WHISKEY Flashcards
What is Whiskey?
Whiskey (“Whisky” is the preferred spelling for Scotch) is the distilled product of fermented grains, including unmalted and malted barley, maize, rye, oats, and wheat.
The word is whiskey is derived from?
he Gaelic uisgebeatha (“water of life”) and legend attributes the introduction of distillation in Ireland to St. Patrick in the 5th century—a milestone still voraciously celebrated annually. The first written proof of whisky production in Scotland dates to 1494, and whiskey followed colonists to America
What is the Whiskey Rebellion?
a 1791 excise tax on whiskey led the infant nation to its first major test of federalist power. The new tax was levied on the production, rather than the sale, of whiskey, and promoted civil disobedience amongst smaller distillers, particularly on the western frontier. Many refused to pay. The so-called Whiskey Boys harassed taxmen, and protest led to violence and to insurrection. The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 led to George Washington’s invocation of martial law, as he raised an army of over 10,000 men to suppress the whisky protestors. While a confrontation never materialized—and the hated tax was repealed anyway—the first true test of the United States as a federalist union culminated over the distillation of whiskey.
What was an unintended consequence of the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794?
As an unintended consequence of the Whiskey Rebellion, small whiskey producers moved further out of the reach of the federal government and into Native American territory. In areas of Indiana and Kentucky, proper water for whiskey production was found, and the Rev. Elijah Craig distilled Kentucky’s first whiskey in 1789
Describe the style of whiskey pioneered by Elijah Craig.
The style pioneered by Elijah Craig became known as Bourbon Whiskey, and today must be distilled from a minimum 51% corn. Bourbon Whiskey is aged in charred new oak casks
When can Bourbon whiskey be labeled “straight” Bourbon?
If the whiskey is aged for at least two years and made without any added coloring or flavoring, it may be labeled as “straight” Bourbon. If aged for less than four years, the distiller must also state the length of aging on the bottle
What percentage of Bourbon Whiskey is produced in Kentucky?
Although Bourbon County is located in Kentucky and over 95% of Bourbon Whiskey is produced in the state, it may legally be produced anywhere in the US
Describe the Tennessee style of bourbon?
One style of Bourbon, made famous by Jack Daniel’s and George Dickel, is actually produced in Tennessee. According to state legislation passed in 2013, Tennessee whiskey must be filtered with maple charcoal prior to aging and manufactured in the state of Tennessee. Like Kentucky Bourbon it is made from at least 51% corn and aged in new, charred oak barrels. It is a sour mash whiskey, a style utilized by many Bourbon distillers, in which a portion of spent mash is incorporated into a newly fermenting mash
Describe Rye Whiskey
Other American whiskies include Rye Whiskey, distilled from a minimum 51% rye and aged in new charred oak barrels for a minimum of two years. Rye Whiskies, such as Sazerac and Rittenhouse, are more bitter and powerful than Bourbon.
Describe Corn Whiskey
Corn Whiskey is produced from a minimum 80% corn, and may be unaged or aged in used or uncharred new barrels.
