Practice CMS Cert Exam - Spirits/Cocktails Flashcards
Name three (3) regions for Scotch Whisky production.
Highlands, Speyside and Islay, but also Lowlands
Potable alcohol boils at what degrees C?
78.5
What are the permitted grape varietals in Cognac production?
Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard
Name three (3) Islay Whisky distillers.
Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, but also Caol Ila, Bowmore
What are the islands that form part of the Highlands region of Scotland?
Jura, Mull, Skye, Orkney, and Arran
Scotland is divided into six main regions, called:
Highlands, Islands, Islay, Campbeltown, Lowlands and Speyside.
Name a cocktail that uses Absinthe.
Sazerac – with rye whiskey and bitters
Name the birthplace of Absinthe.
The birthplace of absinthe as we know it today is the Val de Travers, a valley just west of Lake Neuchâtel, western Switzerland.
Name the key ingredient in Absinthe.
Artemisia absinthium is its defining ingredient. Also known as wormwood, it is a member of the large Asteraceae family, which includes daisies and sunflowers.
Name the key ingredient in Cynar.
Artichokes - this vegetable contains Cynarin a chemical that makes any food or drink appear sweeter
What are the aging requirements for XO Cognac?
XO is reserved exclusively for those Cognac cuvees aged for ten years or more. This figure was increased from six years in 2018.
What is XXO Cognac?
XXO is a new category, officially introduced in 2019. An XXO must be aged in barrel for at least 14 years.
What ingredients are in a Sidecar cocktail?
Brandy, with triple sec and lemon
Which nut is used in the following liqueurs: Amaretto, Frangelico and Nocino
Almond for Amaretto, hazelnut for Frangelico and walnut for Nocino
What ingredients are in an Italian Sidecar cocktail?
Italian Sidecar – Nocino with brandy and triple sec
What is the term for the clouding effect of anise-based spirits when diluted with water e.g. Pastis?
This phenomenon is known as louching or the “ouzo effect”. This is because anise-based spirits contain oils called terpenes which become insoluble when diluted below 30 percent ethanol causing a cloudy precipitate to form.
Which spirit is produced from Damson Plums?
Slivovitz is a fruit spirit or fruit brandy produced from damson plums. It has many different names and alternative spellings from slivovitza, slibovita and sljivovica to plum brandy.
Is Sotol made from Agave?
Sotol is often described as a type of mezcal. But this seems to stem from the long-held belief that the sotol plant, dasylirion was an agave. It has in fact been shown in DNA studies to be a spoonplant and relative of asparagus, and hence not agave.
What year was the first Whisky distillery started in Australia?
Prior to 1992, there were no whiskey distilleries operating in the country, Lark Distillery is the oldest, having opened in 1992, followed by Sullivan’s Cove in 1994.
What is the minimum aging requirement for Scotch Whisky and Irish Whiskey?
Irish whiskey and Scotch must be aged for at least three years.
What ingredients are in a Negroni, and what are good food matches?
The bitter Italian drink is a perfectly balanced mix of dry gin, sweet red vermouth, and Campari. Salt is a necessity in any Negroni pairing: consider Sicilian Nocellara olives, salted almonds, or classic seafood starters. Perhaps even a garlicky, tomato bruschetta.
The following ingredients make which Cocktail: St-Germain elderflower liqueur, Prosecco, seltzer, and mint.
The Hugo, or Hugo Spritz, is a modern classic cocktail that features St-Germain elderflower liqueur and Prosecco. Bountiful mint sprigs and a lemon wedge provide a cooling uplift.
Name a classic Gin Cocktail that also uses Champagne.
French 75 – 2 oz dry Gin, 1⁄2 oz fresh lemon juice, 1 bar spoon sugar syrup and Champagne
Which classic Gin cocktail also uses Lillet Blanc?
Vesper Martini – 3 oz Gin, 1 oz Vodka and 1⁄2 oz Lillet Blanc
What is the difference between a Cosmopolitan and Seabreeze Cocktail?
