Grain Spirits

Question 1

What is the difference in distillation between Whisky and Vodka?

Answer 1

Vodka is distilled to a higher ABV (95-96% as opposed to less than 95%) and unaged

Question 2

When did phylloxera devastating brandy?

Answer 2

1870s and whisky became trendy

Question 3

What is malting?

Answer 3

A process where the grain starts to germinate by being steeped in water- then the roots are turned and humidified so not to dry out and tie together. The grains are finally heated to stop germination.

Question 4

When is peat introduced?

Answer 4

During malting when the grains are heated to stop germination

Question 5

What is peat?

Answer 5

Decaying vegetation that is formed when the land becomes waterlogged and the vegetation becomes partially carbonised, building up over millennia into a spongy layer that can be up to nine metres thick. It can take 10 years for 1 cm of peat to accumulate.

Question 6

Is a higher temp or lower temp better to impart the phenolics of peat ?

Answer 6

lower

Question 7

What is milling?

Answer 7

Making a grist out of the malted barley

Question 8

What is mashing

Answer 8

Mixing the grist with hot water in a vessel called a mash tun at 63-64C

Question 9

How does Mashing create flavour?

Answer 9

If you put solids in the wash back and have a cloudy wort, it creates a spirit with greater malty cereal character than whisky made from a clean wort

Question 10

How long does alcoholic fermentation take for whisky?

Answer 10

within 48 hrs- yields a liquid of 7-8% ABV

Question 11

How many times is nearly all malt whisky distilled?

Answer 11

Twice in copper pot stills- occasionally it is triple distilled

Question 12

What is the ABV after the first and second still for whisky?

Answer 12

21-28, 70

Question 13

What does an early cut to the tails produce?

Answer 13

A lighter spirit

Question 14

What is the minimum maturation of scotch whisky?

Answer 14

Maximum capacity 700L barrel for three years. Water or caramel for colouring may be added

Question 15

What are characteristics of Bourbon casks?

Answer 15

Made from Q. Alba, heavily charred and Bourbon distillers can only use them once

Question 16

What flavours are Sherry Butts known for?

Answer 16

Dried fruit, Christmas cake, clove, resin and orange peel

Question 17

What does cask strength mean?

Answer 17

It is bottled without being reduced with water

Question 18

Which areas in Scotland only have three distilleries left?

Answer 18

Lowland and Cambeltown

Question 19

How does grain whisky differ from malt whisky?

Answer 19

It is a mix of malted barley and other grains, and it is distilled in a continuous still

Question 20

How is wheat and corn prepped in grain whisky?

Answer 20

It is NOT malted, it is cooked at high temperatures in order to hydrolyze the starch. Cooked cereal and malted barley are mashed together.

Question 21

Can grain whisky age as long as malt whisky?

Answer 21

Yes

Question 22

Does a higher percentage of malt or a greater number of malts in a blend give the consumer a more complex product>?

Answer 22

No- A successful blend is one where the combination is seamless- it can be made with 4 whiskies or 40.

Question 23

What is Irish whisky known for>?

Answer 23

Triple distillation, unseated whisky often incorporating a proportion of unmalted barley(20%-60%)

Question 24

How does Cooley Irish Whisky differ?

Answer 24

They have pot stills and column stills, double distilled, one uses peat

Question 25

What is the max distillation of Bourbon?

Answer 25

160 proof or 80%