Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Mezcal, Rum Flashcards
Where can vodka be made?
What region in the world is traditionally associated with vodka?
- Vodka can be made anywhere in the world
- Traditionally associated with Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland)
In Eastern Europe, what are the traditional ingredients used to make vodka?
- potatoes
- cereal grains
besides potatoes and cereal grains, what else can be used to make vodka?
literally anything – if you can ferment it, you can make vodka out of it
what vessel(s) are used to distill vodka, and is there a minimum number of times it must be distilled
- 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 becomes
how long is vodka aged?
It’s not aged!
- vodka is meant to be unnamed, clear, and neutral
- a handful of examples of barrel-aged vodkas exist today, but they are the exception
from where does gin originate?
Where can gin be made today?
some of the world’s best examples of gin are made where?
- 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
what product is gin traditionally distilled from?
cereal grains - just like vodka
what is the dominant flavouring agent in gin?
juniper berries
what are some other ingredients used to flavor gin?
- citrus peel
- anise
- angelica root
- orris root
- licorice root
- cinnamon
- cassia bark
- various herbs
how do those botanical flavourings gets into the gin?
- a neutral, base alcohol made from grain
- the selected ingredients are macerated with the base alcohol
- then it’s distilled again (usually a few times)
is there a minimum ageing requirements for gin?
No! Most gins are like vodkas in that they are meant to be unnamed and clear.
However, a handful of barrel-aged gins exist in today’s market
what are the key differences between gin and vodka?
- 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 flavours.
- Gin can also be made pretty much anywhere from anything, but gin has distinctive juniper and herbaceous aromas and flavours. Certain gins must come from certain places, such as Plymouth gin which must be made in Plymouth, England.
Tequila is a protected appellation in which state in Mexico?
Jalisco
What plant must Tequila be made from? And which part of the plant?
- Blue agave plant (Agave tequila)
- fermented juice from the cooked piña / heart of the plant.
The heart of the plant is called ‘piña’. because it’s shaped like a pineapple
in what still can Tequila be made?
Which stil is it traditionally made in?
Either a pot still or a continuous till, but the pot still is traditional
when is blanco / silver tequila bottled?
immediately after distillation
when is the ageing requirement for Reposado Tequila?
must be aged at least 60 days and up to 1 year in oak barrels
what is the ageing requirement of Añejo Tequila?
must be aged 1-3 years in oak barrels
in which state in Mexico is the Mezcal appellation a protected one?
Oaxaca
But there are other states where Mezcal can be made; it’s just not a protected name in these other places
what is Mezcal distilled from?
fermented agave
what are 2 key differences between tequila and mezcal?
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 its smoky notes from)
Which still(s) are used to make Mezcal?
Either a pot still or a continuous still, though a pot still is used for traditional Mezcal.
in which style is Mezcal traditionally made?
- blanco
- reposado
- añejo
Blanco, though some examples of barrel-aged Mezcal exist in today’s market
where did rum originate?
The Caribbean islands
- spread across Central + South America from there
- now can be made anywhere in the world
what products can rum made from?
- fermented sugarcane juice
- molasses (which is one of the byproducts when making sugar from sugarcane)
Styles of rum depend not only on the products it’s distilled from, but what type of … is used in production?
still
- continuous still = more neutral style rum
- pot still = expressive, full of character
when are light rums generally bottled?
immediately after distillation
some light rums do spend a short time in oak, which give them color. how is the colour removed from these rums to they are clear again?
They’re filtered, usually through charcoal
how do dark rums get their colour?
they’re aged for an extended period of time in oak barrels
