Spirits Flashcards
What is distillation ?
A process of concentrating alcohol
What are the two types of still ?
Pot stills - these require multiple distillations to produce a relatively low strength flavourful spirit
Column stills - these run continuous and can produce anything from low strength flavourful spirit to very high strength neutral spirit in a single distillation
What are the key spirit styles ?
- Brandy produced from grapes, such as Cognac and Armagnac
- Whisk(e)y produced from grains, such as Scotch, Irish, Bourbon and Tennessee
- Rum produced from sugar cane
- Tequila produced from the agave plant
- Vodka which is distilled to high strength to give it a neutral character regardless of the raw material used.
- Gin which is flavoured with additional ingredients known as botanicals
What are the characteristics of the spirit tasting ?
Appearance
- 25 ml in a glass (ISO)
Nose
- Add 25 ml of water
- No swirl
- Aromas reflect the base material, ageing and added flavours
Palate
- Characteristics should reflect those found on the nose
Conclusion
- Criterias : Balance, length, complexity, intensity, expressiveness
What is the process of distillation ?
- Fermentation first
- Boiling of the liquid to separate the alcohol using a still
- Colour can be removed with a charcoal filter
- Or adjusted with caramel
What is a pot still and its characteristics ?
- Old style
- Batch process (must be clean and refiled between batches)
- Combine a still head, chemney and condenser
- Raises by a small amount of alcohol each time. Lower strenght
- Resulting spirit have more character and flavours.
- We only keep the heart (not the head or tails)
What is a column still and its characteristics ?
- Vertical column containing multiple layer and allowing continuous distillation
- High strenght
- Lots of mini distillations
What are the different styles of spirits ?
- Brandy
- Cognac and Armagnac
- Whiskies
- Scott Whisky
- Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Grain Whisky
- Irish Whisky
- Bourbon
- Tennessee whiskey
- RUM
- White Rum
- Golden and Spiced Rum
- Dark Rum
- Tequila
- Vodka
- Gin
- Liqueurs
What is Brandy ?
Spirit made by fermenting whole freshgrape and distillation of the result. Usually Brown or amber because of oak ageing and caramel coloring.
What are Cognac and Armagnac ?
- Cognac is an oak aged Brandy from Cognac region. It must be double distilled with a copper pot still. Should have fruity flavour aromas (grape, ^perfume), medium to light body and smooth alcool.
- Armagnac oak-aged Brandy from Armagnac region. Made in column still giving low strenght but full of character. Gives dried fruits aromas (prune, raisin, fig) and is medium to full bodied.
Oak aging make the spirit smoother and add flavours of vanilla, toast nuts, sweet spices, fruitcake, dried fruits. Age is indicated through VS, VSOP, XO (Napoléon)
What are whiskies ?
- Character full oak aged spirits made of grains (Barley, corn, rye) Starch must be converted to fermentable sugars by grounding and mixing with hot water. For Barley the grain has to germinate then it is stopped by drying and heating using a kiln. (Then ground and water mix happens with malted barley)
What are Whisky styles ?
- Scotch Whisky (Distilled and oak aged in Scotland for 3 years)
- Malted whisky (uses malted barley and pot still)
- Single Malt scotch whisky (from just 1 distillery, floral, medicinal, spicy)
- Grain whisky (From mixed grains and blended with malt whisky to get Blended scotch whisky)
- Irish Whiskey (made of malted and non malted barley and other grains. smoother and lighter than SMSW)
- Bourbon from Kentucky (made of 51 percent of corn, low strength pronounced flavours, american oak aged, giving vanilla toffee and spices)
- Tennessee whiskey (similar to Bourbon but filtered before aging, gets smoother)
What is Rum ?
- Made of sugar cane
- Molasses is diluted before fermentation and distillation
- Distillation in pot or column still
- Oak aging can occur
- Colouring with caramel can occur
What are Rum styles ?
- White Rum (High strength, dry, neutral or low strength with tropical fruits aromas)
- Golden and Spices Rum (dry or off-dry, with banana, coconut, toffee aromas) Spice flavour is added
- Dark Rum (Full bodied with dried fruits and sweet spice flavours) Often colored with caramel.
What are Tequilas ?
- Made of 51 percent of blue agave in Tequila region
- Core is cooked to get fermentable sugars
- Double pot distilled
- Flavours of grass, citrus, earth, Pepper with sharp alcohol
- With age gets oak aromas (vanilla, sweet spices)
