Vodka/Other Neutral Spirits Flashcards

1
Q

Which countries have GI status from the EU for their Vodka?

A

Poland
Estonia
Sweden
Finland
Lithuania
Norway

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2
Q

What is the base material for Ciroc?

A

Grapes

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3
Q

What are some desirable congeners in modern vodka?

A

Ethyl Laurate
Ethyl myristate
Ethyl palmitate

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4
Q

Describe the flavor/character associated with ethyl myristate and ethyl palmitate.

A

It provides a waxy flavor and character.

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5
Q

What does ethyl laurate contribute to vodka?

A

Fruity and floral aromas.

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6
Q

How is vodka made from wheat or barley characterized?

A

Highly acidic and lighter in body.

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7
Q

How is vodka made from rye or rye blends characterized?

A

Spicier character, more robust in flavor.

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8
Q

How is vodka made from potatoes characterized?

A

Full bodied, creamier on the palate.

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9
Q

How is vodka made from corn characterized?

A

Delicate

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10
Q

What are some representative brands of rye vodka?

A

Belvedere (Poland)
Potocki (Poland)
Wyborowa (Poland)
Zytnia (Poland)

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11
Q

What are some representative brands of wheat vodka?

A

Absolut (Sweden)
Grey Goose (France)
Ketel One (The Netherlands)
Sputnik (Russia)
Russian Standard (Russia)

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12
Q

What are some brands of vodka made from barley?

A

Finlandia (Finland)
Koskenkorva (Finland)

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13
Q

What are some representative brands of vodka made from corn?

A

Smirnoff (USA, various)
Tito’s (USA)

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14
Q

What are some brands that used mixed grain for producing vodka?

A

Charbay (USA)
Iceberg (Canada)
Ikon (Russia)
Jewel of Russia (Russia)
Polstar (Iceland)
Skyy (USA)
Stoli (Latvia, various)

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15
Q

What are some brands of Potato Vodka?

A

Chopin (Poland)
Monopolowa (Austria)
Teton Glacier (USA)

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16
Q

What is an example of a blended vodka?

A

Ultimat (Poland)

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17
Q

What is Pertsovka?

A

A Russian term for vodka flavored with red chili pepper. Traditionally would have included honey.

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18
Q

What is Zubrówka?

A

A Polish vodka flavored with bison grass.

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19
Q

What is Okhotnichya?

A

Also known as hunter’s vodka, a Russian vodka flavored with a blend of spiced, including ginger, citrus peel, black and red pepper, cloves, anise, and tormentil (a bitter herb). Traditionally blended with some kind of fortified white wine.

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20
Q

What is tormentil?

A

A bitter herb used in the Russian vodka Okhotnichya (Hunter’s Vodka).

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21
Q

What is Kubanskaya?

A

A Russian vodka flavored with dried lemon and orange peel, sometimes honey.

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22
Q

What is Starka?

A

A Polish or Lithuanian vodka aged in oak and often flavored with spices and herbs. Associated with birth of child and aged till wedding. Means old woman - refers to aging process.

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23
Q

What is Krupnik?

A

A Polish vodka flavored with clover honey and herbs. Also traditional to Lithuania, known as Krupnikas.

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24
Q

What is the most common base ingredient used in Swedish vodka?

A

Winter wheat.

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25
Q

What are the most often used base ingredients in Polish vodka?

A

Rye or potatoes.

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26
Q

In the US, what minimum proof is required for bottling of vodka?

A

80

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27
Q

In the EU, what is the minimum bottling proof for vodka?

A

75

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28
Q

In the EU, what is the required distillation proof for vodka?

A

192

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29
Q

In the US, what is the minimum distillation proof for vodka?

A

190

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30
Q

What is the minimum bottling proof for vodka in the EU?

A

75

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31
Q

What is the minimum bottling proof for flavored vodkas in the US?

A

60

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32
Q

What is the minimum bottling proof for flavored vodkas in the EU?

