Spirits Flashcards
What are the typical base wines for vermouth production?
Italy
France
Spain
Italy - Cataratto or Trebbiano (Sicily)
France - Clairette or Picpoul
Spain - Airen or Macabeo
What is the Boiling Point of alcohol?
173 F
78 C
What is the average Angel’s Share per year of a barrel aged spirit?
2-5% evaporation per year
(up to 15% in a tropical environment)
Name 3 traditional botanicals used to flavor gin
juniper,
coriander,
orange peel,
anise,
cassia bark (Chinese cinnamon),
carraway,
angelica root
Genever PDO must originate from which 2 countries?
Netherlands,
Belgium
What is the precursor to rum?
Van Oosten Batavia Arack - distilled from sugarcane and red rice, invented by British soldiers in India - ingredient first used in punch
Swedish PUNSCH
Name 2 major categories of rum that must be distilled from sugarcane juice
Rhum Agricole
Cachaca
Don Facundo de Bacardi is famous for what innovation in the production of rum?
Filtration through charcoal, yielding a clear, light spirit (native to Cuba, escaped to Puerto Rico after the Revolution)
Australian Rum
Bundaberg
UK rum
Lamb’s,
OVD
USA rum
Cruzan
Puerto Rican rum
Captain Morgan,
Don Q
Nicaragua Rum
Flor de Cana
Haitian Rum
Barbancourt
Cuban Rum
Bacardi,
Havana Club,
Cana Brava (Panama)
Rhum Agricole
Clement (Martinique),
Saint James (Martinique),
Le Mauny (Martinique),
La Favorite (Martinique),
Trois Rivières (Martinique),
JM,
HSE
Barbados rum
Mount Gay,
Foursquare,
Plantation
Bermuda Rum
Gosling’s Black Seal (British Style)
Guyana Rum
El Dorado 12,
Lemon Hart 151 (Zombie cocktail)
Jamaica
Smith & Cross,
Myer’s,
Appleton,
Wray & Nephew
Reposado Tequila must be aged how long?
2 months in oak
Anejo?
1 year (max. 600 L for tequila, 200 L for mezcal)
Extra Anejo?
3 years
True or False the agave plant is part of the cactus family?
False - it is part of the lily family (succulent)
Name one other DO for agave spirits besides Tequila or Mezcal
Bacanora (Sonora - agave augustofolia),
Sotol (“Desert Spoon” plant - asparagus family Chihuahua),
Tuxca (Jalisco),
Raicilla (Jalisco),
Comiteco (Chiapas)
States of production for Tequila
Jalisco,
Nayarit,
Guanajuato,
Michoacan,
Tamaulipas
for Mezcal
Oaxaca,
Guerrero,
Durango,
San Luis Potosi,
Zacatecas,
Guanajuato,
Tamaulipas,
Michoacan,
Puebla
Define Single Malt Whiskey
made from malted barley,
made at one distillery using a pot still
(usually double-distilled to no higher than 70%)
aged min. 3 years
Blended Malt Whiskey
at least 2 single-malt whiskeys from multiple distilleries,
aged min. 3 years
Grain Whiskey is usually distilled in what type of still?
Column still - higher proof, less flavor,
oak 3 years
What is the style of Highland scotch
(Speyside, Perthshire, Northern, Island) ?
light, spicy, refined - slightly smokey;
the islands (Jura, Skye) are the most peaty
Highland distilleries
Macallan,
Balvenie,
Oban,
Dalwhinnie
Speyside distilleries
Glenlivet,
Glenfiddich,
Glenfarclas,
Benriach,
Craigellachie,
Cragganmore,
Monkey Shoulder
Isle of Skye
Talisker
Isle of Arran
Arran Malt
Isle of Jura
Jura Malt
What is the style of Campbeltown?
(producers - Springbank, Glen Scotia)
lightly peaty and salty
What is the style of Lowland?
(Auchentoshan, Glenkinchie)
light, soft, sweet
What is the style of Islay?
pungent, salty, seaweed
Islay producers
Laphroaig,
Lagavulin,
Bowmore,
Ardbeg,
Bruichladdich,
Bunahaiban
Blended Scotch Whiskey
a blend of one or more single malt whiskeys (usually a lower percentage) with one or more single grain whiskeys,
oak 3 years
Blended Grain
a blend of two or more single grain whiskeys (corn, wheat, etc),
oak 3 years
Can Scotch be matured outside of Scotland?
