Spirits - Brainscape Flashcards
What is the boiling point of ethyl alcohol at sea level?
173ºF (78ºC)
Who originally used fractional distillation for perfumes?
Babylonians
Who can modern distillation be traced to?
8th c. Arabic chemist/alchemist - Jabir ibn Hayyan
Who developed the impoved alembic pot still (the precursor to the pot still)?
Jabir ibn Hayyan
Where does the word alcohol come from?
Alcohol is derived from the Arabic “al-koh’l” - a cosmetic powder purified through distillation
What is a congener?
One of the 3 things that is vaporized during distillation, it is volatile molecules such as esters, other alcohol and aldehydes, which contribute to “off” flavors of a spirit
What distillation what parts are discarded?
The heads and tails:
- Heads - the first vapors to condense, contain congeners such as 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 colums 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 EU and the US: it is stated as a percentage of alcohol by volume at 20ºC
What is the range for liqueuers?
15-30%
What is aquavit?
Scandinavian vodka flavored with caraway
Where is Ikon from?
Russia
Where is Chopin from?
Poland
Where is Ketel One from?
Holland
What is the difference between Korean soju and Japanese shochu?
Shochu is not filtered through charcoal
What is shochu and soju?
They are both distilled from sake, soju is filtered through charcoal
What is Awamori?
An Okinawan style of shochu, that is always distilled from rice
Name 5 brands of London Dry Gin.
- Beefeater
- Tanqueray
- Bombay Sapphire
- Gordon’s
- Boodles
Historically, what is Genever?
The first gin; developed as a medicinal oil by a 16th c. Dutch Dr. Sylvious de Bouve
Today, what is Genever?
- Pot distilled
- Sweeter but less alcoholic than London Dry Gin
- Juniper and malt are dominant aromatics
- May be aged in oak
Traditionally, what was included in Genever that today is labeled “oude”?
- Genever recipe called for a min 15% “malt wine” (a distillate of corn, rye, and wheat)
- A cleaner, more neutral Genever with less malt wine is labeled jonge (“young”)
When was Plymouth gin revived? By whom?
- 1996
- Plymouth, Coates, and Co in England
What gin is called for in the Pink Gin cocktail?
Plymouth
Who revived Old Tom gin?
Hayman’s distillery
What is the classic base in the 19th c. Martinez cocktail?
Old Tom Gin
What was the Whiskey Rebellion in the US?
1794 - George Washington invoked martial law
Who distilled Kentucky’s first whiskey in 1789?
Rev. Elijah Craig
How long must Bourbon be aged in cask?
If less than four years, the distiller must state the length of aging on the bottle
What portion of Bourbon is produced in Bourbon County?
95% - it can legally be produced anywhere
Name the only 2 Tenenesee Whiskey producers.
- Goerge Dickel
- Jack Daniel’s
What portion of Rye Whiskey must be rye? How long must it be aged in charred oak?
- 51%
- min 2 years
Name 2 Rye producers.
- Sazerac
- Rittenhouse
What portion of Corn Whiskey must be corn? How long must it be aged?
min 80% corn
-May be unaged or aged in used or uncharred new barrels
How long must “straight” whiskey be aged?
2 years in barrel
What barrels are generally used for Scotch?
Bourbon and Sherry casks
What 5 legal categories were established with the 2009 Scotch Regulations?
- Single Malt
- Single Grain
- Blended Malt
- Blended Grain
- Blended Scotch
What is the major cereal grain used for Scotch?
barley
T or F - Single Malt Scotch can be sold in cask.
False - from 2012 onward, all single malts must be bottled in Scotland
What requirements were established for Single Malt Scotches in the 2009 regulations?
- Must be distilled from malted barley in a pot still at a single distillery
- Must be bottled in Scotland
What requirements were established for Single Grain Scotch in the 2009 regulations?
- Produced at a single distillery
- From unmalted barley, wheat or corn
What does “Pure malt” mean?
It was synonymous with blended malt whiskies, but it was eradicated from labels with the 2009 regulations
How many times is Scotch distilled?
2x or more
How long must Scotch be aged?
3+ years
What is the min abv for Scotch?
40.00%
What are the 6 regions of production for Scotch?
- Highlands
- Lowlands
- Speyside
- Cambeltown
- Islay
- The Islands
What are the major producing islands of Scotch?
- Skye
- Orkney
- Jura
- Arran
- Mall
Name 3 Islay distilleries.
- Ardbeg
- Lagavulin
- Laphroaig
Where is Talisker located?
Isle of Skye
Where is Highland Park located?
Isle of Orkney
Name 3 Cambeltown distilleries.
- Glen Scotia
- Glengyle
- Springbank
What Scotch region makes the most peaty, smoky Scotches?
Islay
What Scotch region was a former sub-zone of Highlands?
Speyside
What river provides the water in Speyside?
Spey river
What are the Scotches from Speyside like?
Generally milder and fruity in character
Name 3 distilleries from Speyside.
- Glenlivet
- Glenfiddich
- Macallan
What Scotches are generally the lightest and least smoky, making it the ideal apertif?
Lowlands Scotches
Name 3 Lowlands distilleries.
- Glenkinchie
- Auchentoshan
- Bladnoch
What is the largest Scotch region?
Highlands
