General Questions Flashcards
1
Q
At sea level, what temperature does ethyl alcohol boil at?
A
173F or 78C
2
Q
What is fractional distillation?
A
A technique that is used to create liquor, that separates the alcohol from the water.
3
Q
Why did Ancient Babylonians use fractional distillation?
A
For perfumes
4
Q
What is the wash?
A
Fermented liquor in a still
5
Q
What are congeners?
A
Volatile molecules such as esters, other alcohols, and aldehydes.
6
Q
What are the “heads”?
A
The first vapors to condense.
7
Q
Where did the term “proof” originate?
A
British sailors in the 18th century, testing their payments of rum with gunpowder, to prove that it wasn’t watered down.
8
Q
What is vodka usually filtered with?
A
Charcoal
9
Q
What is the minimum alcohol percentage for vodka in the EU?
A
37.5%
10
Q
What is the most important component of gin?
A
juniper berries
11
Q
What style are most modern gins?
A
London Dry gin
12
Q
What are common aromatic substances of London Dry Gin?
A
cardamom, anise, lemon peel, coriander, angelica root, nutmeg
13
Q
What are the dominant aromatics in Genever?
A
juniper and malt
14
Q
The traditional genever recipe calls for what?
A
A minimum 15% of “malt wine” made of a distillate of corn, rye and wheat.
15
Q
what is Corenwyn?
A
An cask-aged genever with at least 51% malt wine distillate.
16
Q
What is the word “whisky” derived from?
A
The Gaelic word “uisgebeatha” which means “water of life.
17
Q
Who distilled Kentucky’s first whiskey and when?
A
Elijah Craig, in 1789
18
Q
Who are the only current producers of Tennessee whiskey?
A
Jack Daniels and George Dickel
19
Q
What must Tennessee whiskey be filtered with?
A
Maple charcoal
20
Q
What kind of casks are generally employed to age Scotch?
A
Bourbon and Sherry casks
21
Q
What are the 5 legal categories of Scotch Whisky?
A
Single Malt Scotch Whisky Single Grain Scotch Whisky Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Blended Grain Scotch Whisky Blended Scotch Whisky
22
Q
What is Single Grain Whisky?
A
Scotch Whisky produced at a single distillery, from unmalted barley, wheat or corn.
23
Q
How long is single malt generally aged?
A
For at least 10 years
24
Q
Which Scotch region tends to make the lightest stylistically?
A
Lowlands
25
Who are the pioneers of Scotch cask aging?
Balvenie and Glenmorangie
26
How many times is Irish Whiskey generally distilled in a pot still?
3 times
27
When was Cognac defined? When was it finalized?
1909
| 1938
28
What are the 6 regions of Cognac (in descending quality)?
```
Grande Champagne
Petite Champagne
Borderies
Fins Bois
Bons Bois
Bois Ordinaires
```
29
The regions of Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne have a high percentage of what?
Soft chalk
30
What are the 3 primary grapes of Cognac?
Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard (Ugni Blanc is 98%)
31
In what and how many times is Cognac distilled?
Twice in a Charentais pot still
32
What part of the second distillation becomes Cognac?
The coeur
33
What are the 3 sub regions of Armagnac?
Haut-Armagnac
Bas-Armagnac
Armagnac-Tenareze
34
What does VSOP Armagnac signify?
4 to 9 years of age
35
What does VS Armagnac signify?
1-3 years of age
36
Where is Marc made?
France
37
Where is bagaceira made?
Portugal
38
What kind of spirit is Slivovitz, Mirabelle, Quetsch and Prunelle?
Plum eau-de-vie
39
What is Boukha and where is it made?
A fig eau-de-vie made in Tunisia
40
What is Barack Palinka and where is it made?
An apricot eau-de-vie made in Hungary
41
Where is Martinique AOC and what is it known for?
In the caribbean, for Rhum Agricole
42
In what state is Tequila?
Jalisco
43
What is the pina?
The heart of the blue agave plant.