NO
Can Single Malt scotch be bottled outside of Scotland?
NO, but blended can
What differentiates Irish whiskey from Scotch?
grains are usually NOT peat-fired,
the pot-stills are larger,
also continuous stills are used creating softer, gentler feel,
also grains such as corn and wheat are often used in addition to malted barley
Aging requirements for bourbon?
must be new, charred oak barrels
for minimum 2 years
Age statements for bourbon?
must be the age of the youngest whiskey (same for scotch)
Age for bourbon must be on label if aged for less than:
4 years
What is the highest proof bourbon can be distilled to?
160 proof - 80% abv
(vs. 94.8% abv for scotch - 190 proof)
What is the highest proof that bourbon can enter the barrel?
125 proof
- diluted with water to 125 proof or less before placed in new charred oak barrels
- angel’s share may cause proof to increase further
What does “barrel strength” or “cask strength” refer to?
water cannot be added - proof must be within 2 degrees of when it was gauged in the barrel
Can Bourbon contain additives (carmel coloring, etc.)
NO
additives are allowed for Bourbon
Define Sour Mash
a portion of the wash ferment is held back and added to the next mash
Tennesse whiskey vs. Bourbon
Both min. 51% corn in mash bill, Tennesse max 79% corn - more of other grains
distilled to 80%, bottled at min. 40%,
Tennessee whiskey is maple charcoal filtered
Straight Whiskey
min. 51% single grain, aged min. 2 years barrel
(usually 4 in practice),
80-160 proof
Bonded Whiskey
single distillery,
min. 100 proof,
min. 4 years barrel,
not taxed until sale “released from bond”
How is Bourbon usually distilled - what type of still?
first in a column still,
then redistilled in a “doubler” or “thumper” (pot still)
Pappy Van Winkle story
Julian - worked for WL Weller,
bought back old bourbons - aged bourbons up to 23 years
- only 7,000 bottles released every year - high wheat in mash bill
High Rye Whiskeys
Basil Hayden,
Bulleit,
Old Grandad,
Four Roses
High Wheat
Maker’s,
WL Weller,
Willett
Canadian whiskey is usually based on what grain?
Corn - Canadian whisky is a blend of straight whiskies,
aged in USED american oak,
min. 3 years
Canadian whiskey
Seagram’s - American (?) ,
Canadian Club,
Crown Royal
Japanese whisky
Nikka,
Suntory (Yamazaki),
Akashi
Australian whisky
Sullivan’s Cove (Tasmania)
Spanish whisky
DYC
South African whisky
Three Ships
Tennesse whiskey
Jack Daniels,
George Dickel
Cognac - VSOP
4 years (youngest in the blend)
Extra/Napoleon/Tres Vieux/Vielle Reserve Cognac
6 years (Extra, Napoleon, Vielle usually much older);
Napoleon is 4 years for Armagnac
XO/Hors d’Age Cognac
10 years (usually well over)
- formerly 6 years before 2018
La bonne chauffe
second distillation, cut the heads, seconds, and tails
1st distillation is the broullis and repasse (spirit concentrated to about a fourth)
Who makes L’Or de Jean
Martell - blend of 400 eaux de vies
Who produced Louis XIII ?
Remy Martin (some eaux 100+ years)
Grande Champagne soils
Cretaceous chalk - floral, finesse
Petite Champagne soils
Cretaceous chalk - floral, finesse
Borderies
groies - reddish, shallow chalk and clay
- nutty with violets
Fins Bois
clay and limestone,
kimmeridgean and portlandian
- round, fruity
Bons Bois
chalk with sand and clay
- thin, fruity
Bois Ordinaires
marshes (La Rochelle) and sandy beaches
- thin and poor
Premier Cru de Cognac indicates
Grande Champagne
Fine Champagne indicates
at least 50% from Grande, rest from Petite
Blanche armagnac
aged in neutral vessel for 3 months
What type of oak is typically used to age Armagnac
Monlezun black oak
- more robust, assertive flavor - less prevalent nowadays,
more used Limousin
What grapes are used in the production of Armagnac?
ugni,
folle blanche,
colombard,
baco blanc (only hybrid allowed in any AOC)
Calvados Pays d’Auge
max. 30% perry,
min. 2 years oak,
50% haut-tige
Calvados Domfrontais
min. 30% perry,
min. 3 years oak,
50% haut-tige
True or False pisco can be aged in wood
False,
and it cannot contain any additives
Pisco Ancholado
A blend of two or more varieties
Mosto Verde
A pisco distilled from partially fermented wine
Describe how percolation works as a method of flavoring a spirit?
