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