Spirits - General Flashcards
At what temperature does ethyl alcohol boil at sea level
173 F
78 C
Who is Jabir ibn Hayyan?
Arabic chemist/alchemist who developed an improved alembic still
What are the two methods used to distill most modern spirits
Pot Still
Continuous Still
What are three other names for Continuous Still
Coffey, Column, Patent
When was the continuous still developed?
Early 1800s
What is a congener?
A volatile molecule such as ester, alcohol, aldehyde that contributes to flavor or off flavor
Which distillation method creates a more flavorful spirit?
Pot Still
What are the two columns called in a Continuous still?
Analyzer, Rectifier
How does a continuous still work?
Steam, rather than direct heat vaporizes alcohol, strips of congeners and creates higher alcohol spirit
What are the three methods of flavoring liquor?
Maceration, Percolation, Infusion
What is maceration?
Steeping flavoring agent in alcohol, cold temp, long time
What is infusion?
Steeping flavoring agent in alcohol, hot temperature, short time
What is percolation?
Resembles coffee brewing -
base spirit is pumped through flavoring material
What is alcoholic “proof” and where was it developed?
The ability of gunpowder to combust when doused in spirit, developed in Britain
