Whisk(e)y Flashcards
What is Whiskey?
The distilled product of fermented grains
Where does the term Whiskey come from?
Gaelic work Uisgebeatha meaning water of life
What was the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 in response to?
The 1791 excise tax on whiskey
Who distilled Kentucky’s first Bourbon Whiskey? When?
Rev. Elijah Craig
1789
Requirements for Bourbon?
51% Corn
Aged in Charred new oak
bottled at min. 40% abv
What is straight bourbon?
aged at least 2 years, no coloring or flavoring added
If there is no age designation on a bottle that is not “straight” bourbon, how old would it be?
More than 4 years, otherwise age must be listed
Where may Bourbon be produced? Where is 95% of Bourbon produced?
- Anywhere in US
- 95% produced in Kentucky (home of Bourbon County)
Requirements for Tennessee Whiskey?
-Must be manufactured in state of Tennessee
-Must be filtered with maple charcoal prior to aging
-51% corn minimum
-aged in new charred oak
-sour mash
(as of 2013)
Who made Tennessee Whiskey popular?
Jack Daniel’s, George Dickel
What is sour mash?
Portion of spent mash is incorporated into newly fermenting mash to maintain pH
What is Rye whiskey?
- minimum 51% rye
- aged in new charred oak minimum 2 years
Two popular Rye Whiskey producers
Sazerac
Rittenhouse
What is corn whiskey?
Made from min. 80% corn
-may be aged or unaged in used or uncharred new barrels
What is Wheated Bourbon?
Bourbon where the rest of mash bill beyond corn is wheat, not rye
What does it mean if Bourbon is “bottled in bond”?
100 proof
made in a single distillation season by a single distiller
What is barrel proof Bourbon?
Undiluted
What is one big difference between Scotch Whisky and American Whiskey?
Scotch Whisky relies on used casks for more subtle wood influence
What type of used barrels are typically used in Scotch production?
Used Bourbon and Sherry casks
What contributes to the dominant character trait of Scotch?
Malted barley for fermentation and heat source to do this
Why was peat used as a source of combustable material near the coast of Scotland?
Forested lands in Scotland concentrated near the center, coast of wood burning prohibitively expensive near coast
What regulation established the five legal categories of Scotch
2009 Scotch Whisky Regulations
What are the five legal categories of Scotch?
Single Malt Single Grain Blended Malt Blended Grain Blended
What is Single Malt Scotch Whisky?
- distilled from malted barley
- pot still
- single distillery
- must be bottled in Scotlad (since 2012)
What is Single Grain Scotch Whisky?
- distilled from malted barley and some amount of malted or unmalted barley, wheat or corn
- single distillery
- generally aged at least 10 years, some 25-30
What is Blended Malt Scotch Whisky?
- blend of two or more single malt Scotch whiskies
- from different distilleries
What is Blended Grain Scotch Whisky?
- blend of two or more single grain Scotch whiskies
- from different distilleries
What is Blended Scotch Whisky?
-blend of one or more single malt Scotch whiskies with one or more single grain Scotch whiskies
Legal requirements for Scotch Whisky?
- must be produced in Scotland
- distilled twice or more
- aged minimum 3 years
- must contain water and some percent malted barley
- must be at least 40% abv (limits aging because “angel’s share” evaporation will weaken it)
Six regions of production in Scotland
- Highland
- Lowland
- Speyside
- Islay
- Campbeltown
- The Islands*
*not recognized by SWA (Scotch Whisky Association) as distinct region
Highland Scotch Distilleries
- Oban
- Glenmorangie
- Dalwhinnie* (also Speyside)
- Dalmore
Lowland Scotch Qualities and Distilleries
Lowland Scotch is often the lightest and least smokey
-Glenkinchie
-Auchentoshan
-Bladnoch
5 in total
Speyside Scotch Qualities and Distilleries
Speyside Scotch is generally milder and fruity
- (former subzone of Highlands)
- home of most distilleries
- water from the River Spey
- Balvenie
- Dalwhinnie* (also Highlands)
- Glenlivet
- Glenfiddich
- Glenfarclas
- the Macallan
What distillery is located in both Speyside and Highlands? How do they refer to their own whisky?
Dahlwhinnie
-They refer to their own as Highlands
Campbeltown Scotch Qualities and Distilleries
Only three distilleries now, once flourished
- Glen Scotia
- Glengyle
- Springbank
Islay Qualities and Distilieries
Most peaty, smoky style of Scotch
- Ardbeg
- Lagavulin
- Laphroaig
Island Qualities and Distilleries
Pronounced peatiness and toasted seaweed
Highland Park - Isle of Orkney
Talisker - Isle of Skye
The Scotch-producing Islands of (excluding Islay)
Skye Jura Mull Arran Orkney
Name two Scotch distilleries pioneering a wood-finished style
Describe the style
Glenmorangie
Balvenie
- transfer to different cask for last 2-3 years of aging
- crafts softer, fruitier style
Who has been distilling whiskey longer than anyone else?
The Irish
What were the only three active distilleries in Ireland in the last 2000s?
Old Bushmills
Cooley
New Midleton (makes Jameson)
What led to the division in style between Irish Whiskey and Scotch?
1725 English tax on malting barley
- Scottish heated barley at night (moonshine)
- Irish started using unmalted barley
Who makes Jameson?
New Midleton, owned by Pernod Ricard
Irish whiskeys made by New Midleton?
- Jameson
- Tullamore Dew
- Powers
- Redbreast
- Green Spot
- Yellow Spot
What Irish Whiskey is made in the style of Scotch?
Peat-fired Single Malt Connemara
-produced by Cooley
How is Irish Whiskey traditionally distilled and aged?
-3x in pot still
(-many today in continuous still)
-aged minimum 3 years before release (most age 7)
What grain is Canadian Whiskey typically high in?
Rye
- generally blended
- aged 3 years before sale
What style is Japanese closest to?
Scotch
What is Japan’s most famous producer?
- Suntory
- blended and single malt whiskies
