Whisk(e)y

Question 1

Which grains are used in the production of Whiskey?

Answer 1

barley
corn
rye
wheat

Question 2

Explain the malting process.

Answer 2

the grains of barley is placed in a warm, damp room and as a result they start to grow.
As they grow, the “net” of tightly packed starch starts to unfold. When the are “fully” grown, now called green malt, the process of growing is stopped by heating the grains with hot air.

Question 3

Is it allowed to add bought-in enzymes if you’re only using rye, corn or wheat?

Answer 3

YES, but not in the production of Scotch Whisky.

Question 4

How are most of the Whiskey’s stored?

Answer 4

in oak barrels for several years.

Question 5

Which three whiskey have the most established reputation in the USA?

Answer 5

Bourbon
Tennessee whiskey
Rye whiskey

Question 6

Where is Bourbon produced?

Answer 6

Mostly in Kentucky, but allowed to be produced anywhere.

Question 7

Which grains are used when producing bourbon?

Answer 7

at least 51% corn, and then “small grains”, mostly rye.

Question 8

Which aromas do corn give a whiskey?

Answer 8

sweetcorn aromas

Question 9

which aromas do rye give a whiskey?

Answer 9

spicy, rye-bread aromas

Question 10

which aromas do wheat give a whiskey?

Answer 10

dough and bread aromas

Question 11

what’s a mash bill?

Answer 11

a blend of different grains.

Question 12

Which aromas do an american distiller want from the fermentation?

Answer 12

banana and citrus

Question 13

In what and to which strength are bourbon distilled?

Answer 13

mostly column stills and to a low strench, max. 80 abv

Question 14

In what are bourbon stored in?

Answer 14

Bourbon must be stored in new charred oak barrels.

Question 15

Are the distiller allowed to add anything when producing bourbon?

Answer 15

No, the distiller is not allowed to add either suger or caramel colour.

Question 16

Where is it allowed to produce Tennessee Whiskey?

Answer 16

Only in the state of Tennessee

Question 17

Which grains are you allowed to use in Tennessee Whiskey?

Answer 17

51% corn, and then “small grains”

Question 18

How’s Tennessee whiskey distilled and stored?

Answer 18

Tennessee whiskey is distilled in a column still, and then filtred through mapel-wood charcoal before matured in new charred oak-barrels

Question 19

What’s Lincoln Count Process? And what perks does it give?

Answer 19

It’s when you filter a newly made spirit though mapel-wood charcoal. It helps to soften and smooth the spirit.

Question 20

What is Rye whiskey and what character does it have?

Answer 20

It’s almost identical with bourbon, but instead of 51% corn, it’s made out of at least 51% rye.
Rye whiskey is characterised by these spicy, lemon zest, rye-bread aromas from rye, combined with the vanilla and sweet spice aromas of new oak.

Question 21

What does a straight bourbon or rye whiskey means?

Answer 21

That the whiskey has been matured at least 2 years in new oak.

Question 22

What does the label “small batch” means on a bourbon bottle?

Answer 22

Higher quality, a small blend from a small number of selected casks.

Question 23

How do you label an age statement on a bourbon bottle?

Answer 23

The age named on the bottle, is the age of the youngest spirit in the bottle

Question 24

What does a sour mash mean?

Answer 24

This indicates that the acidic residue in the base of the column still has been added back to the fermenter.

Question 25

What does Bottled in bond mean? BiB

Answer 25

That the spirit has been made in one disitillery one year, and aged for minimum 4 years in wood containers.
Nothing but water is allowed to add, and it must be at 50% abv when botteling

Question 26

Do you usually blend different grains when making whiskey in Canada?

Answer 26

Yes, but you process the grains individually before blending them.

Question 27

Which distillation is common in Canada?

Answer 27

Both, pot and column still

Question 28

Give an example of how they usually blend a whiskey in Canada?

Answer 28

A base whiskey, a high-strength, light-intensity, column spirit made from corn
with:
a pronounced, low-strength, “flavouring whiskey, typically made from rye.

Question 29

What criterias must a distillar follow to be able to call the whisky “a scottish whisky”?

Answer 29

-Must be distilled, matured and bottled in Scotland
-Matured in oak barrels at least three years
-Caramel colour may be added
-Adding suger is not okay

Question 30

What is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky?

Answer 30

A whisky made from only malted barley
Distilled using a pot still, double distilled
Made in just one distillery
Peat is common used

Question 31

What is peat?

Answer 31

dried, damp, partly decayed vegetation that is found in boggy areas.

Question 32

What do distillers use peat for?

Answer 32

To get a smoky aroma in the whiskey, they use the dried peat as fuel when rosting the malt. This will give the barley a smoky aroma.

Question 33

What difference does it make if you use a tall och a short pot still?

Answer 33

A taller pot still allows more reflux, more group 3 fractions are likely to become liquid and fall back into the still, which means that there are less fractions to give the spirit complexity and texture.

The other way around when using a short pot still.

Question 34

What kind of oak barrels do they use for Single Malt Scotch Whisky?

Answer 34

Almost always old oak barrels, either old barrels from the American whiskey industry or from the wine industry, Jerez and Port.

Question 35

What flavours does an old American whisky barrel give the Scotch whiskey?

Answer 35

Coconut, vanilla and spice

Question 36

What flavours does an old barrel from Jerez give the Scotch whiskey?

Answer 36

dried fruit and orange peel

Question 37

What does wood finishing mean?

Answer 37

When the whiskey is moved from one barrel to another for a relatively short period of time to add flavour and colour

Question 38

What’s a Blended Scotch Whisky?

Answer 38

It’s a blend of at least one Single Malt Scotch Whisky and a Single Grain Whisky.

Question 39

What’s a Single Grain Whisky?

Answer 39

The Single Grain Whisky is usually a blend of malted barley with either corn of wheat.
It’s distilled to a high strength and has a light flavour intensity.

Question 40

How long is the minimun aging time for a Blended Scotch Whisky?

Answer 40

three years

Question 41

Which five whisky regions do you have in Scotland?

Answer 41

Islay
Highland
Campbeltown
Spreyside
Lowland

Question 42

What kind of style do you get from an Irish Whiskey?

Answer 42

A wide range of styles.
Pot and column still.

Question 43

What’s the biggest difference between Irish and Scottish Whisky?

Answer 43

The Irish use a lot less use of peat.

Question 44

Which two pot- distilled whiskey’s do you find in Ireland and what’s the difference?

Answer 44

Irish Malt Whiskey: 100% malted barley
Irish Pot Still Whiskey: a mash bill of unmalted barley and other grains(mostly wheat). triple pot still distillation

Question 45

Which style of whisky do the Japanese copy?

Answer 45

Scotish