Spirits Flashcards
Process of Distillation
Raw materials, fermented beverage, distill, age
Common raw materials
. Grains – Barley, Corn, Rye, Rice • Fruits – Grapes, Cherries, Raspberries, Apples, Pears • Other – Plants, Vegetables, Sugar Cane
Are some raw materials i.e. sugars, fruits, plants fermented directly into alcohol
Yes
Other raw materials must be converted first from starch form (rice vegetables etc) to what form
Into sugar in order to ferment
Why distill
The purpose of distilling a fermented beverage is to separate and remove diluting components of a liquid such as WATER and other IMPURITIES to capture
the essence of a beverage though purity of the alcohol.
Steps in distillation
Take the alcoholic beverage and boil. Liquid boils and ALCOHOL EVAPORATES. In the process of evaporation alcohol travels up the still to the condenser. The liquid cools and the vapor condenses. Then you have a new spirit.
Two types of Stills
Pot Still and Continuous Still
Pot Still
Provides a slow, gentle distillation. Higher value
Pot stills are used for richer, generally wood-aged spirits like Cognac and Single Malt Scotch
Continuous Still
A continuous still is continuously running and is a faster distillation than a pot still and produces a very neutral spirit
• A continuous still is used for vodka and most bourbons
• Most often used for large-scale distillation
Aging of distillate
The distillate is either bottle right away or aged in barrels.
Which distillites are bottled right away
Light tequila, rum, vodka etc.
Which distillates are aged
Whiskies and brandies
Are all whiskies grain based spirits
Yes
Whiskey produced on the island of Scottland is called what
Scotch Whiskey
What dominates Scotch whiskey
Kilning or drying malted parley with fuel. Peat moss smell
Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
Single Malt is Distilled from 100% malted barley, in a pot still, at a single distillery
– Must be bottled in Scotland
Blended Malt Scotch whiskey
Blend of several single Malts
_ Must be bottled in Scotland
Irish Whiskey
Made from both malted and unmalted barley.
- Aged 3 years
- From Ireland
Canadian Whiskey
Uses corn, wheat, rye, barley and is aged 3 years
Bourban Whiskey
US whiskey generally made in Kentucky must be 51% corn. Aged in charred american white oak
Tenessee Whiskey
Made in Tenessee. 51% corn min. Filtered through a bed of Tenesse maple charcoal
Similarities between Armengac (below Bordeaux in SW France) and Cognac (Between Bordeaux and Loire).
They are both French Brandies aged in oak cask for a minimum of 2 years
Brands of Cognac
Hennessey, Remy Martin, Martell, Delamaine, Camus Hine, Baron Otard XO Gold, XO Francois Voyer
What does XO on Cognac stand for
Xtra Old
Brands of Armenac
Tariquet Bas Armagnac XO. ... Sempe Napoleon Armagnac. ... Delord Bas Armagnac. ... Chateau de Pellehaut Tenareze Armagnac. ... Darroze Armagnac Laburthe. ... Chateau de Laubade Extra Bas Armagnac. ... Laberdolive Bas Armagnac. ... Domaine d'Esperance XO.
Eau de Vie
Category of French Brandy made with a variety of fruits. Examples are Framboise (Rasberry), Kirsch (Cherry), Poire William (Pears).
Calvados
Apple and pear Brandy of Normandy. Normandy is situated in Northern France on the Atlantic Coast. Calvados is aged two years in oak casks
Vodka
Made anywhere in the world but associated with eastern europe. Made from fruits, vegetables, cereals, and potatoes. Typically made from a Continuous Still several times to produce purity and neutrality. Rarely oaked or aged
Gin
Dutch origins made from cereal grains. Much like vodka, but flavord with botanicals which include lemon, lime, bitter orange peel, anise, angelica root, orris root, licorice root, cinnamon, cassia bark and is then REDISTILLED.
Tequila
Made from a protected appellation of Jalisco, Mexico. Made from pineapple heart of agave plant. Can be distilled in Pot or Continuous Still.
Aging of tequila
Aged in oak or bottle.
Silver / Blanco Bottled immediately after distillation
Reposado Tequila aged 60 days to one year in oak casks
Añejo Aged from 1-3 years in cask
Mezcal
Protected area around Oaxaca, Mexico. Areas close are included.
What is Mezcal made from
Fermented agave. LIke Tequila has same method for distilling and aging.
Rum
Originated from the Carribean. Made from sugar cane or molasses. Made from a Continuous Still. Little to no aging typically. A few oaked versions are more money. This is the difference between light and dark rum.
Apertife
Stimulates appetite.
Digestife
Stimulates digestion
Drambuie
Golden coloured, 40% ABV liqueur made from scotch whisky, honey, herbs and spices.
Canton
ginger
Anise
Anisette
Galliano
Sambuca
Ouzo
Nutty and herbal liequers
Bénédictine B & B Chartreuse Crème de Menthe Frangelico
Orange Liquers
Triple Sec
Cointreau
Grand Marnier
Whiskey Liquers
Drambuie
Glayva
Irish Mist
Cream based liquers
Bailey’s-cream, eggs, chocolate and Irish whiskey.
Apricot Pith
Amaretto
Peaches
Southern Comfort
Saint Germain
Elderflower
Coffee
Kahlua
Glavya
Scottish liqueur made with whisky, honey, spices, almonds and tangerines. The name is the phonetic pronunciation of the Gaelic ‘gle mhath’ meaning ‘very good’.
Irish Mist
A blend of Irish whiskey, honey and natural aromatic spices
