Spirits and Distillation Flashcards
What is the simple premise behind distillation?
Alcohol has a lower boiling point than water
What is the boiling point of ethyl alcohol?
173F
What is the separation of two liquids with different boiling points called?
Fractional distillation
What are 3 other names for a modern continuous still?
Coffey, column, or patent still
What is the fermented liquid to be distilled called?
The wash
How is the wash distilled in a simple pot still? What must a distiller do to the condensed liquid?
The wash is placed into the closed vessel and heat is applied directly to the vessel, vaporizing the ethyl alcohol, a certain amount of water, and congeners-volatile molecules such as esters, other alcohols, and aldehydes, which contribute to the flavor (or off-flavor) of a spirit.
These vapors travel up through the vessel and into a condensing coil. The vapors will be cooled, condensed into liquid and collected in a separate vessel. In this simple form, the spirit will be impure.
The distiller must take care to discard the foreshots-the first vapors to condense- as these contain congeners such as methanol, a toxic alcohol. The tails are also discarded, as unwanted congeners tend to collect in the distillate residue.
How is the wash distilled in a continuous still? How does it differ from the pot still? How is the flavor impacted?
A continuous still has two columns (the analyzer and the rectifier) and uses steam, rather than direct heat, to vaporize the alcohol.
In this still, the alcohol is condensed in a purer fashion, stripping the liquor of excess congeners and creating a higher-alcohol spirit.
While congeners are responsible for impurities, they are also the source of flavor; thus, the continuous still sacrifices distinction for a clean spirit
Which still will produce a purer spirit? Continuous or pot still? Which will produce a more flavorful spirit? Why?
The continuous still will produce a more pure spirit but sacrifices flavor as it removes a large majority of the impure but flavor-containing congeners.
The pot still will produce a more impure spirit but will have more flavor because of a higher presence of congeners
How do brown spirits gain color?
Through extensive aging in casks
Do bottled spirits gain complexity?
No
How are spirits flavored?
Oak aging will imbue flavor and so will additives through maceration, percolation, or infusion.
Maceration, percolation, and infusion are all techniques for adding flavor to spirit. How do they differ?
Maceration and infusion are similar techniques that involve steeping a flavoring agent in alcohol; maceration is a slower, cold method and infusion is a quicker, hot method.
Percolation resembles coffee brewing, as the base spirit is pumped through the flavoring material.
Until 1980, Britain based its legal calculation of the alcoholic strength of liquor on the proof test. What does this test measure?
The ability of gunpowder to combust when doused in the spirit.
How is the alcoholic content of all alcoholic beverages in the EU and the US, whether fermented or distilled, measured or listed today? What does the proof indicate?
Stated as a percentage of alcohol by volume (abv) at 20 C or 68F
Proof indicates a number that is twice the percentage of abv
What is the general abv range for liqueurs? Vodka and gin? Whiskies, brandy, and rum?
15-30% for liqueurs
40-50% for vodka and gin
Whiskies, brandy, and rum is much wider with some cask-strength whiskies, those not diluted with water prior to bottling reaching over 60% abv
If a spirit is cask-strength, what does this mean?
The spirit has not been diluted with water prior to boiling.
What are 5 sources used for the production of vodka?
potatoes rye grapes beets molasses
What still is usually used to distill the wash for vodka distillation? How is it filtered? Why?
continuous still, and filtered with charcoal to make the spirit ultra-clean
What can be said of vodkas regarding the more distillations it goes through?
The more distillations it sees the purer and stronger the spirit will be
Why do Eastern European and Russian vodkas tend to have more character than vodkas produced in the western EU and US?
Because in the EU and US if a bottle says vodka then it must be neutral in flavor.
The source used for a vodka produced in the EU must be listed on the bottle if it is not produced from what two sources?
potatoes or grain
What is the min abv a vodka must have if produced in the EU?
min 37.5%
What are two top Russian vodkas? 2 Polish Vodkas? Top French? Top Dutch?
Stolichnaya and Ikon (Russia)
Chopin and Belvedere (Poland)
Grey Goose (French)
Ketel One (Holland)
What is used for the production of Titos Vodka? Where is it produced?
100% Corn
Texas
What are 5 common flavoring agents for vodka?
lemon, orange, vanilla, raspberry, blueberry
What is acquavit?
Scandinavian liquor, clear spirit made from fermented potato or grain and flavored with caraway root and other aromatics, is basically flavored vodka
What is the difference between soju and schochu?
They both are traditionally distilled liquors. Soju is Korean and Schochu is Japanese and unlike Soju is not filtered through charcoal.
