Spirits: Whisk(e)y Flashcards
List the regions for Scotch Production
Highland (including islands)
Lowland
Speyside
Islay
Campbelltown
Scotch - min abv?
cask strength
after distillation
min 40%
generally 40-46%
cask strength 60-63%
max 94.8% ABV after distillation
Scotch - allowed additives?
water and caramel coloring
How is scotch typically distilled?
Single malt- pot still required
most is distilled twice, continuous distillation is allowed.
Lowlands has a tradition of triple distillation
Define single malt scotch whiskey
distilled at a single distillery in a pot still, in one or more batches, from water and malted barley
Define single grain scotch whiskey
any Scotch whisky distilled at a single distillery that does not qualify as either single malt whisky or blended Scotch whisky
has some amount of malted barley, and can have other cereal grains
so a scotch made from 100% malted barley, but in a column still would be a single grain
made in a continuous still?
Define blended malt scotch whiskey
blend of single malts from multiple distilleries
Name a blended malt scotch
Monkey Shoulder
Jonnie Walker Green Label
Define blended grain scotch whiskey
blend of single grains from multiple distilleries
Name a blended scotch
Ballantine’s
Chivas Regal
Cutty Sark
Dewar’s
Famous Grouse
Define blended scotch whiskey
blend of single grain and single malt scotches
What are the requirements to list the year of distillation on a bottle of scotch?
Year of distillation may not be included on the label unless the year of bottling, period of maturation, or the age (in years) of the whisky is also included
What is the difference between a wash still and a spirit still in scotch production?
Wash stills tend to be heated by a ‘pan’ heat (direct heat from coal or gas) due to them being easier to clean than wort burnt onto the underside of a steam coil. They’re also larger (first distillation)
Conversely spirit stills tend to be coil heated. (second)
What is the product of the first distillation in scotch production?
“Low wine” = distillation of the wash. Typically around 20-30% abv
Scotch aging requirements?
All Scotch whisky must be aged for a minimum 3 years in oak casks with a maximum capacity of 700 liters
may only be matured in a permitted warehouse in Scotland
Scotch export requirements?
Scotch whisky may not be exported in oak or wooden vessels (inoxidative containers are legally allowed)
Single malt Scotch whisky must be bottled in Scotland (from November 23, 2012, onward)
Name the 6 major islands making Scotch. Which are lumped together with Highland?
Islay
Arran
Orkney
Skye
Mull
Jura
Orkney, Skye, Mull and Jura are included in the Highland GI
List 3 Islay Scotches
Ardbeg
Bowmore
Bruichladdich
Bunnahabhain
Caol Ila
Kilchoman
Lagavulin
Laphroaig
Port Charlotte
List 3 Highland Scotches
Aberfeldy
Dalmore
Dalwhinnie
Glengoyne
Glenmorangie
Loch Lomond
Oban
List 3 Island Scotches and which island they come from
Talisker (Isle of Skye)
Highland Park (Orkney)
Scapa (Orkney)
Arran (Arran)
Isle of Jura (Jura)
Tobermorey (Mull)
Abhainn Dearg (aka Red River- Lewis)
How long can scotch be aged in barrel?
up to around 30 years- after that too much alcohol evaporates, lowering it below the minimum 40% abv
What are the name of the columns in a continuous still?
Rectifier
Analyser
List 3 Speyside Producers
Aberlour
Balvenie
Glen Grant
Glenfarclas
Glenlivet
Glenfiddich
Macallan
List 3 Lowland Scotches
Auchentoshan
Glenkinchie
Bladnoch
Ailsa Bay
Daftmill
List 3 Campbeltown Scotches
Glen Scotia
Glen Gyle
Springbank
What did the 1784 Wash Act do?
Drew the original border between the Highland and Lowland regions. Taxed Highland distilleries based on the size of their still, and taxed Lowland distilleries per gallon in the wash (which was higher)
Requirements for all Scotch Whisky (from 2009 regulation)
Must be produced in Scotland, must provide an indication of category on the bottle, must be distilled at least twice, min 40%, must be aged at least 3 years.
