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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) > Spirits: Whisk(e)y > Flashcards

Spirits: Whisk(e)y Flashcards

Learn the major types of stills and their differences, process of distillation, the countries where whiskey is made, and the raw materials used.

1
Q

What are some raw materials that spirits can be made from?

A
  • Grains + cereals
  • Fruits
  • Plants
  • Vegetables
  • Fruits + their pits
  • Sugar cane + its derivatives
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2
Q

What are some common grains + cereals that can be made into spirits?

A
  • Barley
  • Wheat
  • Corn
  • Rice
  • Rye
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3
Q

What are some fruits that can be made into spirits?

A
  • Cherries
  • Apricots
  • Apples
  • Pears
  • Grapes
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4
Q

For grain + cereal-based spirits, such as Bourbon or Scotch, what has to happen first in order for them to be distilled?

A

The grains + cereals have to have their starches converted into sugars so the yeasts can ferment the sugars out.

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5
Q

High levels of natural sugars already exist in fruits and plants, so do they have to have their sugars converted first, too, like cereals or grains?

A

No! Sugar levels are already so high in fruits and plants that their sugars can be directly fermented into alcohol – just add yeast!

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6
Q

If you think about it, making beer and making a grain-based spirit share similar first steps (germinating the grain to convert the starches into sugars, kilning it to make a malt, then brewing it).

So why would you basically take a beer-like liquid and distill it?

A

To remove impurities and the diluting parts of the beverage (water) to acquire and concentrate the true character of the grain or cereral.

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7
Q

What are the boiling points of alcohol and water?

Which one is higher?

A

Water’s BP = 212ºF (100ºC)

Alcohol’s BP = 173ºF (78ºC)

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8
Q

Go through the general steps of making a spirit.

A
  1. Make your alcoholic liquid
  2. Bring it to a boil
  3. As the water boils, the alcohol evaporates (because alcohol boils at a lower temp than water)
  4. Those alcoholic vapors rise up the distillation still and are captured by a condenser
  5. The vapors collect and are cooled
  6. Bingo! New distillate / spirit
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9
Q

What are the 2 types of stills used in making spirits?

A
  1. Pot still
  2. Continuous still
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10
Q

Features + functions of a pot still:

  1. Are they used for fast or slow distillations?
  2. What spirit style is typically made in a pot still?
  3. Are they used for small or large scale production?
  4. Are flavors of primary ingredient retained or lost?
A

Pot stills:

  1. Usually slower distillations
  2. Used for rich, wooded spirits e.g. Cognac + Scotch
  3. Small scale production
  4. Aim to retain the flavors of primary ingredient
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11
Q

Features + functions of a continuous still:

  1. Are they used for fast or slow distillations?
  2. What spirit style is typically made in a continuous still?
  3. Are they used for small or large scale production?
  4. Are flavors of primary ingredient retained or lost?
A

Continuous still:

  1. Faster distillation than a pot still
  2. Best for neutral spirits such as vodka and many bourbons
  3. Best for large scale production
  4. Aim is to remove flavor + impurities
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12
Q

Regardless of what type of still was used to make a spirit, what color is a spirit when it comes out of a still?

A

Clear

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13
Q

Name some clear spirits that are bottled as soon as they come out of the still.

A
  • Vodka
  • Gin
  • Blanco tequila
  • Light / white / silver rums
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14
Q

How is color added to new spirits?

A
  • Aged in oak
  • Colored with caramel
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15
Q

What does aging in oak do to a clear spirit?

A
  • Changes the color
  • Changes the flavor + texture
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16
Q

What helps determine the depth of color, flavor, and texture of a spirit aged in oak?

A
  • Char of the barrels
  • Size of the barrels
  • How long the spirit remained in the oak
17
Q

The spirits most often aged in oak include:

A
  • Brandies
  • Cognac
  • Whiskies
18
Q

All whiskies are made from _____.

A

Grains

19
Q

Name 5 different types of whiskey.

A
  1. Scotch whisky (no ‘e’)
  2. Irish whiskey
  3. Canadian whiskey
  4. Bourbon whiskey
  5. Tennessee whiskey
20
Q

What ingredients can be used to make Canadian whiskey?

What is its minimum aging requirement?

A
  • Made from corn, wheat, rye, or barley
  • Must be aged minimum 3 years
21
Q

What ingredients can be used to make Irish whiskey?

What is its minimum aging requirement?

A
  • Made from barley grown in Ireland
  • Must be aged minimum 3 years in barrel
22
Q

Why is Irish whiskey lighter in style than other whiskies?

A

A portion of the barley is unmalted, achieving a lighter style.

23
Q

What are the rules around making Bourbon?

A
  • Must be made in the United States (most made in Kentucky)
  • Must be minimum 51% corn
  • Must be aged in brand new, charred, American white oak barrels
24
Q

What are the rules around making Tennessee whiskey?

A
  • Must be made in TN
  • Must be minimum 51% corn
  • Must be filtered through charcoal made from the Tennessee sugar maple tree
25
Q

Where does a Scotch whisky have to come from in order to be called Scotch?

A

Anywhere on the Scottish mainland or any of its surrounding islands.

26
Q

What is the traditional fuel used to make Scotch whisky?

A

Peat

Peat is an organic material that looks like soil, but it’s made up of decomposed plants and vegetation matter. Peat comes from wet areas with acidic conditions, like bogs or mires, and it’s used as fuel or in gardening because of its high mineral content.

27
Q

The dominant flavor of Scotch comes from what?

A

The kilning of the malted barley (the more you kiln it, the deeper the flavor – much like in beer!)

28
Q

What aromas + flavors does the peat add to Scotch?

A

Smoky notes from the peat fire

29
Q

Certain regions in Scotland are known for their Scotches to be heavily peated while other regions are known to be lightly peated.

Name a region known for its heavy-peated Scotch and one for its light-peated Scotch.

A
  • Heavy peat = Islay (EYE-luh), Speyside
  • Light peat = Lowlands
30
Q

What are the rules around making a Single Malt Scotch Whisky?

A
  • Distilled from 100% malted barley
  • Made in a pot still
  • Made at one, single distillery
  • Bottled in Scotland
31
Q

What is a Blended Scotch Whisky?

A

One that’s made from a blend of Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Single Grain Scotch Whisky, usually from different distilleries

32
Q

Name the 5 major areas in Scotland that produce Scotch whisky.

A
  1. Orkney Islands
  2. Isle of Skye
  3. Speyside
  4. Isle of Islay
  5. Lowlands

Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) (40 decks)

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