44
What is the minimum % of blue agave for tequila?
51%
45
Cognac is to brandy as Tequila is to what?
Mezcal
46
What are the primary flavors and country of origin of Fernet Branca?
Herbs, Roots, Spices - Italy
47
What are the primary flavors and country of origin of Averna?
Herbs, Roots, Spices - Italy
48
What are the primary flavors and country of origin of Ramazzoti?
Roots, Herbs, Orange Peel, Anise - Italy
49
What are the primary flavors and country of origin of Cynar
Artichoke - Italy
50
What are the primary flavors and country of origin of Campari?
Herbs, quinine, rhubarb, orange - Italy
51
What are the primary flavors and country of origin of Aperol?
Orange, gentian, rhubarb - Italy
52
What are the primary flavors and country of origin of Amer Picon?
Orange and gentian - France
53
What are the primary flavors and country of origin of Suze?
Gentian Root and herbs - France
54
What are the primary flavors and country of origin of Boonekamp?
Herbs, roots and spices - Germany
55
What are the primary flavors and country of origin of Unicam
Herbs and spices - Hungary
56
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Cointreau?
Orange - France
57
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Laraha Citrus?
Curacao - Netherlands Antilles
58
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Grand Marnier?
Orange (Cognac base) - France
59
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Van Der Hume?
Tangerine - South Africa
60
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Maraschino?
Cherry - Croatia
61
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Chambord?
Black Raspberry - France
62
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Creme de Cassis?
Blackcurrant - France
63
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Heering?
Cherry - Denmark
64
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Pisang Ambon?
Banana - Netherlands
65
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Midori?
Melon - japan
66
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Tamara?
Dates - Israel
67
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Malibu?
Coconut (rum base) - Barbados
68
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Sloe Gin?
sloe berries - England
69
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Limoncello?
Lemon - Italy
70
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Advocaat?
Sweetened Egg - Denmark
71
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Amarula?
Cream & Marula fruit - South Africa
72
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Tia Maria?
coffee (rum base) - Jamaica
73
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Godiva?
Chocolate - Belgium
74
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Frangelico?
Hazelnut - Italy
75
What is the primary flavor and country of origin of Amaretto?
Apricot and almond - Italy
76
What is the primary flavor and base of Southern Comfort?
Peach, orange and spice - American Whiskey
77
What is the primary flavor and base of Drambuie?
Heather honey and herbs - Scotch
78
What is the primary flavor and base of Glen Mist?
Heather honey and herbs - Scotch
79
What is the primary flavor and base of Glayva?
Honey, tangerine and spices - scotch
80
What is the primary flavor and base of Irish Mist?
Honey and herbs - Irish Whiskey
81
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Pernod?
Anise - France
82
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Ricard?
Anise - France
83
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Pastis 51?
Anise - France
84
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Ouzo?
Anise - Greece
85
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Sambuca?
Anise & Elderberry - Italy
86
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Galliano?
Anise, herbs, vanilla - Italy
87
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Licor 43?
Vanilla, herbs, spice - Spain
88
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Kummel?
Caraway - Denmark
89
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Benedictine?
Herbs and Spices - France
90
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Chartreuse?
Herbs, plants, roots, spices - France
91
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of B&B?
Blended Benedictine and brandy - France (originated in NY)
92
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Strega?
Saffron, herbs, spices - Italy
93
What is the primary flavor and country or origin of Krupnik?
Honey - Poland
94
Briefly describe Cinzano.
Vermouth. The original Rosso Cinzano was created in 1786 by Carlo Stefano Cinzano using aromatic plants from the Italian Alps in a still-secret recipe combining 35 ingredients. Cinzano is the second biggest selling vermouth behind Martini & Rossi. There are four styles of CInzano produced: Rosso, Extra Dry, Bianco and Rosé. Cinzano was purchased by the Campari Group in 1999.
95
Briefly describe Noilly Prat.
