Vodka/Gin Flashcards
What is the best selling spirit in the US?
Vodka
What does vodka mean?
Derives from the Russian word for water.
Name five ingredients that vodka can be distilled from?
potatoes rye grapes beets molasses
What type of still is usually used for vodka?
How is traditionally filtered?
—The wash for vodka is usually distilled in a continuous still
—it is usually filtered with charcoal to make the spirit ultra-clean.
Why does Eastern European and Russian vodkas tend to have more character than Western European and American counterparts?
EU and the US mandate any spirit labeled vodka to be neutral in flavor
What is the minimum abv for vodka under EU law?
If the vodka is not made from potatoes or grain, what must happen under EU law?
37.5%
—EU producer must state the products used in fermentation on the label.
Name two quality Russain vodka producers
Stolichnaya and Ikon
Name two Polish vodka producers.
Chopin (potato vodka)
Belvedere
Name a french vodka producer.
How is this product distilled?
Grey goose; distilled in a pot still—is the bestselling premium vodka in the US.
Where is Tito’s Handmade Vodka from?
What is it made of?
What type of still?
made in a pot still from 100% corn in Texas.
Where is Ketel One from?
Where is Smirnoff from? Who owns it?
Ketel One is from Holland.
Smirnoff is of Russian origin, but hasn’t been produced in the country for almost a century. It is owned by Diageo.
How is Acquavit different from vodka?
Where is it from?
clear spirit made from fermented potato or grain and flavored with caraway root and other aromatics, is basically flavored vodka.
It is from Scandinavia.
What is the difference between Soju and Shochu?
Soju is from Korea
Shochu is from Japan
—both are distilled liquors traditionally made from rice and grains but now commonly produced from potato tapioca; very similar to unflavored vodka in character.
**Shochu is not filtered through charcoal.
What is Awamori?
An Okinawan style of shochu that is always distilled from long grain indica rice.
Name four styles of gin?
London Dry
Genever
Plymouth
Old Tom Gin
How is gin different from vodka?
How is gin produced?
Essentially gin is flavored vodka.
-to produce gin, a neutral grain spirit is flavored with a range of botanicals—juniper berries are the most important component—and redistilled.
What botanicals does London Dry Gin generally contain? (7)
Juniper berries Notibeable citrus and spice element, derived from: Orange/lemon peel Anise Cardamom Coriander Nutmeg Angelica root
Name five popular London Dry Gins.
Beefeater Tanqueray Bombay Sapphire Gordon’s Boodles
Where was gin developed?
Holland
How does Genever differ from London Dry Gin?
- Genever is produced in a pot still
- Genever is sweeter but less alcoholic than London Dry Gin.
- Juniper and malt are the dominant aromatics in Genever
- it may be aged in oak casks, taking on color and roundness from the wood.
How is Plymouth gin different from London Dry Gin?
Plymouth was revived in 1996 and is only produced by Plymouth, Coates, and Co. in England.
-It is fuller in body than London Dry Gin, and very aromatic. It is the proper gin for a Pink Gin cocktail
What is Old Tom Gin?
What two classic cocktails used Old Tom Gin?
Another English style rarely encountered today, is a lightly sweetened gin.
Tom Collins and the Martinez.
What do the terms “oude”, “jonge” and “Corenwyn” deal with?
“Oude” (old) is the traditional style Genever recipe incorporates a minimum 15% “malt wine”: a distillate of corn, rye and wheat.
“Jonge” (young) is a cleaner, more neutral Genever with less malt wine.
Corenwyn (“corn wine”) is a cask-aged version in which malt wine comprises at least 51% of the distillate.
What are most modern gins grouped under in style?
London Dry, no longer an indication of geographical origin, employs a wide proprietary blend of botanical flavorings, and can therefore be subtly or startlingly distinct in character.
–Generally contains a noticeable citrus and spice element, derived from orange and lemon peel, anise, cardamom, coriander, nutmeg, angelica root, and other aromatic substances.