A

75 (Same as unflavored).

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33
Q

What is considered to be the original base ingredient used in vodka?

A

Grain

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34
Q

What is the first brand of vodka to be produced in the US?

A

Smirnoff

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35
Q

What was the first brand of vodka to be imported into the US from Russia?

A

Stolichnaya

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36
Q

What is the required distillation proof for vodka in the EU?

A

192

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37
Q

Why do vodka producers used demineralized or ionized water during vodka production?

A

To reduce unwanted flavors in the finished product.

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38
Q

In what country is Belvedere vodka produced?

A

Poland

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39
Q

In what country is Grey Goose vodka produced?

A

France

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40
Q

In what country is Ketel One vodka produced?

A

Netherlands

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41
Q

In what country is Absolut vodka produced?

A

Sweden

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42
Q

In what country is Skyy vodka produced?

A

USA

43
Q

In what country is Ikon vodka produced?

A

Russia

44
Q

In what country is Zytnia vodka produced?

A

Poland

45
Q

In what country is Iceberg vodka produced?

A

Canada

46
Q

In what country is Monoplowa vodka produced?

A

Austria

47
Q

In what country is Ciroc vodka produced?

A

France

48
Q

In what country is Ultimat vodka produced?

A

Poland

49
Q

In what country is Wyborowa vodka produced?

A

Poland

50
Q

In what country is Potoki vodka produced?

A

Poland

51
Q

In what country is Charbay vodka produced?

A

USA

52
Q

In what country is Sputnik vodka produced?

A

Russia

53
Q

In what country is Polstar vodka produced?

A

Iceland

54
Q

In what country is Koskenkorva vodka produced?

A

Finland

55
Q

What is the maximum amount of sugar that may be added to vodka in the US?

A

2 grams per liter

56
Q

Up to what amount of sugar may be added to vodka in the EU?

A

8 grams per liter

57
Q

What is Jinro?

A

The most widely distributed brand of Soju

58
Q

What is the typical alcohol content of Soju?

A

Varies widely - 16-45% ABV

59
Q

What are some base ingredients in modern Soju?

A

Rice, barley, wheat, tapioca, potatoes, sweet potatoes.

60
Q

What is Soju?

A

A Korean distilled vodka-like spirit traditionally produced from rice, now made from other ingredients as well.

61
Q

What is Kasutori Shōchū?

A

Shōchū produced using the lees leftover from the production of sake.

62
Q

What is Soba Shōchū?

A

Shōchū made from buckwheat.

63
Q

What is Moromitori Shōchū?

A

The most common single distilled version of Shōchū named for the two stage fermentation that produces the mash for distillation.

64
Q

What base products are used for Shōchū?

A

Barley, buckwheat, rice, sweet potatoes. Sometimes molasses or sugar.

65
Q

At what ABV are Shōchūs typically bottled?

A

Single distilled - 25%
Multiple distillations - May be closer to 35%

66
Q

What is Kōji?

A

A mold used to make Japanese spirits that induces saccharization.

67
Q

What is Shōchū?

A

A Japanese neutral spirit. Means “burned liquor”.

68
Q

What is Wuliangye?

A

A Chinese neutral spirit. Also known as “5 grain drink”.

69
Q

Where is Wuliangye from?

A

China, the Sichuan Province.

70
Q

What is Luzhou Laojiao?

A

A clear grain spirit produced in the Sichuan province. Complex with unique aromas.

71
Q

Where does Luzhou Laojiao get its unique aromas?

A

From the yellow clay cellars where the mash is stored until used.

72
Q

What is Erguotou?

A

A baijiu bottled under the name Red Star. A favorite of the working class. Often associated with Beijing.

73
Q

What is Moutai?

A

A Chinese neutral spirit (baijiu) made from Sorghum and wheat qu. Favorite of Mao Zedong, served at dinner Nixon attended.

74
Q

What is Baijiu made from?

