Ch18-20 Spirits Flashcards
What is distillation ?
A process of concentrating alcohol
What are the two types of still ?
Pot stills - these require multiple distillations to produce a relatively low strength flavourful spirit
Column stills - these run continuous and can produce anything from low strength flavourful spirit to very high strength neutral spirit in a single distillation
What are the key spirit styles ?
- Brandy produced from grapes, such as Cognac and Armagnac
- Whisk(e)y produced from grains, such as Scotch, Irish, Bourbon and Tennessee
- Rum produced from sugar cane
- Tequila produced from the agave plant
- Vodka which is distilled to high strength to give it a neutral character regardless of the raw material used.
- Gin which is flavoured with additional ingredients known as botanicals
What are the characteristics of the spirit tasting ?
Appearance
- 25 ml in a glass (ISO)
Nose
- Add 25 ml of water
- No swirl
- Aromas reflect the base material, ageing and added flavours
Palate
- Characteristics should reflect those found on the nose
Conclusion
- Criteria : Balance, length, complexity, intensity, expressiveness
What is the process of distillation ?
- Fermentation first
- Boiling of the liquid to separate the alcohol using a still
- Colour can be removed with a charcoal filter
- Or adjusted with caramel
What is a pot still and its characteristics ?
- Old style
- Batch process (must be clean and refiled between batches)
- Combine a still head, chemney and condenser
- Raises by a small amount of alcohol each time. Lower strenght
- Resulting spirit have more character and flavours.
- We only keep the heart (not the head or tails)
What is a column still and its characteristics ?
- Vertical column containing multiple layer and allowing continuous distillation
- High strength
- Lots of mini distillations
What are the different styles of spirits ?
- Brandy
- Cognac and Armagnac
- Whiskies
- Scott Whisky
- Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Grain Whisky
- Irish Whisky
- Bourbon
- Tennessee whiskey
- RUM
- White Rum
- Golden and Spiced Rum
- Dark Rum
- Tequila
- Vodka
- Gin
- Liqueurs
What is Brandy ?
Spirit made by fermenting whole fresh grape and distillation of the result. Usually Brown or amber because of oak ageing and caramel colouring.
What are Cognac and Armagnac ?
- Cognac is an oak aged Brandy from Cognac region. It must be double distilled with a copper pot still. Should have fruity flavour aromas (grape, perfume), medium to light body and smooth alcohol.
- Armagnac oak-aged Brandy from Armagnac region. Made in column still giving low strength but full of character. Gives dried fruits aromas (prune, raisin, fig) and is medium to full bodied.
Oak ageing make the spirit smoother and add flavours of vanilla, toast nuts, sweet spices, fruitcake, dried fruits. Age is indicated through VS, VSOP, XO (Napoléon)
What are whiskies ?
- Characterful oak aged spirits made of grains (Barley, corn, rye) Starch must be converted to fermentable sugars by grounding and mixing with hot water.
For Barley the grain has to germinate then it is stopped by drying and heating using a kiln. (Then ground and water mix happens with malted barley)
What is Scotch Whisky?
Scotch Whisky (Distilled and oak aged in Scotland for 3 years)
What is Malted Whisky?
Malted whisky (uses malted barley and pot still)
What is Single Malted Whisky?
Single Malt Scotch whisky (from just 1 distillery, floral, medicinal, spicy)
What is Grain Whisky?
Grain whisky (From mixed grains and blended with malt whisky to get Blended scotch whisky)
What is Irish Whiskey?
Irish Whiskey (made of malted and non malted barley and other grains. smoother and lighter than SMSW)
What is Bourbon Whiskey?
Bourbon from Kentucky (made of 51 percent of corn, low strength pronounced flavours, American oak aged, giving vanilla toffee and spices)
What is Tennessee Whiskey?
Tennessee whiskey (similar to Bourbon but filtered before ageing, gets smoother)
What is Rum ?
- Made of sugar cane
- Molasses is diluted before fermentation and distillation
- Distillation in pot or column still
- Oak aging can occur
- Colouring with caramel can occur
What are the Rum styles ?
White Rum, Golden and Spiced Rum, Dark Rum
What are the characteristics of White Rum?
White Rum (High strength, dry, neutral or low strength with tropical fruits aromas)
What are the characteristics of Golden and Spiced Rum?
Golden and Spiced Rum (dry or off-dry, with banana, coconut, toffee aromas) Spice flavour is added
What are the characteristics of Dark Rum?
Dark Rum (Full bodied with dried fruits and sweet spice flavours) Often coloured with caramel.
What are Tequilas ?
- Made of 51 percent of blue agave in Tequila region
- Core is cooked to get fermentable sugars
- Double pot distilled
- Flavours of grass, citrus, earth, Pepper with sharp alcohol
- With age gets oak aromas (vanilla, sweet spices)
What is Blanco/Silver Tequila ?
Blanco/Silver : Agave-based spirit, Dry, Intense vegetable and spicy flavours like Pepper. Tequila purists think Blanco/Silver is the most authentic expression of agave-based spirits.
What is Joven/Oro/Gold Tequila ?
Joven/Oro/Gold : Unaged with caramel added for colour and to soften flavour
What is Reposado Tequila ?
Reposado (means rested): little oak ageing
What is Anejo Tequila ?
Anejo (means aged): Longer oak aging
What are Vodkas ?
- Can be produce anywhere
- Made from barley, wheat, rye, grapes, potatoes
- MUST be distilled to at least 95-96 % abv in column still
Some producers will use pot still during some parts of the production. - Many are filtered through charcoal
- Reduced to 40 % for bottling by adding water
- Mostly unaged
- Must be as neutral as possible
What are the Vodka styles ?
Some Polish and Russian Vodka have subtle flavours/character
What is flavoured spirits ?
- Adding flavours to 95-96% spirit
- Through Maceration, Re-distillation, Essences
- Could be Vodka, Gin or Liqueurs
What is flavoured vodka ?
Produced by adding vanilla, herbs, fruit, toffee by essence or maceration method.
What is Gin ?
- Neutral based spirit flavoured by botanicals (Juniper mandatory, coriander, citrus peel)
- Typically unaged
London Dry Gin vs Distilled Gin?
- London Dry Gin (Produced by re-distilling WITH Juniper and others)
- Distilled Gins (Same as London but more flavours added AFTER re-distillation)
What are Liqueurs ?
- Distilled spirit with added flavours and sweetened
- Big difference between natural and artificial flavours (price)
- Sugar is added before bottling (minimal level to be classified liqueur)
- Usually undergo colouring