What is the name of the Okinawan style of Schochu distilled from rice?
awamori
What is the most important flavoring agent for gin?
juniper berry
What are common flavoring agents used in the production of London Dry Gin? What are 5 top producers of London Dry Gin?
juniper berries lemon peel orange peel anise cardamom coriander nutmeg angelica root
Beefeater Tanqueray Bombay Sapphire Gordon's Boodles
What country first produced gin? Who first made it? What was it called?
Holland
Dr. Sylvius de Bouve
First produced as a medicinal oil known as Genever (Jenver) in the 16th century.
What still is used to produce Genever gin? How is this style different than London Dry?
pot still
sweeter but less alcoholic than London Dry Gin. Along with Juniper, Malt is a key flavoring component and the spirit may be aged in oak casks, taking on color and roundness from the wood.
What is malt wine? What style of gin is it used in? What is the min % of it that must be incorporated into the distillate?
malt wine is a distillate of corn, rye, and wheat
Used in the production of Genever gin
must be incorporate at a min 15%
What are the three styles of Genever? Describe them.
Oude (“old”)
uses higher proportion of malt wine in the wash
Jonge (“young”)
cleaner, more neutral Genever with less malt wine
Corenwyn (“corn wine”)
cask-aged version in which malt wine comprises at least 51% of the distillate
Who produces the Plymouth style of gin? How does it compare to London Dry? What cocktail is it used for?
Only Plymouth, Coates, and CO.
Fuller in body than London Dry and very aromatic
Proper gin for a Pink Gin cocktail
What is the proper gin for a Pink Gin cocktail?
Plymouth Gin
Which style of gin is a sweetened gin? What 2 cocktails is this gin most appropriate for?
Old Tom Gin
Proper gin for a Tom Collins cocktail and a Martinez
What is the spelling of whiskey in Scotland?
Whisky
What are the 5 grains used for producing whiskey?
malted and unmalted barley maize rye oats wheat
When was Kentucky’s first whiskey distilled? By who? What it become known as?
1789 by Elijah Craig
Became known as Bourbon Whiskey
Bourbon Whiskey must be distilled from what min% of corn?
min 51%
What is the aging vessel for Bourbon Whiskey? What is “straight” Bourbon? Under what age must Bourbon Whiskey’s aging length be stated on the bottle?
Aged in charred new oak barrels
Straight imply that the whiskey is aged for at least two years and made without any added coloring or flavoring.
If aged for less than 4 years the length of aging must be stated on the bottle
What % of Bourbon Whiskey is produced in Kentucky?
95%
Tennessee whiskey is a type of bourbon that must be filtered through what prior to bottling? When was this requirement enacted? What are two top producers of this?
must be filtered through maple charcoal as of 2013
George Dickel and Jack Daniels
What is a sour mash whiskey?
Whiskey produced in which a portion of spent mash is incorporated into a newly fermenting mash.
What are the grain requirements and aging requirements for American Rye Whiskey? What are two top producers of this? How does it compare to Bourbon?
min 51% Rye
min 2 years of aging in new charred oak barrels
Rittenhouse and Sazerac are two top producers of this.
It is more bitter and more powerful than Bourbon.
What are the grain requirements and aging requirements for corn whiskey?
min 51% corn
may be unnamed or aged in used or uncharted new barrels
What is the difference between aging vessels used for American whiskies vs Scotch whisky?
Scotch whisky is aged in used casks for more subtle interaction between wood and spirit. Used Bourbon and Sherry casks are generally employed to age Scotch.
Why is peat used for combustible material to heat the malted grain in Scotch production? How does the use of peat contribute to the flavor of Scotch whisky?
Because Scotland’s forested islands are concentrated near the center of the realm, and wood burning becomes prohibitively expensive toward the coast.
Burning peat produces an oily smoke that infuses the malted barley with its scent and character. This pettiness transmits a dominant note in the finished whisky, especially in those spirits produced at coastal or island distilleries.
What are the 5 legal categories of Scotch Whisky established by the 2009 Scotch Whisky Regulations? Describe them. What term has been eliminated with the 2009 Regulations and what must be listed on the label?
Single Malt Scotch:
distilled from malted barley in a pot still at a single distillery. From 2012 onward single malt scotch must be distilled in Scotland.
Single Grain Scotch:
distilled from unmalted barley, wheat, or corn at a single distillery
Blended Malt Scotch:
produced from a blend of malt whiskies
Blended Grain Scotch:
produced from two or more grain whiskies
Blended Scotch:
blend of malt and grain whiskies produced at a number of different distilleries
The term “pure malt” has been eradicated and an indication of the category of scotch must be on the label
How many times must Scotch be distilled? What are the min aging requirements? Where must all be produced?
must be distilled twice or more
must be aged for at least 3 years
All must be produced in Scotland
For how long is Single Malt Scotch typically aged? What is the min abv for Scotch Whisky? How does this effect the ceiling for aging?
