Spirits and Liquers Flashcards
Where is Vodka from?
(-) Vodka can be made anywhere in the world
(-) Traditionally associated with Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland)
Raw material of Vodka
Commonly cereal grain but can be anything
Eastern Europe uses Potatoes and Cereal grains
Type of distillation for Vodka
- Continuous still used most often to make vodka, but there are a few premium vodkas that are made in pot stills
- No minimum number of distillations, but the more you do the smoother and more neutral it becomes
Distinct / special process for Vodka
Distilled multiple times in continuous still to remove any flavors
Vodka Producers
Tito’s
Absolut
Smirnoff,
Grey Goose,
Kettle One
Cîroc
Belvedere
Region Of Origin for Rum
Can be anywhere but
traditionally Caribbean
Raw Material of Rum
- Fermented sugarcane juice
- Molasses (which is one of the byproducts when making sugar from sugarcane)
Styles of rum depend not only on the product it’s distilled from, but what type of _____ is used in production.
Still
- Continuous still = more neutral style rum
- Pot still = expressive, full of character
How do Dark Rums get their color?
They’re aged for an extended period of time in oak barrels
Rum producers
- Myers’s
- Mount Gay
- Bacardi
- Captain Morgan (Spiced)
- Diplomático
- Goslings
- Havana Club
Types of rum
Light
Dark
Aged
Spiced
From where does gin originate?
Where can gin be made today?
Some of the world’s best examples of gin are made where?
- Originates from Holland (it’s orignally a Dutch product)
- Can be made anywhere in the world today
- Best examples from Great Britain in London Dry style
What product is gin traditionally distilled from?
Cereal grains - just like vodka!
What is the dominant flavoring agent in gin?
Juniper berries
What are some other ingredients used to flavor gin?
Citrus peel
Anise
Angelica root
Orris root
Licorice root
Cinnamon
Cassia bark
Various herbs
How do those botanical flavorings get into the gin?
- A neutral, base alcohol made from grain
- The selected ingredients are macerated with the base alcohol
- Then it’s distilled again (usually a few times)
Gin producers
- Tanqueray
- Bombay
- Nolet
- Beefeater
- Hendrick’s,
- Sipsmith
Type of distillation for Gin
Continuous distillation
Tequila is a protected appellation in which state in Mexico?
Jalisco
What plant must Tequila be made from?
And which part of the plant?
- Blue agave plant (Agave tequilana)
- Fermented juice from the cooked piña / heart of the plant
- The heart of the plant is called ‘piña’ because it’s shaped like a pineapple.
In what still can Tequila be made?
Which still is it traditionally made in?
Either a pot still or a continuous still, but the pot still is traditional
When is Blanco / Silver Tequila bottled?
Immediately after disillation
How long is Blanco aged
Under 2 months
What is the aging requirement for Reposado Tequila?
Must be aged at least 60 days and up to 1 year in oak barrels
What is the aging requirement for Añejo Tequila?
Must be aged 1-3 years in oak barrels
Tequila producers
Don Julio
Jose Cuervo
Patron
Herradura
Sauza
El Jimador
1800
Hornitos
Which state in Mexico is the Mezcal appellation a protected one?
Oaxaca
But there are other states where Mezcal can be made; it’s just not a protected name in these other places.
What is Mezcal distilled from?
Fermented agave
What are 2 key differences between tequila and mezcal?
Tequila:
* Made from Blue Weber Agave only
piñas typically steamed in ovens
Mezcal
* Made from up to 50 different varieties of agave piñas traditionally roasted in earthen pits filled with wood or charcoal (where it gets is smoky notes from)
Which still(s) are used to make Mezcal?
Either a pot still or a continuous still, though a pot still is used for traditional Mezcals
Types of Mezcal
Blanco
Reposado
Añejo
In which style is Mezcal traditionally made?
Blanco
Reposado
Añejo
Blanco, though some examples of barrel-aged Mezcals exist in today’s market.
Mezcal producers
- Bozal
- montelobos
- Del Maguey
- Wahaka
