Spirits Flashcards
Patent (continuous) still
Single process giving high strength product with little flavour. Does not require aging. Suitable for lighter flavoured products such as vodka, gin, etc
The Spirit Safe
At the of distillation process. The distillate is some rated into 3 parts the first and last parts (foreshots and feints) are not used in the final product as they contain impurities but are returned to the still for re- distillation. Separation is carried out by measuring the all content of the spirit flowing out of the still and directing the flow to an appropriate receiving vessel.
Pot Still
Interrupted process 2-3 distillations required- more complex product retaining more of original flavourings. Required aging (min 2 yrs- usually in wood)
Which spirit is sometimes produced in a carter head still?
Gin
Raicilla and Pulque are produced from what type of plant?
Agave
What is Rhum Agricole?
Southernmost French AOC. Only produced from sugarcane juice and mandated use if column stills.
What is Dark Rum?
Fuller in body, more complex caramel notes. Typically distilled twice in pot stills and aged for yrs.
What is Cachaca
Brazillian spirit made from sugarcane juice (essentially a light rum)
What distinguishes Demerara Rum?
From Guyana. Distilled from molasses and sometimes aged for a decade.
What distinguishes light rum?
Continuous method. Charcoal filtering after a short period of cask aging (some are unfiltered, such as Mount Gay)
What are the 4 major styles of rum?
Light, Dark, Demerara, Rhum Agricole
Statement of age (whiskey/ whiskey)
Year if distillation may not be included on the lake unless the year of bottling period of maturation, or the age (in years) of the Whisky is also included.
What distinguishes Demerara Rum?
From Guyana. Distilled from molasses and sometimes aged for a decade.
What distinguishes light rum?
Continuous method. Charcoal filtering after a short period of cask aging (some are unfiltered, such as Mount Gay)
What are the 4 major styles of rum?
Light, Dark, Demerara, Rhum Agricole
Statement of age (whiskey/ whiskey)
Year if distillation may not be included on the lake unless the year of bottling period of maturation, or the age (in years) of the Whisky is also included.
Who developed the first Alembic still?
Jabir Ibn Hayyan, an 8th Century Arabic alchemist
What are synonyms for the continuous still? When was it invented?
Column Still
Coffey Still
Patent Still
Early 1800s
What are congeners?
Volatile molecules such as esters other alcohols which contribute flavour (or off Flavors) to a spirit
What is the difference between maceration and infusion?
Maceration is a slow, cold method
Infusion is a warm, hot method
What is the origin of proof?
Originally British sailors would test their alcohol ration by dousing gunpowder. If the ABV was less than 57.15%, the powder would not ignite.
Where does the term vodka originate?
Russian term for water
How is vodka typically made?
Distilled in a continuous still and filtered with charcoal
What is the min ABV for vodka in the EU? What labelling stipulations do they have?
37.5%
If the vodka is not grain or potato based. Must list fermentation products on the label.
What are the Japanese and Korean versions of Vodka?
Shochu and Soju, traditionally made from sake.
Shochu is not filtered through charcoal
What is the name for an Okinawan style Shochu made from Rice only?
Awamori
Name 4 put of the 7 other types of grape spirits
Spanish brandy, Pisco, Marc, Grappa, Pomace Brandies, Calvados, Fruit Eau- De- Vie
Describe Distillation
Concentration of alcohol present in a fermented liquid. Alcohol boils @ a lower temp than water and vaporises and can be collected.
What is Lillet?
Awhile wine and a Citrus aperitif
What is Schnapps?
Dutch, Danish or German spirit made from the distillation of Grain
Describe Aquavit
Danish schnapps flavoured with caraway
Name 4 aniseed based spirits
Pernod, Ricard, Ouzo, Pastis
What is Southern Comfort made from?
Made from a base of bourbon whiskey, peaches and oranges
How are spirits produced?
Spirits are produced by the distillation of alcoholic liquids made from cereal, fruits, plants, sugar cane and others.
What is the purpose of distillation?
Distillation concentrates the strength and Flavors of the liquor by removing most of the water
Lillet- Other Aromatised Wines
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.
Dubonnet- Other Aromatised Wine
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.
Byrrh- Other Aromatised Wine
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.
Lillet
Classed as an aromatised wine within EU law, is a French aperitif wine from Podensac, a small village south of Bordeaux. It is a blend of 85% Bordeaux region wines (Semillon for the Blanc and for the Rosé, Merlot for the Rouge) and 15% macerated liqueurs, mostly citrus liqueurs (peels of sweet oranges from Spain and Morocco and peels of bitter green oranges from Haiti). The mix is then stirred in oak vats until blended. During the ageing process, Lillet is handled as a Bordeaux wine (undergoing fining, racking, filtering etc.). In the original Kina Lillet formulation (so named with respect to its status as a quinquina), quinine liqueur made of cinchona bark from Peru was included among its ingredients. Its manufacturers removed the quinine-containing cinchona bark from their recipe in 1985, drastically altering what was the core bitter element in an effort to keep pace with changing preferences. The Swiss-made Tempus Fugit Spirits Kina L’Aéro d’Or and Cocchi Americano, an Italian aperitif wine, are the closest present-day analogs to the original Kina Lillet flavor profile.
Serving Lillet
Lillet is an aperitif wine (a blend of Bordeaux wines and citrus liqueur). It should be served well chilled at 6–8°C (43–46°F). In France, Lillet is generally served on ice with a slice of orange, or a lemon or lime peel. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland Lillet blanc is more often served as a Lillet Vive, a Lillet blanc long drink. A Lillet Vive is 5cl Lillet blanc, 10cl tonic water, a slice of cucumber, a strawberry and mint leaves. In other countries, especially in the US and UK, it is more often used as a cocktail ingredient. The best known Lillet cocktails are the Vesper, the Corpse Reviver #2, the 20th Century and the Old Etonian. Recipes appear in cocktail books like The Bartender’s Bible by Gary Regan, the Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock and the Complete World Bartender Guide by Bob Sennett. In the 1930s the Savoy Cocktail Book edited 22 Lillet cocktails recipes (to compare, 46 Cointreau cocktails recipes were edited, 24 Dubonnet, 24 Chartreuse and 10 Grand Marnier).