Both cocktails use Vodka and Cranberry juice, but Cosmo uses lime juice and Cointreau, whereas Seabreeze uses Grapefruit juice only. Both garnish with orange twist.
Name a classic Vodka based cocktail that uses Chambord.
French Martini - 2 oz Vodka, 1 dash of Chambord and a dash a pineapple juice
Which fruit is Southern Comfort based on?
Peaches (original recipe by Heron 1874) but now adapted to be a whiskey liqueur
What is Drambuie?
Drambuie is a Scotch whiskey-based liqueur made with honey, herbs, and spices and used for cocktails such as Rusty Nail.
What is Sabra liqueur?
The primary flavour of Sabra is a rich, bitter-sweet chocolate. The dense chocolate is cut with the sweet and sour taste of oranges.
What is the difference between a Bucks Fizz and a Mimosa Cocktail?
Both cocktails have 2 oz orange juice, and top up with Champagne Served in a Champagne glass, but Mimosa also has dash orange Curaçao
What are the approved varietals for Cognac production?
Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, and Colombard
Name the AOC regions of Cognac - there are six (6).
Grande Champagne, Petit Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, Bois Ordinaires
Fine Champagne Cognac?
A blend of Grande and Petit Champagne regions, at 50/50
What is Pineau des Charentes?
It is a vin de liqueur, or fortified wine, made by blending 1/4 Cognac with 3/4 of either slightly fermented grape must or freshly squeezed grape juice. Can be white, rose or red. Must be bottled in the region of Charente. Min aging req in barrel for AOC.
Which Classic Rum based cocktail uses Cachaca?
Caipirinha – 2 oz Cachaca, 1 oz lime juice, 1 bar spoon sugar syrup, fresh mint leaves and a dash soda water
Which Classic cocktail uses the following: 1 oz brandy, 1 oz brown crème de cacao and 1 oz cream, whipped cream and nutmeg
Brandy Alexander
What is the difference between a Manhattan and a Rob Roy Cocktail?
Both cocktails Angostura Bitters, and sweet Vermouth, shaken and strained into a Martini glass. But Manhattan uses Rye Whisky whilst Rob Roy uses Scotch Whisky instead
What is Pommeau?
A blend of one year-old apple brandy with apple juice (must, or pressed juice from apples). After at least 30 months, the result is a “mistelle” and in this case it is Pommeau de Normandie, Pommeau de Bretagne or Pommeau du Maine. It just depends what apple brandy was used.
Apple brandy is produced in 3 appellations in France: Normandy, Brittany, and Maine. What is it called in each of these AOC’s?
In Normandy it is called Calvados. In Brittany it is called Lambig and in Maine (an area that covers the Sarthe and Mayenne departments in the Pays de Loire) the cider brandy is called Fine du Maine.
What does “Seimaibuai” refer to?
The amount of rice remaining after the polishing process – expressed as a percentage – is known as its “seimaibuai,” and is often used as the primary indicator of a Sake’s grade. Honjozo (70%), Ginjo/Junmai Ginjo (60%), and the premium Daiginjo/Junmai Daiginjo (50% or less).
What is Ratafia de Champagne?
Produced by adding Marc de Champagne to UNfermented champagne grape must. As the base is an unfermented juice, this fortified wine is considered a Vin de Liqueur (VDL) and not a Vin Doux Natural (VDN).
Which Agave is the most widely used in the production of Mezcal?
Agave Angustifolia - Maguey Espadin makes up 90% of Mezcal production.
What is Lillet Blanc?
a wine based aperitif using Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux, with macerated liqueurs of orange peels, and green apples. It originated from Pondensac south of Bordeaux.
What is Izzara?
A French liqueur in 2 colours both produced from herbs, prunes, and walnut shells macerated in Armagnac and honey. Yellow from saffron, green from green plants with minty taste.