Spirits Flashcards
1
Q
Spirits - The Process of Making Spirits
A
- Raw material (fermented)
- Fermented beverage
- Distilled
- Pot
- Continuous
- Aging
- What type of vessel?
- How long?
2
Q
Spirits - Fermentation of the Raw Materials
A
- Spirits can be made from fermented fruits, vegetables, grains and other plants
- Sugars in fruit or many plant based spirits are fermented directly into alcohol by the action of yeast
- For grain and some plant or vegetable based spirits, the starches must be turned into sugar first, after which fermentation can occur.
3
Q
Spirits - Fermentated Beverage is Distilled
A
- Alcoholic liquid
- Heated to boiling temperature
- Alcohol Boils at 173
- Water Boils at 212
- Liquid boils, alcohol evaporates
- Alcoholic vapor travels up the still to a condenser
- Liquid is cooled
- Vapor condenses
- New spirit
4
Q
Spirits - Pot Still
A
- Provides a slow, gentle distillation
- Flavor from the base ingredient is retained in the final spirit
- Pot stills are used for richer, generally wood-aged spirits like Cognac and Single Malt Scotch
5
Q
Spirits - Continuous Still
A
- A continuous still is continuously running and is a faster distillation
- This has the potential to remove many flavors and impurities, creating a very neutral spirit
- A continuous still is used for vodka and most vourbons
- Most often used for large-scale distillation
6
Q
Spirits - Aging of the Distillate
A
- Immediately Bottled
- The spirit remains clear and goes straight into bottle
- Examples include most vodka, blanco Tequila and light rum
- Aged in Oak
- Aging in oak changes the color, flavor and texture of the spirit
- This depends on the length, time and char of the oak barrels used
- Examples include most whiskies and brandies
7
Q
Spirits - Whiskey - Scotland
A
- Flavor
- A dominant flavor character of Scotch comes from kilning, or srying, the malted barley with peat as the burning fuel.
- The smoke from the fire infuses the grain with a smoky, “peaty” aroma.
- Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Distilled form 100% malted barley, in a pot still, at a single distillery
- Must be bottled in Scotland
- Blended Scotch Whisky
- Bend of one or more single malt whiskies
8
Q
Spirits - Whiskey - Ireland
A
- Irish Whiskey is a barley-based whiskey made only in Ireland, where they are aged for a minimum of three years in barrels.
- Portions of the barely will be unmalted, resulting in a lighter style.
9
Q
Spirits - Whiskey - Canada
A
- Canadian Whisky can be made of corn, wheat, rye or barley and must be aged a minimum of 3 years
10
Q
Spirits - Whiskey - United States
A
- Bourbon Whisky
- Must be produced in the USA. However most is made in Kentucky
- Must have a minimum of 51% corn and be aged in new, charred American white oak
- Tennessee Whisky
- Must be made in Tennessee from a minimum of 51% corn
- The whiskey must be filtered through a bed of Tennessee sugar maple charcoal
11
Q
Spirits - Brandy - Cognac AOP
A
- Fermentation
- Cognac is a brandy made from white grape-based wines (mainly Ugni Blanc)
- Distillation
- Cognac is distilled twice in copper pot stills
- Aging
- Cognac is required to have a minimum of two years aging in French oak casks
12
Q
Spirits - Brandy - Armagnac AOP
A
- Fermentation
- Brandy distilled from grape-based wines (a blend of local white grape varieties)
- Distillation
- Traditionally one distillation in a continuous still (unique to the region)
- Aging
- Armagnac is required to have a minimum of two years of aging in French oak casks.
13
Q
Spirits - Brandy - Eau de Vie
A
- A category of French brandy made with a variety of fruits.
- Ex) Framboise: Raspberry, Kirsch: Cherry, Poire William: Pears
- Calvados AOP
- Fermentation
- Calvados is distilled from fermented apples and pears
- Distillation
- Calvados is traditionally distilled twice in a coper pot still
- Aging
- Calvados is required to have a minimum of two years of aging in French oak casks
- Fermentation
14
Q
Spirits - Vodka
A
- Fermentation
- Traditionally vodka is a distillate of fermented cereal grains or potatoes
- Today, many base ingredients including a range of fruits, vegetables and other plants
- Distillation
- Vodka is distilled multiple times to achieve purity and neutrality
- Most often a continuous still is used
- Aging
- Vodka is an unaged, clear spirit.
15
Q
Spirits - Gin
A
- Geography
- Gin can be made anywere int he world, but its origins are Dutch.
- Fermentation
- Traditionally, gin is a neutral distillate of fermented cereal grains, like vodka
- Botanicals
- Gin is flavored with a number of herbs, spices and roots called botanicals.
- The predominant flavor ingredient is juniper berries.
- Other traditional botanicals include lemon, lime and bitter orange peel, anise, angelica root, orris root, licorice root, cinnamon, cassia bark and many more.
- Distillation
- To produce gin, a neutral grain spirit is flavored with botanicals and is then redistilled
- Aging
- Gin is predominatnly an unaged, clear spirit