Noilly Prat is France's first produced vermouth. It was created in 1813 by herbalist Joseph Noilly. There are red and amber styles produced here but they are best known for their Original French Dry style. Noilly Prat was acquired by Martini & Rossi in 1971 and is now part of the Bacardi Family of spirits.
96
Briefly describe Martini & Rossi
Martini & Rossi Rosso was created in 1863 in Turin, Italy by master blender Alessandro Martini and wine expert Luigi Rossi. The company created an Extra Dry in 1900 and a Bianco in 1910. Martini is the number one seller of vermouth in the world and was acquired by Bacardi in 1992.
97
Briefly describe Carpano Antica
In 1786, Antonio Benedetto Carpano invented Vermouth in Turin, made from white wine added to an infusion of herbs and spices, in more than 30 varieties. He believed a sweetened wine spirit would be a more suitable beverage for ladies than the local red wines. He is credited with naming vermouth after the German word for wordwood , "Wermut".
98
Briefly describe Pune e Mes
Punt e Mes originates from Milan, Italy. It is one of the most distinctive vermouths and marked by a lovely bitterness that brings a freshness to stimulate the appetite. Punt e mes was made by the Carpano family from Turin until 2001, when Distillerie Fratelli Branca bought them.
99
Briefly describe Chambery
Chambery is an appellation in the Savoie region in southeast France. The most famous producer is Dolin. Chambery is produced by taking blended base wines from the Midi and treating them with herbs and plants. It is then combined with plant-derived alcohol to create the final blend. The flavor is akin to Fino Sherry or wines from the Savagnin grape in the Jura, France.
100
Briefly describe Lillet
Lillet is a brand of French aperitif wine. It is a blend of 85% wine and citrus liqueurs made from a variety of oranges. Lillet is matured in oak casks and available in red, white and rosé versions. While it has been produced since the late 1800s, the current formulation dates from 1987 (1990 for Red Lillet) and is relatively less bitter and sugary, and more fruit flavored, than the historical one.
101
Briefly describe Dubonnet
Created in 1846 by Parisian drinks supplier Joseph Dubonnet. Dubonnet is a combination of dry white wine, Vin Doux Naturel and flavored with quinine, bitter orange peel, herbs, plants and caramel. There are two blends available: the sweeter, richer Rouge and the dry Blanc. Dubonnet is owned by Heaven Hills Distilleries.
102
Briefly describe Byrrh
Byrhh was created in 1886 in the Roussillon, France. Byrhh is red wine based spirit flavored with quinine, Curacao and herbs. It is very unique with sweet and bitter flavors. This once popular spirit is now owned by Pernod-Ricard
103
Define eau-de-vie
A clear, colorless fruit brandy that is produced by means of fermentation and double distillation and it can also be made from grapes. The fruit flavor is typically very light.
104
How many French eau-de-vie AOCs are there?
15
105
What are the apple/pear requirements of Calvados?
A minimum 70% bitter varieties and a max of 15% acidic varieties. 20% of the apple orchards must be local phenolic varieties.
106
What are authorized additives for Calvados?
Sugar, caramel, oak chips.
107
What is minimum aging of Calvados?
2 years in oak casks
108
What does "production fermiere" mean?
Estate grown calvados
109
What does "haut tige" mean?
"high stem"
110
What is Kirsch de Fougerolles produced from?
red and black cherries
111
What is an orchard requirement of Kirch de Fougerolles?
Orchards must be of at least 50 trees and must include at least 5 different varieties.
112
What does Marc d'Alsace cover?
Clear pomace brandy from Alsace, from Gewurztraminer pomace.
113
All Scotch Whisky must be aged for a minimum of how long? in what?
3 years in oak casks no larger than 700 liters.
114
What are dominant herbs in Fernet Branca?
rhubarb, chamomille, anise, cardamom, clove, gentian, myrrh.
115
What kind of oak is Cognac aged in?
Limousin
116
What kind of oak is Armagnac aged in?
local black oak
117
What kind of oak is California brandy aged in?
Oak from Arkansas and Tennessee.
