Spirits, Beer, Sake, Liquours Flashcards
What is the boiling point of ethyl alcohol at sea level?
173 degrees F
78 degrees C
Who originally used fractional distillation for perfumes?
Babylonians
Who can modern distillation be traced to?
8th c. Arabic chemist/alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan
Where does the word alcohol come from?
Derived from the Arabic word ‘al-koh’l’- a cosmetic powder purified through distillation
In distillation, what parts are discarded?
The heads and the tails:
- Heads- the first vapors to condense, contain congeners such a methanol (a toxic alcohol)
- Tails- unwanted congeners tend to collect in this
What is a Coffey?
Continuous Still
What is a patent still?
Continuous still
What two columns does the continuous still have?
Analyzer and Rectifier
What form of heating does a continuous still use?
Steam, rather than direct heat
How is the product of a continuous still different from a pot still?
The alcohol is condensed in a purer fashion, stripping the alcohol of excess congeners and flavors, creating a higher-alcohol spirit
What was ‘proof’ originally?
Until 1980, Britain based its legal calculation of alcohol strength of liquor on a simple test, or ‘proof’: the ability of gunpowder to combust when doused in the spirit
What is ‘proof’ today?
Today in the US and EU it is stated as a percentage of alcohol by volume at 20 degrees C
What is the range for ABV for liqueurs
15-30%
What is aquavit?
Scandinavian vodka flavored with caraway
Where is Ikon from?
Russia (vodka)
Where is Chopin from?
Poland (vodka)
Where is Ketel One from?
Holland (vodka)
Requirements for vodka in the EU.
- Must be neutral in flavor.
- Must have a minimum of 37.5% ABV
- If it is not made from potatoes or grain, an EU producer must state the products used in fermentation on the label
Where is Stolichnaya from?
Russia (vodka)
Where is Belvedere from?
Poland (vodka)
Where is Grey Goose from?
France (vodka- distilled in a pot still)
Where is Tito’s from?
Texas (vodka- made from corn in a pot still)
Which country produces soju and which produces shochu?
- Soju- Korea
- Shochu- Japan
What is the big difference between soju and shochu?
Soju (Korean) is filtered through charcoal, where shochu (Japanese) is not
What is awamori?
An Okinawan style of shochu, always distrilled from rice
What are soju and shochu traditionally distilled from?
Sake
How does one produce gin?
A neutral grain spirit is flavored with a range of botanicals -juniper berries being the most important- and redistilled
What are the four main styles of gin?
- London Dry
- Genever
- Plymouth
- Old Tom
What other flavoring components are common amongst London Dry Gins?
Besides juniper berries, London Dry Gin generally contains a noticeable citrus and spice element ( orange and lemon peel, anise, cardamom, coriander, nutmeg, angelica root, and other aromatic substances)
Name 5 London Dry Gins.
- Beefeater
- Tanqueray
- Bombay Sapphire
- Gordon’s
- Boodles
Where was gin developed?
Holland
What is Genever?
The spirit is produced in a pot still and is sweeter but less alcoholic than London Dry Gin.
- Juniper and malt are the dominant aromatics (traditionally contained a minimum of 15% malt wine)
- May be aged in oak casks
Describe the following styles of Genever:
- Oude
- Jonge
- Corenwyn
- Oude: (old) traditional style with a minimum of 15% malt wine
- Jonge: (young) a cleaner, more neutral style with less malt wine
- Corenwyn: (corn wine) a cask aged version in which malt wine comprised at least 51% of the distillate
When was Plymouth Gin revived?
1996
Who is the only producer of Plymouth Gin?
Plymouth, Coates & Co.
What is Old Tom Gin?
A lightly sweetened gin
What distillery revived Old Tom Gin?
Hayman’s Distillery
When was the Whiskey Rebellion?
1794 (led George Washington to invoke martial law)
Who distilled Kentucky’s first whiskey? When?
Rev. Elijah Craig in 1789
What is the minimum percentage of corn that must be used for Bourbon?
51%
What are the aging requirements for Bourbon?
- Bourbon Whiskey is aged in charred new oak casks.
- If the whiskey is aged for at least two years and made without any added coloring or flavoring, it may be labeled as “straight” Bourbon.
- If aged for less than four years, the distiller must also state the length of aging on the bottle
What are the requirements for Tennessee whiskey?
- Must be filtered with maple charcoal prior to aging
- Must be manufactured in the state of Tennessee
- Made from at least 51% corn
- Must be aged in new, charred oak barrels
What are the requirements for rye whiskey?
- Must be distilled from at least 51% rye
- Must be aged in new charred oak barrels for a minimum of 2 years
Name 2 rye whiskeys.
Sazerac and Rittenhouse
What are the requirements for corn whiskey?
- Must be produced from a minimum 80% corn
- May be unaged or aged in used or uncharred new barrels
What barrels are typically used for Scotch production?
Used Bourbon and Sherry casks
What are the five legal categories of Scotch whisky as of 2009?
- Single Malt
- Single Grain
- Blended Malt
- Blended Grain
- Blended Scotch
What are the requirements for single malt scotch?
- Distilled from malted barley in a pot still at a single distillery
- Must be bottled in Scotland (as of 2012)
What are the requirements for single grain scotch?
- Produced at a single distillery
- From unmalted barley, wheat or corn
What are the requirements for blended malt scotch?
-Produced from a blend of malt whiskies.
What are the requirements for blended grain scotch?
-Produced from two or more grain whiskies
What are the requirements for blended scotch?