Flavoring agents are placed in a net or screen during distillation,
leading to intense aromas
How does infusion work?
Flavoring agents are soaked BEFORE distillation
How does maceration work?
Flavoring agents are soaked AFTER distillation
(alcohol - acts faster and more intense)
What is the difference between quinquina and americano?
Quinquinas are based on chinchona bark as a bittering agent
while americanos are based on gentian root
How is vermouth made?
base wine mixed with mistelle,
flavored with herbs, roots, bark, flowers, (usually by infusion)
then blended, pasteurized, refrigerated, and filtered
What is Aquavit flavored with?
caraway
Sambuca
anise, elderberry (Italy)
Advocaat
sweetened egg (Netherlands)
Amarula
marula fruit (South Africa) and cream
Slivovitz
plum (Eastern Europe)
Maracuja
passionfruit (Madeira/Azores)
Raki
anise
Get 27
mint
subzones armagnac
haut,
bas (best quality),
tenareze
armagnac producers
boigneres,
laberdolive,
laubade,
laressingle,
pellehaut (tenareze)
Singani is made from what and comes from where?
Bolivia - brandy w/ muscat of alexandria base
When was vermouth invented?
1796 by Antonio Carpano - spread to cafes in Turin, Genoa, Florence, Milan, Venice. Dubonnet was invented by Joseph Dubonnet in 1846 and used to treat malaria in the French Foreign Legion in North Africa. Tapas culture in Spain (going way back), “Happy Hour” in the USA 1970s.
USA vermouths
Vya,
Lo-Fi,
Leopold, Mathiasson
2 fernet producers
Fernet Branca,
Fernet Vallet,
Tempis Fugit (Petaluma)
Zucca - main flavor
rhubarb - comes from Milano
chartreuse cocktails
last word (green),
final ward (rye),
naked and famous (yellow),
bijou (yellow),
champs elysées (green)
what does dunder refer to?
liquid left after distillation of a rum
- “sour mash” version of rum - Jamaican styles
difference between oude and jonge genever?
jonge - less than 15% cornwyn (malt wine - un-aged whisky - distilled from rye, malted barley, maize),
oude - between 15-50% cornwyn - 50% (must be cask-aged)
1st commercially available japanese whisky?
yamazaki 12-year (Suntory)
Mizunara
japanese oak
cardamaro main flavor?
cardoon - artichoke relative (similar to cynar)
Flavoring processes for Spirits
Infusion (before distillation - delicate aromas),
Percolation (during distillation),
Maceration (after distillation)
Vodka could be distilled from
corn, potatoes, grapes, beets
minimum abv for vodka in EU
37.5%
3 Producers of Rye
Rittenhouse,
Old Overholt,
Sazerac,
Whistle Pig,
Templeton,
Bulleit
5 Legal Types of Scotch
Single Malt,
Blended Malt,
Single Grain,
Blended Scotch,
Blended Grain
Min. amount of times a scotch must be distilled
twice
Min. aging for scotch prior to release
3 years
XXO Cognac minimum aging?
14 years
6 regions of Scotch production
Speyside,
Islay,
Islands,
Highlands,
Lowlands,
Campbeltown
Who produces ‘Paradis’? “Le Richard”?
Hennessey
Armagnac producers
Daroze,
Laberdolive,
Laressingle,
Laubade (vintage),
Domaine Boigneres (Bas) (vintage),
Pellehaut (Tenareze)
top selling vodka in USA
Tito’s
top selling spirit in the world *
Soju (Korean) - Jinro
- it’s estimated that certain types of Chinese baiju outsell even Jinro, but the sales reports are not available
Dr. Sylvius DeBouve
creator of Genevar - medicinal tonic
5 styles of Gin
London Dry,
Old Tom (Hayman’s), Old Tom (Ransom - barrel aged),
Plymouth (Black Friar’s),
Genever (Bols),
Navy Strength (min. 58%)
first American whiskey producer
Evan Williams, Elijah Craig started using new char barrels
Talisker is located where?