Typically aged for at least 10 years with some whiskies released at 25 or 30 years of age.
Min abv is 40%
Because of this minimum most Scotch cannot be aged longer than 30 or 32 years in the barrel as evaporation (angel’s share) over time would weaken the spirit too much to meet the legal minimum.
What is the preferred Scotch of connoisseurs? What category of Scotch makes up the overwhelming majority?
Single Malt Scotch is preferred but Blended Scotch makes up the overwhelming majority.
What are the 6 regions of production in Scotland for Scotch Whisky?
Highland Lowland Speyside Islay Campbeltown the Islands
Which region of production in Scotland produces a style that is the lightest and least smoky and thus served as an ideal aperitif? What are 3 producers here?
Lowland
Glenkinchie
Auchentoshan
Bladnoch
What is the largest Scotch production area? What are 4 producers from here?
Oban
Glenmorangie
Dalwhinnie
Dalmore
Glenkinchie, Auchentoshan, and Bladnoch are all producers making Scotch in what region?
Lowland
Oban, Glenmorangie, Dalwhinnie, and Dalmore are all producers in what Scotch region?
Highland
What are 3 top producers of Speyside Scotch Whisky? How does this style compare to the rest?
Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Macallan
generally milder and fruity in character
Speyside uses water from what river for its production?
The river Spey
Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and Macallan all produce Scotch from what region?
Speyside
What are the 3 distilleries of Campbeltown?
Glen Scotia
Glengyle
Springbank
Glen Scotia, Glengyle, and Springbank are all distilleries located in what Scotch producing region?
Campbeltown
What are the 5 major islands of the Islands Scotch producing region? Describe the style here.
Skye Jura Mull Arran Orkney
pronounced pettiness and toasted seaweed character
Where is Highland Park distillery? Where is Talisker?
Highland Park (Isle of Orkney) Talisker (Isle of Skye)
Which Scotch producing region is known for producing the most peaty and smoky style? What are 3 top producers here?
Islay
Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig
What are two producers that are pioneers of the wood-finished style? What is this style require?
Glenmorangie and Balvenie
developing whisky is transferred to a different cask for the last two or three years of its aging period
Thus a Single Malt will be transferred from its cask to another that held Port, Sherry, Madeira, Burgundy, or Sauternes-the permutations are endless
What is the biggest distinction in style regarding Irish Whiskey vs Scotch Whisky?
Irish Whisky traditionally uses unmalted barley so it is not peaty and lighter in character than Scotch
What is Connemara?
A peat-fired, Single Malt Irish whiskey produced by Cooley
What are 5 top producers of Irish Whiskey?
Old Bushmills Cooley New Midleton Jameson Tullamore
What is the min amount of times Irish Whiskey must be distilled? Scotch? What are the min aging requirements for both? What is the traditional still for both? Which is produced more commonly with a continuous still today, relative to the other?
Irish Whiskey is distilled at least 3 times
Scotch Whisky is distilled at least 2 times
Both must be aged for at least 3 years
Pot Still is traditional. Irish Whiskey uses the continuous still more than Scotch today.
Where is the Glenora distillery? What style of whisky do they specialize in?
Cape Breton Island of Nova Scotia
malt whisky in the style of Scotch
What is Japan’s most famous distillery? What kind of whiskies do they produce?
Suntory
blended and single malt whiskies
What is the difference in grain requirements between American and Canadian Rye Whiskey?
Canadian doesn’t have a min requirement. American requires min 51% rye.
Canadian Rye is aged for a min 3 years
American Rye is aged for a min 2 years
What is the definition of brandy by the EU?
distillation of wine- not pomace- with a minimum 36% abv and a minimum oak aging period of 6 months
What is the min abv of Brandy? Min aging?
min 36% abv with min 6 months aging in oak
Which tow regions in SW France have traditionally produced the best brandy?
Cognac and Armagnac
What are 5 countries producing top quality brandy?
France Spain Germany South America United States
Where is Cognac in relation to Bordeaux geographically? Armagnac?
Northeast of Bordeaux for Cognac
Southeast of Bordeaux for Armagnac
What are the 6 defined regions of production in Cognac in descending order of quality?
Grande Champagne Petite Champagne Borderies Fins Bois Bons Bois Bois Ordinaires (Bois à Terroirs)
What is the preferred soil type for Cognac grapes? What two regions have the highest proportions of it? What do the outlying other regions have in common in regards to soil type?
soft chalk
Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne
The other regions have higher proportions of hard limestone, sand, and clay
What are the main 3 grapes for Cognac production? What is the most preferred making up 98% of vineyard acreage in Cognac?
Ugni Blanc (St. Émilion) this is the most preferred and most widely-planted
Folle Blanch
Colombard
What is the synonym for Ugni Blanc in Cognac?
St. Émilion
