Distilling knowledge North American Whiskey

Question 1

Name two events that closed down American whiskey production

Answer 1

Temperance act 1914- Tennessee and Bourbon were dry
1920 Volstead act closed for 13 years
1920-1945 World War 2

Question 2

What is the max distillation for Bourbon?

Answer 2

80% abv

Question 3

What is the stated max abv in charred new oak?

Answer 3

62.5%

Question 4

What is the min bottling abv of Bourbon, Straight Whiskey?

Answer 4

40%abv can be a mix of different ages

Question 5

What are the age requirements on a Bourbon label?

Answer 5

Only mandatory when the youngest spirit in the blend in less than four years old. All age statements are determined by the age of the youngest spirit in the blend

Question 6

What are the 5 types of whiskey that can use the the term ‘straight’?

Answer 6

Bourbon
Rye
Wheat
Malt
Rye malt
Corn

Question 7

What color and flavoring can be added to Straight Whiskey?

Answer 7

NONE

Question 8

What does rye add to Bourbon?

Answer 8

Give it its attack, Rye is aromatic, lemon-accented and slightly dusty

Question 9

How does the percentage of small grains in a mash bill contribute to the style of a bourbon?

Answer 9

Makers uses only wheat to produce a softer style

Woodford uses rye which gives it a punch

Question 10

When is malted barley added to bourbon?

Answer 10

Once the first small grain has been cooked and the temperature is dropped to less than 65C

Question 11

Can distillers add cultured enzymes to bourbon?

Answer 11

YES

Question 12

What is the sugar solution referred to in bourbon?

Answer 12

The mash

Question 13

Where does fermentation take place and how long does it last

Answer 13

Either in stainless steel or wood vessels and lasts 3 days

Question 14

What is the backset?

Answer 14

the acidic liquid residue left at the foot of the beer still

Question 15

Why is backset added?

Answer 15

This changes the pH of the mash making it slightly more acidic. This helps yeast propagation, lowers the risk of bacterial infection and evens out the character between batches

Question 16

What is it called when backset is added to the cooker?

Answer 16

Sour mashing

Question 17

How much of the fermenter does backset makeup for most distillers?

Answer 17

20-30%

Question 18

How do American distillers differ from Scottish distillers in regards to yeast

Answer 18

They culture their own yeast in order to produce specific congeners. Some use only one strain while others use many. If multiple are used each strain is typically paired with a particular mash bill to form a completed recipe

Question 19

How is bourbon typically distilled

Answer 19

Double distilled
First distillation takes place in a single column called a beer still
Second takes place in a type of pot still known as a doubler or a thumper

Question 20

What is the exception to typical bourbon distillation?

Answer 20

Labrot and Graham where the bourbon is triple distilled in pot stills

Question 21

What is they key of a Doubler?

Answer 21

This is a simple pot still but the key is to further refine the congeners. The low-wines coming off the beer still are condensed and the liquid is pumped continuously into the doubler

Question 22

How does a Thumper differ from a doubler

Answer 22

It does essentially the same thing however the vapors that come off the beer still are not condensed they are passed directly into the thumper. The heat of the vapors powers the distillation.

Question 23

Why must bourbon enter the barrels at no more than 62.5%?

Answer 23

Practical as ABV rises during maturation in KY due to the hot dry conditions

Question 24

Describe a typical bourbon barrel

Answer 24

American oak 200L high char (in effect a layer of charcoal) adds flavors of vanilla, coconut, pine and sweet spices

Question 25

What role does Kentucky’s climate play on whisky?

Answer 25

High temperatures cause the whisky to expand and take on more wood flavors. To avoid too woody a flavor whisky is not generally aged as long as Scotch

Question 26

What is the legal definition of tennessee whiskey?

Answer 26

Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced in the state of Tennessee

Question 27

What is the Lincoln County process?

Answer 27

Slowly filtering the white dog through a 3 meter deep bed of sugar-maple charcoal before it is put into barrels for ageing

Question 28

What is the focus of Canadian distillers?

Answer 28

Blending

Question 29

What grain makes up the production of nearly all base Canadian whiskey

Answer 29

Corn; wheat is only sometimes used

Question 30

What is the most important grain in flavoring Canadian whiskey?

Answer 30

Rye

Question 31

How are grains processed in Canadian whiskey?

Answer 31

They are processed separately and come together in the blending stage

Question 32

What is one unique aspect of Canadian law regarding whisky?

Answer 32

9.09% of the blend can come from a non-whiskey source
Some use Sherry
Some use two year old rye

Question 33

Why do Canadian Club and Crown Royal have a soft character?

Answer 33

Due to the high percentage of corn-base whiskies used