Day Seven Theory- Whisk(e)y Flashcards
What does Uisge Beatha mean?
Water of life
When was whiskey (or Uisge Beatha) first referred to in scripture in Ireland and Scotland?
1405 - Ireland
1494 - Scotland
How long has whisky been produced in Scotland and Ireland for?
More than 700 years
What happened in 1494? (Whisky)
Fr. John Corr was allowed to take grain from the royal house to make Aqua vita for the king
What act was introduced in 1823 and what did it mean?
The duke of Gordon act - British government enforced new tax on distilleries: charged distilleries per still
When did Glenlivet become the first licensed distillery?
1824
What happened in 1824? (Whisky)
Glenlivet became the first licensed distillery
Which whiskey distillery became the first one to be licensed and when?
Glenlivet in 1824
What is whisky mostly produced from?
Barley
Where did the name ‘whiskey’ come from?
The Gaelic origin of ‘water of life’ as monks were searching for medicinal liquid… Uisge Beatha
5 important steps of producing whiskey
Malting Mashing Fermentation Distillation Maturation/aging
What is malting and why do we do it?
Soaking the grain (commonly barley) in water until it starts to germinate, then dry it immediately to stop the growth, which provokes a chemical reaction; transforming the starch in the grain to sugar.
What is mashing and why do we do it to whisky?
Crushes malted grain into a flour, known as ‘grist’, then hot water is added to create what is known as a ‘mash’.
It is done because the addition of the hot water draws the sugars out of the grain, creating a rich barley sugar liquid
What can be used to dry the malt in Scotch whiskey, generating the smoked flavour that is so distinctive?
Peat
What is the process that occurs in fermentation?
Yeast+sugar+water–> alcohol+CO2+heat
What happens in the fermentation of whisky?
The mash is mixed with yeast, process takes approximately 2 days, during which the yeast turns the sugar to alcohol = beer like liquid with an ABV of 5-8%
Why is a pot still commonly made from copper?
Good conductor/distributor of heat and easily shaped
What is the difference in Scottish and Irish distillation of whiskey traditions
Scotland distils twice
Ireland distils three times
What is Whiskey aged in?
American white oak casks
Why is American White oak better than European for casks?
1% tannin (unlike 8% in European oak)
Has lactone for tropical notes
1% eulogen for spice
Impermeable structure
What 3 types of maturation occur during the aging of whiskey?
Addictive- wood->spirit
Interactive- within spirit
Subtractive- angels share, lost through expand and contract (breathing) of cask
Approximately how old is the American white oak used for whiskey casks?
90 years old
What is the ‘perfect’ percentage to put whiskey into the cask?
63.5% so it reacts well with the wood
What percentage of the final flavour is believed to come from the wood?
70%
By law, how long must whiskey be aged (minimum) ?
3 years and one day
Most important of the classification of scotch whisky?
It may not be bottled at less than 40% ABV
What are the 5 classifications of scotch whiskey
- May only be produced in a Scottish distillery using water and malted barley and be fermented (using only yeast) distilled and aged at the same brewery
- It must be distilled to an ABV of no more than 94.8% (in order to maintain the taste of the origin crop)
- It may only be aged in Scottish oak casks, and for a minimum of 3 years
- It may not contain added ingredients other than water and plain (E150) caramel colouring
- It may not be bottled at less than 40% ABV
What are the 6 different types of whisky?
- Grain whiskey
- Malt whiskey
- Blended scotch whiskey
- Single malt whiskey
- Vatted malt whiskey
- Single cask
Categorisation: grain whisky (read)
Produced in Scotland using column distillation
Single grain, generally made from corn or wheat
Column stilled and matured for a minimum of 3 years
Categorisation: malt whisky (read)
Produced from 100% malted barley which is occasionally stoked with peat
Categorisation: blended scotch whisky (read)
Produced from a blend of grain whisky and malt whisky
Malt and grain - 40/60 ratio
Eg johnnie walker, matured for up to 60years
Categorisation: single malt whisky (read)
Produced from 100% malted barley, whole process in one distillery
Categorisation: Vatted malt whisky (read)
Several different single malts from different distilleries
Categorisation: single cask whisky (read)
Bottled manually and numbered from one cask and is not blended with with single malt. Typically results in 400 bottles
6 locations that produce whiskey in Scotland
Lowland Highland Campbeltown Islay Speyside Islands
Classic brands of highland whiskey
The Glenlivet
The Macallan
Tallisket
Aberlour
Classic brands of lowlands whiskey
Glenkinchie
Auchentoshan
Classic brands of Islay whiskey
Bowmore
Lagavulin
Laphroaig
Classic brands of Campbeltown whisky?
Springbank
Who designed the iconic grants whiskey bottle and when?
Hans Schleger in 1957
When was Tullamore Dew opened and by who?
Daniel Edmund Williams in 1829
Phoenix logo: distillery burned down twice… Emerged from ashes!
When did the first American whisky distillery open and where?
Pennsylvania in 1753
What are the three grains used in American whiskey?
Barley, Rye, Corn
What do the Americans call the column still?
The beer still
When was bourbon deemed a ‘distinctive product of the United states’?
4th May 1964
How are American whiskey’s distilled?
Column distillation
What is Tennessee whiskey filtered through?
Maple charcoal
What are the three classifications of American whiskey?
Bourbon
Rye
Tennessee
Name classic American brands of whiskey
Jim bean
Maker’s Mark
Wild Turkey
Buffalo Trace