-A mixture of malt and grain whiskies produced at a number of different distilleries
What are the regulations from the 2009 Scotch Whisky Regulations?
- All whisky producers must provide an indication of the category on the label
- Eradicated the old term ‘pure malt’- a synonym for blended malt whiskies
- Must be produced in Scotland
- Must be distilled twice (or more)
- Must be aged at least 3 years
What is the minimum ABV for Scotch?
40%
What are the 6 regions of production for Scotch?
- Highlands
- Lowlands
- Speyside
- Islay
- Campbeltown
- The Islands
Name 4 distilleries in the Highlands region of Scotland.
- Oban
- Glenmorangie
- Dalwhinnie
- Dalmore
What region of Scotland is often the lightest and least smoky?
Lowlands
Name 3 distilleries in the Lowlands region of Scotland.
- Glenkinchie
- Auchentoshan
- Bladnoch
What region of Scotland is generally milder and fruity in character?
Speyside
Name 3 distilleries in the Speyside region of Scotland.
- Glenlivet
- Glenfiddich
- Macallan
Name the only 3 distilleries of the Campbeltown region of Scotland.
- Glen Scotia
- Glengyle
- Springbank
What region of Scotland generally has pronounced peatiness and toasted seaweed character?
The Islands
What are the major Scotch-producing islands?
- Skye
- Jura
- Mull
- Arran
- Orkney
Name 2 distilleries from the Islands region of Scotland.
- Highland Park (Orkney)
- Talisey (Skye)
What region of Scotland has the most peaty, smoky style?
Islay
Name 3 distilleries of the Islay region of Scotland.
- Ardbeg
- Lagavulin
- Laphroaig
What two distilleries pioneered the style of wood-finished?
Glenmorangie and Balvenie
Name the different barrels that can be used for wood-finished scotch.
- Port
- Sherry
- Madeira
- Burgundy
- Sauternes
What are the three most active distilleries of Ireland?
- Old Bushmills
- Cooley
- New Midleton (maker of Jameson)
What are the requirements for Irish whiskey?
Must be aged for a minimum of three years prior to release
What type of still is used in the production of Irish whiskey?
Traditionally a pot still (3 times) but many are now produced with a continuous still.
What are the requirements for Canadian Rye whiskey?
- Must be aged for 3 years prior to sale
- No legal requirement for the rye whiskey to contain a high proportion of rye
Who is the most famous producer of Japanese whiskey?
Suntory
What is the base for distillation for brandy?
Wine
How is Brandy defined by the EU?
As the distillation of wine- not pomace- with a minimum ABV of 36% and a minimum oak aging period of 6 months.
When was Cognac AOC first defined? When was it finalized?
1909
1938
Where is Cognac situated in France?
Northeast of Bordeaux
What are the 6 defined regions of production for Cognac?
- Grande Champagne
- Petite Champagne
- Borderies
- Fins Bois
- Bons Bois
- Bois Ordinaires
What are the soils of Grande and Peitie Champagne regions of Cognac?
They have a high percentage of sot chalk
What are the soils of the outlying regions of Cognac?
They have a higher proportion of hard limestone, sand and clay
What are the permitted grape varieties for Cognac?
- Ugni Blanc (accounts for 98% of vineyard land)
- Folle Blanche
- Colombard
How many times is Cognac distilled? In what type of still?
Twice in a copper Charentais pot still
What is the brouillis?
The first distillation of cognac in which the product is a spirit of 28-32% ABV. It will be distilled again
What is bonne chauffe?
The second distillation of Cognac
What is the bonne chauffe divided in to?
- Tête- heads
- Coeur- hearts
- Secondes- second cuts
- Queue- tails
What are the designations of age for Cognac?
refers to the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend
- VS/***- (Very Special)- at least 2 years in cask
- VSOP- (Very Special/Superior Old Pale)- at least 4 years in cask
- XO- (Extra Old)- at least 6 years in cask (will increase to 10 years in 2018)
Are vintage Cognacs legal?
Yes, but they are rare
What is the requirement for labeling an individual region on a Cognac bottle?
100% of the eau-de-vie must originate in the named area
What is Fine Champagne Cognac?
Distilled entirely from wines produced in the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne regions, with Grande Champagne composing at least 50% of the blend
Where is Armagnac AOC located?
Southeast of Bordeaux
What are the three regions of Armagnac?
- Haut-Armagnac
- Bas-Armagnac
- Armagnac-Ténarèze
What are the primary grapes of Armagnac?
- Ugni Blanc
- Colombard
- Folle Blanche (Picpoul)
- Baco Blanc (the only hybrid grape authorized in any French AOP appellation)
What type of still do majority of Armagnac producers use?
A simpler version of the copper continuous still (predating Coffey’s 1831 model) that produces a more flavorful, less pure, and less alcoholic spirit than double distillation in a pot still
When did Blanche Armagnac receive AOC status? How long is it aged?
- 2005
- Bottled after 3 months in an inert container
What are the aging indications for Armagnac?
Had to be adopted by 2013
- VS/***: rested in barrel for 1-3 years
- VSOP: rested in barrel for 4-9 years
- XO/ Hors d’Age: rested in arrel at least 10 years
What are the former aging indications of Armagnac (prior to 2013)?
- VS/***: at least 2 years
- VSOP: at least 5 years
- XO: at least 6 years
What is the minimum ABV for Armagnac?
40%
How long must vintage Armagnac be aged prior to release?
10 years