid.
4. The vapours created by boiling the alcoholic liquid are collected and condensed back to a liquid that has a higher alcoholic strength than the original liquid.

Question 9

What often happens to spirit after distillation?

Answer 9

Adjustment of the colour, aromas, sweetness and alcoholic strength as required for the style of spirit being made.