Categories of Scotch in 2009 Scotch Whisky Regulations
Single Malt (malted barley, pot still, single distillery)
Single Grain (can have unmalted barley, other grains, single distillery)
Blended Malt
Blended Grain
Blended Scotch (blend of malt and grain)
List 5 japanese whiskies
Nikka
Suntory
Yamazaki
Mars Shinshu
Hakushu
Akashi
Hibiki
List 3 Japanese Gins
Nikka (yuzu + sour citrus)
Suntory Roku (Sakura flower, sakura leaf, sencha tea, gyokuro, sanshō, yuzu peel)
Kyoza Shuzo (yuzu)
Describe the difference between Scotch and Irish whiskies, and the reason for the difference in styles
A division in style between Irish whiskey and Scotch can be traced, along with many of the more important developments in whiskey’s history, to anger over new taxes. England’s policy of taxing distilleries’ final product was driving distillation underground, so in 1725 the English enacted a tax on malting barley, a procedure that was more difficult to hide.
The Scottish responded by heating their barley at night—the origin of moonshine—and the Irish simply started using a large proportion of unmalted barley in their whiskies. Thus, Irish whiskey is typically lighter in character. And because the Irish do not rely on peat for their fires, the resulting whiskey is less smoky in character than Scotch
New Midleton Distillery - who owns it? Whiskies produced?
County Cork (est. 1975) – produces Jameson, Powers, Paddy, Midleton, Redbreast, and others, including the independently sold Green Spot. Owned by Pernod Ricard since 1988
List at least 5 Irish Whiskey Distillers
Bushmils - owned by Jose Cuervo
New Midleton - owned by Pernod Ricard
Cooley - owned by Beam Suntory
Teeling - majority owned by Bacardi
Tullamore - owned by William Grant & Sons
Cooley Distillery - who owns it? Whiskies produced?
County Louth (est. 1987) – when opened it was the only independent distillery in Ireland.[49] Along with its sister distillery in Kilbeggan, it produces the Connemara, Tyrconnell, Kilbeggan and 2Gingers whiskeys. It has been owned by Beam Suntory since 2011.
Teeling Distillery
Irish distiller, originally made by Cooley, the family split off when Cooley was sold in 2011. Owned by Bacardi since 2023
est 2015! the first new distillery built in Dublin city for over 125 years
What is Tennessee Whiskey?
According to state legislation passed in 2013, Tennessee whiskey must be filtered with maple charcoal prior to aging and manufactured in the state of Tennessee
It is a sour mash whiskey, a style used by many bourbon distillers, in which a portion of spent mash is incorporated into a newly fermenting mash.
Bourbon vs straight Bourbon?
Bourbon is made with a minimum of 51% corn, and aged in charred new oak casks.
Straight bourbon is bourbon that has been aged for at least two years and made without any added coloring or flavoring
What is rye whiskey?
Rye is made from a minimum 51% rye and aged in new charred oak barrels for a minimum of two years
What is corn whiskey?
Corn whiskey is produced from a minimum 80% corn, and may be unaged or aged in used or uncharred new barrels.
List 3 brands of blended scotch
Chivas
Johnnie Walker
Monkey Shoulder
Dewar’s
rye whiskey vs rye vodka?
rye whiskey is distilled just once, and only to the alcohol purity at which it will be sold. rye vodka is distilled to 95 percent purity and then cut with water.
What is an alligator char for Bourbon?
Must be aged in new, charred oak barrels - the longest char #4 - 55 seconds
what is Cornwyn?
Malt Wine - rye, malted barley, and maize
US Rye producers
Rittenhouse,
Old Overholt,
Sazerac,
Whistle Pig,
Templeton,
Bulleit
Bonded Whiskey
single distillery,
min. 100 proof,
min. 4 years barrel,
not taxed until sale “released from bond”
What is the highest proof that bourbon can enter the barrel?
125 proof
diluted with water to 125 proof or less before placed in new charred oak barrels
angel’s share may cause proof to increase further
What is the highest proof bourbon can be distilled to?
160 proof - 80% abv
(vs. 94.8% abv for scotch - 190 proof)
Age for bourbon must be on label if aged for less than:
4 years
describe Irish whiskey compared to scotch
grains are usually NOT peat-fired,
the pot-stills are larger,
also continuous stills are used creating softer, gentler feel,
also grains such as corn and wheat are often used in addition to malted barley
what is the style of lowland scotch?
light, soft, sweet
what is the style of cambeltown scotch?
lightly peaty, salty
what is the style of highland scotch?
light, spicy, refined - slightly smokey;
the islands (Jura, Skye) are the most peaty
what is a washback?
tall cylindrical vessel in which fermentation takes place. traditionally made from wood, now most are stainless
the sugary mash is poured into the washback, then yeast is added, and fermentation starts
what is ‘gravity’ in fermenting?
effect on alcohol yield?
refers to the amount of malt added in the wash. high gravity = more concentrated wash with less liquid to distill. low gravity has more water and less grain
alcohol yield per tonne of malt is reduced with high gravity fermentations, b/c wort becomes too strong for yeast to break down all the sugars
how long does fermentation take in scotch process?
