Whiskey Flashcards

1
Q

Scotch regions of production

A

Lowlands, Highlands, Speyside, Campletown, Islay, and the Islands: Orkney, Skye, Mull, Jura and Arran

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2
Q

Lowlands

A

Southern Scotlands, bordering England, includes the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Lighter malts w/ subtle aromas, often triple distilled, very little peatiness.

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3
Q

Lowlands producers

A

Only 3 today: Glenkinchie, Bladnoch, Auchentoshan

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4
Q

Highlands

A

Northern Scotland mainland, the largest region, can be further separated into Speyside, Eastern, Central & Southern, Western and Northern

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5
Q

Blended Scotch producers

A

Dewar’s, Cutty Sark, Chivas, Johnny Walker, J &B

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6
Q

Highlands producers

A

Oban (western), Dalwhinnie (central/southern), Glenmorangie (Northern), Dalmore (Northern)

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7
Q

Speyside

A

A former subzone of the Highlands on the mainland. The largest number of distilleries. Mild fruity flavor, elegant, balanced, round, finesse, peat is held back a bit

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8
Q

Speyside producers

A

Macallan, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich

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9
Q

Cambletown

A

Scotch region, covering the Kintyre peninsula on the mainland west side. Pre-prohibition Whiskey megacenter but only 2 producers remain today

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10
Q

Cambletown producers

A

Springbank (lightly peated style), Glen Scotia, and Glengyle

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11
Q

Islay

A

The most important of the Scotch Islands, on the westside. The most peaty, smoky style

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12
Q

Islay producers

A

Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig

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13
Q

The Scotland Islands

A

Orkney, Skye, Mull, Jura, Arran. Broadly speaking, peaty and smoky in style

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14
Q

The Scotland Islands producers

A

Highland Park (Orkney), Talisker (Syke), Tobermory (Mull), Isle of Jura (Jura)

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15
Q

Bourbon rules

A

Grain mixture of min 51% corn, aged in charred, new american oak barrels. May legally be produced anywhere in the US (but 95% of bourbon comes from Kentucky)

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16
Q

Straight bourbon

A

Min 2 years aging in oak, no added color of flavoring, If aged less than 4years, the age must be listed on the bottle.

17
Q

Tennessee Whiskey rules

A

Actually a bourbon. TN legislation passed in 2013: Must be made in the state of TN, min 51% corn, must be filtered with sugar maple charcoal prior to aging, aged in new, charred oak. 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 barrels

18
Q

American Rye Whiskey rules

A

min 51 % Rye, aged in new charred oak barrels for a minimum of two years

19
Q

American Corn Whiskey ruled

A

min 80% corn but may be unaged or aged in used or uncharred new barrels

20
Q

Bourbon Producers

A

Booker’s, Elijah Craig, Four Roses, Knob Creek, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey, Eagle Rare, Woodford Reserve

21
Q

Rye Producers

A

Sazeraz, Bulleit, Whistle Pig, Rittenhouse

22
Q

American blended Whiskey Rules

A

min 20% whiskey, blended w/ neutral, 95% grain spirit

23
Q

American blended Whiskey producers

A

Kessler, Seagram’s 7

24
Q

What is Scotch Whisky usually aged in used

A

Used bourbon or sherry casks fora more subtle interaction w/ oak. Wood finished styles are increasingly popular: A single malt may be transferred and age it’s final 2-3 yrs in Port, Sherry, Madeira, Burgundy, or Sauternes casks, resulting in a fruitier, softer style. Glenmorangie and Balvenie are pioneers of the style

25
Q

Why are coastal and Island Scotch distilleries typically of a more smoky style

A

Peat bogs are readily available on the coast/islands and a cheaper alternative to wood to malt the barley, but burning peat produces an oily smoke that imparts a distinctive and dominate smoky note to the malt

26
Q

Scotch Whisky rules

A

The 2009 Scotch Whisky Regulations established five legal categories of Scotch: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Blended Grain Scotch Whisky and Blended Scotch Whisky. All Scotch must list a category on the label, the term pure malt is banned. Must be made in Scotland, min twice distilled, min 3yrs aging, min 40% abv. Age indications on the label indicate the youngest whisky used in the blend

27
Q

How long are single malt scotch whiskys typically aged

A

legally 3 yrs, over at least 10 yrs is typical with some aged 25-30 yrs. Can’t really be aged must past that because evaporation would lead the whisky to fall below the required min. 40% abv after that amount of time

28
Q

Single Malt Scotch Whisky

A

The highest quality category of Scotch Whiskey. Must be made from 100% malted barley in a pot still from a single distillery bottled in Scotland. small portion of the market, 90% of Scotch is sold as blends

29
Q

Single Grain Scotch Whiskey

A

produced at a single distillery, from unmalted barley, wheat, and/or corn

30
Q

Blended Malt Scotch Whiskey

A

produced from a blend of malt whiskies from two or more distilleries

31
Q

Blended Grain Scotch Whiskey

A

produced from a blend of one or more grain types of whisky from two or more distilleries

32
Q

Blended Scotch Whiskey

A

produced from a blend of grain and malt whiskies from different distilleries

33
Q

How and and why do Irish and Scotch Whisky differ

A

Scotch Whisky is usually made from malted barley and often with distinct peaty notes, Irish Whiskey is not. England enacted a tax on malting barley in 1725. The Scottish reacted by simply hiding the process by malting at night (moonshine origin) and the Irish by using unmalted grain. Also, the Irish don’t use peat in the malting process

34
Q

Irish whiskey rules and tradition

A

Traditionally triple pot distilled, some use continuous still. min 3 yrs aging in oak casks, most are aged at least 7 yrs.

35
Q

Irish Whiskey producers

A

Old Bushmills, Cooley (Coonemara: a peated single malt), Midleton (Jamesone, Red Breast, Powers, Paddy)

36
Q

Japanese Whiskey producers

A

Suntory is the most famous producer making scotch style blended and single malt whiskies

37
Q

Canadian Whiskey rules and tradition

A

Less restrictive rules than US, Scotland or Ireland. min 3 yrs aging but cask type is not determined, pre-used bourbon is the norm. Generally blended often w/ a high % rye.

38
Q

Canadian Whiskey producers

A

Crown Royal, Hiram Walker & Sons (Canadian Club), Glenora (Scotch style single malts), Kittling Ridge Distillery (Forty Creek)