Owned by?
Highland Park located where?
isle of Skye;
Diageo
Orkney
50% of all Scotch production originates from which region?
Highlands + Speyside
What are the chai in Armagnac production?
Above ground barrel aging cellar
Distillation method for Armagnac
Continuous copper still
Pays d’Auge vs. Domfrontais perry %
max. 30% perry, min. 30% perry
1st stone fruit brandy to get a PDO
Fougerolles - Kirsch
90% of mezcal is a distillate of what type of agave ?
Espadin
what style of mezcal incorporates raw chicken?
Pechuga
Major styles rum
British (Darker style, richer - demerara molasses-based and pot stilled)
Guyana (demerara river) - smoky earthy (Lemon Hart 151);
Jamaica - funky banana,
Spanish (Cuba, Puerto Rico - lighter, molasses-based, column distilled), Light Rum,
French - Rhum Agricole - Martinique, Guadeloupe (column distilled, sugar cane based)
3 areas of British style rum in the Caribbean
Jamaica,
Barbados,
Bermuda,
Guyana,
Bahamas
Spanish style
Cuba,
Puerto Rico
additives for cognac
caramel for coloring,
wood chips,
demineralized water,
distilled water,
sugar
EU Gin allowed artificial flavorings?
Yes, but not for London Distilled Gin
single malt scotch whiskey
single distiller,
single season,
malted barley
anejo tequila
min. 1 year,
less than 3 years (encino oak)
older is Extra Anejo
brandy de jerez;
3 categories
aged in a solera,
usually distilled from airen (La Mancha),
matured in Jerez in ex-sherry butts;
“holandes” pot-still, distilled to less than 70% abv,
70-80% “aguardiente”,
86% “destillados”
“Solera Riserva” - min 3 years
min. aging req. for calvados
2 years - Fine/***
Irish Whisky
unmalted barley, monarchy was losing taxes so they taxed malting barley that’s why the irish don’t use malt
“moonshine”
Scottish would malt their barley at night to avoid taxation
Navy Strength
114 proof - gunpowder will still ignite
What is Cornwyn?
Malt Wine - rye, malted barley, and maize
What is an alligator char for Bourbon?
Must be aged in new, charred oak barrels - the longest char #4 - 55 seconds
Requirements for Mezcal Artesenal?
Agave pinas must be cooked in pit ovens or cement,
NOT in stainless autoclaves
Requirements for Mezacal Ancestral
Pinas must be shredded with wooden bats or stone wheel (tahona) NOT mechanical shredder
Distillation must occur in a clay or wooden vessel
How does a “diffuser” work in high volume tequila production?
Diffuser produces a less characterful product
Heat, acid, and high pressure used to improve efficiency
Machine the size of basketball court
pinas are blasted with high pressure to extract starches,
then soaked in hydrochloric acid to convert starch to sugar OR put in high pressure autoclaves are used to cook the slurry.
Which Cognac producers distill with the lees?
Remy Martin - adds weight and character, Courvoisier to some extent
(Hennessey and Martell go for smoothness w/o lees)
What is the aging required for vintage Armagnac?
10 years
What is the aging for XO Premium Armagnac?
20 years
Can London gin be flavored with artificial flavorings?
Can the flavors be mixed (compounded) and not distilled?
Can gin be colored and sweetened?
NO (must be natural),
NO,
May not be colored and water can only be added
Only if it does not exceed .1 g/L in the finished product
Other Gin categories are fairly unrestricted
Italian Brandy
German Brandy
Spanish Brandy
American Brandy
Australian Brandy
South African Brandy
Vecchia Romagna, Stravecchio Branca, Stock 84 (ITA)
Asbach 8 (DE) - (french wine)
Byass Lepanto PX, Osborne, Torres, Lustau (ESP)
RMS, Germain Robin (USA)
McWilliams (AUS)
KMW (SA)
Carter Head Still
Botanicals are placed in a basket in the lyne arm for delicate extraction before being condensed - used for gin
