Spirits: Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Rum, etc

Question 1

Ingredients that flavor gin

Answer 1

Citrus peel
Anise
Angelica root
Orris root
Licorice root
Cinnamon
Cassia bark
Various herbs

Question 2

From where does gin originate?

Where can gin be made today?

Some of the world’s best examples of gin are made where?

Answer 2

Originates from Holland (it’s originally a Dutch product)
Can be made anywhere in the world today
Best examples from Great Britain in London Dry style

Question 3

Describe the process for flavoring gin

Answer 3

Make a neutral, base alcohol made from grain
The botanicals are macerated with the base alcohol
Then it’s distilled again (usually a few times)

Question 4

What are the key differences between gin and vodka?

Answer 4

Vodka can be made pretty much anywhere from anything (wheat, potatoes, grapes, rye, sorghum, etc.). Vodka is meant to be clear, neutral, and without any distinctive aromas or flavors.

Gin can also be made pretty much anywhere from anything, but gin has distinctive juniper and herbaceous aromas and flavors. Certain gins must come from certain places, such a Plymouth gin which must be made in Plymouth, England.

Question 5

What vessel(s) are used to distill vodka, and is there a minimum number of times it must be distilled?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What is vodka made from?

Answer 6

Traditionally cereal grains or potatoes, but it can be made from anything

Question 7

Minimum aging requirement for vodka

Answer 7

Vodka isn’t aged

Question 8

Tequila is a protected appellation in which state in Mexico?

Answer 8

Jalisco

Question 9

What plant must tequila be made from?

Answer 9

Blue agave plant (Agave tequilana)

Fermented juice from the cooked “piña” / heart of the plant

Question 10

What is tequila made in?

Answer 10

Either a pot still or a continuous still, but the pot still is traditional

Question 11

When is Blanco / Silver Tequila bottled?

Answer 11

Immediately after distillation

Question 12

What is the aging requirement for Reposado Tequila?

Answer 12

Must be aged at least 60 days and up to 1 year in oak barrels

Question 13

What is the aging requirement for Añejo Tequila?

Answer 13

Must be aged 1-3 years in oak barrels

Question 14

In which state in Mexico is the Mezcal appellation a protected one?

Answer 14

Oaxaca

Question 15

What are 2 key differences between tequila and mezcal?

Answer 15

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)

Question 16

Which still(s) are used to make Mezcal?

Answer 16

Either a pot still or a continuous still, though a pot still is used for traditional Mezcals.

Question 17

In which style is Mezcal traditionally made?:

Blanco
Reposado
Añejo

Answer 17

Blanco

Question 18

Where did rum originate?

Answer 18

Caribbean

Question 19

What is rum made from?

Answer 19

Fermented sugarcane juice

Molasses

Question 20

When are Light Rums generally bottled?

Answer 20

Immediately after distillation

Question 21

Some Light Rums do spend a short time in oak, which give them color.

How is the color removed from these rums to they are clear again?

Answer 21

They’re filtered, usually through charcoal

Question 22

How do Dark Rums get their color?

Answer 22

They’re aged for an extended period of time in oak barrels