A

Typically sorghum, with some variations using wheat, barley, millet, glutinous rice, or other starchy grains.

75
Q

What percentage of spirits sold world-wide is baijiu?

A

Almost one-third.

76
Q

At what ABV is Baijiu typically bottled?

A

Between 40-60%

77
Q

What is Baijiu?

A

A traditional Chinese neutral spirit. Loosely translated to clear liquor or white liquor

78
Q

What is Spirytus Rektyfikowa?

A

A rectified spirit from Poland made from grain and/or potatoes. Commonly used for home liqueurs but sometimes consumed undiluted. Bottled at 96% ABV.

79
Q

What is Primaspirit?

A

A German neutral spirit bottled at 95.6& ABV. Sold primarily for use in homemade liqueurs. Sometimes called Neutralalkohol.

80
Q

What are some marketed high-proofed neutral spirits?

A

Everclear (US)
Primaspirit (Germany)
Spirytus Rektyfikowany (Poland)

81
Q

What is the typical ABV of neutral spirits?

A

Around 95%

82
Q

What are some names for neutral spirits made for use in other final products?

A

New Make Spirit
Rectified Spirit
Eau-de-Vie.

83
Q

Who is Rudolph Kunett?

A

A former Russian who purchased the rights to produce vodka using the Smirnoff formula.

84
Q

What tradition is Starka associated with?

A

From the fifteenth century in Poland/Lithuania - Upon the birth of a child, the father fills an oak vat previously holding wine with vodka, it is then sealed and buried to be unearthed at the child’s wedding. Starka means both aging process and old woman.

85
Q

What are some cocktails made from vodka?

A

Cosmopolitan
Black Russian
Screwdriver
Apple Martini
Lemon Drop Martini
Espresso Martini
Vodka Martini

86
Q

What was the vodka martini originally known as?

A

Kangaroo or Kangaroo Cocktail

87
Q

What is the best selling brand of vodka in the world?

A

Smirnoff.

88
Q

What is the second best selling brand of vodka in the world?

A

Absolut.

89
Q

When was the modern incarnation of Absolut first launched?

A

1979.

90
Q

Who currently owns Absolut vodka?

A

Pernod-Ricard

91
Q

In what region of France is Grey Goose bottled?

A

Cognac.

92
Q

What spirit did the creator of Grey Goose turn into a sensation prior to creating Grey Goose?

A

Jägermeister.

93
Q

What did Sidney Frank do to make Grey Goose a best seller?

A

He priced it double the price of the imported brand Absolut, and submitted it to the tasting instituted that named it the best tasting in the world.

94
Q

Who currently owns Grey Goose?

A

Bacardi.

95
Q

What is Russian Standard?

A

A Russian wheat based vodka introduced in 1998. It is the best selling vodka in Russia.

96
Q

What is Samogon?

A

The Russian version of moonshine. It means “self-distilled”. Made from any materials around, and after distillation is a neutral spirit. It was then infused with herbs and spices.

97
Q

When was Smirnoff first distilled in the US?

A

1933.

98
Q

When and how was the Moscow Mule created?

A

In the early 1940s, an executive for Smirnoff and Jack Morgan (owner of the Cock ‘n’ Bull in LA who made their own brand of ginger beer, combined the two beverages.

99
Q

Who owns Smirnoff now?

A

Diageo.

100
Q

What is Starka?

A

A barrel aged vodka, originally made in eastern Europe (primarily Poland Lithuania, and Russia) now produced mainly in Poland and the US.

101
Q

What was the Soviet Union’s primary spirits export from the 1950s until the Union’s collapse in 1991?

A

Stolichnaya.

102
Q

When did Stolichnaya begin selling vodka in the US?

A

1972.

103
Q

Who acquired the rights to sell Stolichnaya in the US in 1972?

A

PepsiCo.

104
Q

Which two countries claim to have invented vodka?

A

Poland and Russia.