Systematic Approach To Tasting Flashcards
What are the raw materials aromas and flavors associated with malted barley?
Barley
Husk
Flour
Oatmeal
Porridge
Malt
What are the raw materials aromas and flavors associated with corn?
Butterscotch
Sweet corn
Corn Bread
Popcorn
Caramel
Burnt sugar
Toffee
Menthol
What are the three aroma/flavor categories that must be commented on when tasting a spirit? (Excluding neutral spirits)
- Raw Materials - from the sugary liquid
- Processing - Smoke, Esters, Heads, Tails
- Oak and maturation - oak & rancio
What are the options for textures of a spirit?
Rough, harsh, sharp (-)
Warming (+)
Smooth, silky (+ - may be from sugar)
Watery, thin (-)
Mouth-filling, full, oily (+)
Bitter
Astringent
What aromas/flavors are associated with oak?
Coconut
Vanilla
Spice
Char
cedar
Sawdust
Coffee
Sherry
Nuts
Toasted Bread
What are the raw materials aromas and flavors associated with agave?
Agave
Capsicum
Herbaceous
Olive
Peppercorn
Root Vegetable
(PROACH)
What are the raw materials aromas and flavors associated with Rye?
Rye Bread
Gingerbread
Peppercorn
Allspice
What are the raw materials aromas and flavors associated with Grape?
Grape
Fig
Prune
Raisin
Sultana
Citrus
Elderflower
Orange Blossom
Rose
Violet
Perfume
Lavendar
Lilac
Dried Flowers
What are the raw materials aromas and flavors associated with Sugar Cane?
Grass
Herbaceous
Caramel
Burnt Sugar
Toffee
Treacle
Molasses
What are the raw materials aromas and flavors associated with Botanicals?
Juniper
Root
Earthy
Citrus Peel
Cumin
Peppercorn
Cinnamon
Cloves
Ginger
Nutmeg
Aniseed
Fennel
Liquorice
Cardamom
Coriander
Basil
Rosemary
Thyme
Sage
Lemongrass
Mint
What are the processing aromas associated with smoke?
Peat
Smoked fish
Seaweed
iodine
Medicinal
Smoke
Char
Chared vegetables
What are ester aromas?
Apple
Pear
Pear drops
Banana
Pineapple
Melon
Mango
Floral
Nail varnish
What are heads aromas?
Pungent solvent
Vinegar
What are tails aromas?
Plastic
Cheese
Feet
Burnt rubber
What are rancio aromas?
Fruit cake
Candied fruits
Leather
Tobacco
Wet leaves
Mushroom
Forest floor
Meaty
Gravy
Yeast extract
Wood polish
What categories can you be tested on?
Agave spirit: tequila & mezcal
Gin: juniper style or contemporary
Caribbean rum: Wood age and non-wood aged
Grape brandy: Cognac or Armagnac
Scotch Whisky: Single Malt Scoth, Blended Scotch Whosky
American Whiskey: Bourbon, Rye Whiskey
What aromas are associated with American whiskey - raw materials, processing, and oak?
Whiskey - corn, esters, oak characteristics
May also be malted barley - cereal, malt, biscuit
Rye - spicy
Wheat - bread, doughy
Textural sharpness unless LCP
Esters - Banana (JD), fruit
Oak - new, charred oak
What are the raw materials, processing, and oak/aging aromas associated with rum?
Argricole (sugar cane juice) - grassy, herbaceous, vegetal
Sugar cane syrup and molasses - toffee, caramel, brown (burnt) sugar, treacle, molasses
Processing - overripe pineapple (duner), banana, melon, mango
Group1 - nail varnish, vinegar
Group 3 - plastic, feet, cheese
Oak and maturation - rancio aromas. Vanilla -usually not new oak
What are the raw materials, processing, and oak/aging aromas associated with Single Malt Scotch?
Malted barley: bran, husk, cereal, porridge, malt, flour, oatmeal, biscuit
Generally free of textural sharpness (No G1, G3)
Warm, round texture
Processing - may have peat; floral
Oak - vanilla, spice, cake, ex-Sherry barrels
What are the raw materials, processing, and oak/aging aromas associated with Blended Scotch Whisky?
Raw materials: malted barley, corn, wheat
-Light, delicate styles
Processing - may have peat; floral
Oak: delicate, vanilla, spice
What are the raw materials, processing, and oak/aging aromas associated with Rye whiskey?
Rye - allspice, gingerbread, peppercorn, rye bread
May also be malted barley - cereal, malt, biscuit;
Corn - corn and cooked sugar
Wheat - bread, dough
Textural sharpness unless LCP
Esters - fruity
Oak - new, charred oak
What are the raw materials, processing, and oak/aging aromas associated with Grape Brandies?
RM: Grape - fig, prune, raisin, sultana
Citrus, orange peel
Elderflower, lavender, lilac, rose, dried flowers
Perfume
Esters - fruity
Off-dry, smooth, potentially sharp (Armagnac), rich, mouth-filling
Oak, rancio
What are the characteristics of the beginning/entry?
Sharp | Soft & round
What are the characteristics of the middle/mid-palate?
Broad and expansive | Lean and focused | Waxy | Oily/mouth-coating | Mouth-filling | Thin
