Other European Whisky

Question 1

How are barrels of whiskey generally aged in Scotland and Ireland?

Answer 1

One story stone buildings
Closely stacked with little circulation
Used barrels, saturated pores.

Question 2

What are the main differences between Scotch and Irish Whiskey?

Answer 2

Irish Whiskey - generally non-peated, Scotch generally peated. Irish Whiskey uses a combination of malted and unmalted barley, while Scotch is 100% malted, giving Irish whisky a unique leathery flavor. Irish Whiskey is often triple-distilled.

Question 3

What is an Irish Malt Whiskey?

Answer 3

A whiskey made from 100% malted barley, with the wort separated from the solids before fermentation, and distilled in pot stills.

Question 4

What are some examples of Irish Malt Whiskey?

Answer 4

Bushmills Single Malt, the Irishman Single Malt, and Tyrconnell Single Malt.

Question 5

What is Irish Grain Whiskey?

Answer 5

A whiskey produced from a mash containing a maximum of 30% malted barley. The rest made up of unmalted cereal grains. Uses column stills. Typically used in blends

Question 6

What is an example of Irish Grain Whiskey?

Answer 6

Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey (Produced by Cooley Distillery).

Question 7

What is Irish Pot Still Whiskey?

Answer 7

Produced using a mash containing at least 30% malted barley and a minimum of 30% unmalted barley. Remainder can be malted/unmalted barley, and up to 5% other unmalted cereal grains (oats or rye). The wort is separated from solids before fermentation - must use pot stills.

Question 8

What are some examples of Irish Pot Still Whiskey?

Answer 8

Redbreast, Green Spot, Jameson 15-Year-Old Pure Pot Still Whiskey.

Question 9

What is Irish Distillers Limited (IDL)?

Answer 9

The leading distiller in Ireland. Produces Jameson and Powers blended whiskies as well as many other single pot still whiskies.

Question 10

When was Irish Distillers Limited (IDL) founded?

Answer 10

1966

Question 11

What distillery was purchased by Irish Distillers Limited in 1972?

Answer 11

Bushmills.

Question 12

What is blended Irish Whiskey?

Answer 12

A blend of two or more different whiskey types, which may include Irish Malt, Irish Grain, and/or Irish Pot Still Whiskeys.

Question 13

What were the three original companies that combined to form Irish Distillers Limited?

Answer 13

John Power & Son
John Jameson & Son
Cork Distilleries Co.

Question 14

Who owns Irish Distillers Limited now?

Answer 14

Pernod-Ricard.

Question 15

What are some of the most popular Blended Irish Whiskeys?

Answer 15

Jameson, Black Bush, Bushmills, Paddy, and Tullamore D.E.W.

Question 16

What flavors does the use of unmalted grains have on the flavor profile of Irish Whiskey?

Answer 16

It may give a unique “leathery” flavor.

Question 17

What are the requirements for Irish Whiskey?

Answer 17

Be distilled in Ireland from mash of cereal grains.
Be distilled to less than 189.6 proof
Contain no additives except water and caramel coloring
Be stored in wooden casks (under 700 liters) in Ireland for no less than 3 years.

Question 18

What are the export restrictions regarding Irish Whiskey?

Answer 18

Must be bottled in Ireland, if not, must be shipped off in inert bulk containers and subject to company controls.
May not be exported in any type of wood container.

Question 19

What are common casks used for the maturation of Irish Whiskey?

Answer 19

Barrels that previously stored Madeira, Sherry, Port or Bourbon.

Question 20

Approximately how many distilleries are currently operating in Ireland?

Answer 20

Nearly 40

Question 21

What are some of the brands produced by New Midleton Distillery?

Answer 21

Jameson, Powers, Paddy, Midleton, Redbreast, and Green Spot.

Question 22

What are some distilleries located in Northern Ireland?

Answer 22

Echlinville
Hinch Distillery

Question 23

What is Irish Poitín?

Answer 23

Originally an Irish version of Moonshine. Now has GI protections. Often unaged, since it can contain ingredients other than grains classified as “spirit drink”. May be flavored.

Question 24

What was the last whisky distillery in England prior to the 2000’s, and when did it close?

Answer 24

Lea Valley Distillery of Stratford, London. Closed in 1903

Question 25

What was the first whisky produced in England in the 2000’s, released in 2011?

Answer 25

Hicks & Healey Cornish Single Malt Whiskey.

Question 26

How many distilleries are currently producing whisky in England?

Answer 26

Close to 30.

Question 27

What countries consume the largest amount of Scotch Whisky?

Answer 27

US, France, Singapore, Taiwan

Question 28

Where is whisky produced in France?

Answer 28

In Brittany and Alsace (both have GI status).

Question 29

What is Whisky d’Alsace?

Answer 29

French whisky produced from 100% malted barley distilled in copper-containing pot stills (hybrid with no more than 3 plates allowed), Minimum 3 years oak aging in Alsatian climatic conditions. GI status. AKA Whisky Alsacien

Question 30

What is Whisky Bretagne?

Answer 30

AKA Whisky Breton is a GI protected French Whisky produced in Brittany. It must be produced from at least some malted cereal grain, unmalted grain may be included. Aged minimum 3 years in oak in atmosphere that reflects the maritime climate of the region.

Question 31

What well-known whisky is from Spain?

Answer 31

Whisky DYC

Question 32

What is Whisky DYC?

Answer 32

A Spanish whisky produced in Segovia (in Castile y Leon). Has a range of products including aged in American Oak and Single Malt, as well as non-aged meant for mixed drinks.

Question 33

What is Hammer Head?

Answer 33

A Czech malt whiskey produced by Pradlo Distillery.

Question 34

What is Pradlo Distillery?

Answer 34

A Czech distillery that produced the malt whiskey marketed as Hammer Head.

Question 35

Why was peat originally used extensively in Scotland and Ireland?

Answer 35

There was no other fuel source nearby for kilning the malted barley.