60-75 hours is average, but can be as quick as 50, as long as 120 hours
the longer a fermentation is, the more flavor is generated, but not really more alcohol past 60 hours
what temperature does alcohol boil at?
water?
alcohol: 78.37 C/ 165 F
water: 100 C / 212 F
what is the abv of the wash in scotch?
7-8% after fermentation
sight glass- what is the point?
a window into the wash still in whiskey- allows the distiller to watch the frothing, which contains solids, which would be detrimental if they entered the condenser
frothing isn’t an issue in the second distillation, as the solids have all been removed, so spirits stills don’t have the sight glass
how long does first distillation take in single malt scotch?
4-6 hours
results in 20-30% abv, “low wine”
how long does second distillation take in single malt scotch?
generally around 6 hours
results in 70% abv ‘ new make spirit’ for malt whiskey
(grain whiskey comes out of the still at 95%)
distilleries using a third distillation in scotch?
Auchentoshen
Hazelburn
producers a lighter style, more congeners removed
compounds that vaporize first in scotch?
these are the most volatile, with the lowest boiling points- methanol, sulphur compounds, acetaldehyde- these vaporize first and are known as ‘foreshots’ / the head, which is directed toward a holding tank known as a Feints Receiver
what are the tails in distillation?
after the hearts, the heavy, oily, least volatile compounds emerge. they are known as the tails, or feints. these are not desirable, and are directed to the Feints Receiver to be stored with the heads
what is a spirits safe?
a glass and metal box that allows the flowing distillate to be viewed/ assessed by distiller with thermometers and hydrometers. helps make the decision when to make the cuts
what are congeners in distillation?
minor compounds other than ethanol, naturally formed during fermentation and aging processes of alcoholic beverages, contributing to their taste and aroma
small proportion of the heads and tails (foreshots and feints) that can give desirable flavors to the finished whiskey.
in the heads, congeners are light in character, giving green apple, pineapple, banana notes
in the tails, congeners are smoky /oily
what is reflux in distillation?
a term used when rising spirit vapours hit the nipped cooler sides of the neck of the still, condense, and run down the copper back into the kettle to vaporise again
this increases copper contact, but also increases the rectifying effect of the still, producing a lighter spirits
lamp-glass neck stills increase reflux
effect of height of still on style of spirit
tall stills have a larger copper surface area, and make it harder for the vapor to rise, promoting reflux. tall stills tend to producer lighter spirits
shorter stills produce heavier and richer spirits
effect of copper in distillation
copper reacts with sulphur in alcohol vapor to form harmless copper sulphate, which can be easily removed by filtration (green substance in spirit safes)
it also absorbs cyanides, carbonates, and acids. venting the still and exposing the copper to oxygen rejuvenates it
more exposure to copper = lighter spirit
types of oak used in scotch barrels?
two are common- american white oak (quercus alba) and European oak (Quercus robur)
American are from Bourbon production, and have charring
European casks are from port / sherry typically
what is a coffey still?
aka a continuous / column still
main styles of Irish whiskey?
Single Pot Still
Single Malt
Irish Grain
Blended Irish Whiskey
Irish whiskey - aging?
must age for 3 years in wood, in Ireland. doesn’t have to be oak, though ex-Bourbon casks are most common
how many times is Irish whiskey typically distilled?
3 times! produces a lighter and “smoother” spirit
strength of Irish whiskey after distillation?
typically 84-85% after 3 distillations
grain spirit is typically 94.4%
what is single pot still irish whiskey?
a mix of malted and unmalted barley (min 30% each), with up to 5% other grains
triple distilled in copper pot stills, at a single distillery
aged for 3 years in wood, in Ireland
what is single malt Irish whiskey?
made from 100% malted barley
from single distillery
aged for 3 years in wood, in Ireland
What is grain Irish whiskey?
produced from malted barley (not exceeding 30%) and includes whole unmalted cereals usually maize, wheat, or barley
must be made in column still
Irish whiskey - abv after distillation?
min abv at bottling?
max 94.8% after distillation
min 40% abv at bottling
Irish whiskey allowed additives?
water and plain caramel coloring
