Whiskey Basics Flashcards
Do you know your way around a whiskey shelf? Start enjoying one of the finer pleasures of the Western liquor tradition and embark on the discovery of a lifetime.
What is the difference between “whisky” and “whiskey”?
- Canada, Scotland, and Japan spell it “whisky”
- The United States and Ireland spell it “whiskey”
Where did the word “whiskey” originate?
From the Irish Gaelic uisce beatha or Scottish Gaelic uisge beatha, meaning “water of life”
What does “malting” liquor mean?
Malting is a process whereby grains are soaked in water to begin germination, but then removed and either dried or heated to prevent further germination.
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Malt whiskey
- Made from malted barley
- Distilled in an onion-shaped pot still
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Grain whiskey
- Made from malted and unmalted barley
- Uses other grains in addition to barley
- Distilled in a Coffey still
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Vatted malt whiskey
A blend of malt whiskies from various distilleries
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Single malt whiskey
- Malt whiskey from one distillery
- Usually from several casks and years
- Meant for the taster to get a well-rounded taste of the distillery
- Commonly named after the distillery
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Blended whiskey
- Made from a combination of malt and grain whiskies
- Usually a blend of whiskies from many distilleries
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Cask strength whiskey
- Rare
- Bottled from a single cask
- Undiluted by water
How is the age of a whiskey determined?
The age of a whiskey is the amount of time spent in the cask before bottling.
What are the 6 types of American whiskey?
- Bourbon
- Rye
- Wheat
- Corn
- Tennessee
- Blended
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Bourbon
- Mostly produced in Kentucky
- Must be made in the USA
- Must contain at least 51% corn
- Must be stored for at least two years in new, charred oak casks
- Cannot be distilled to more than 80% alcohol by volume
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Bourbon
- Jim Beam
- Buffalo Trace
- Van Winkle
- Maker’s Mark
- Woodford Reserve
- Wild Turkey
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Tennessee whiskey
- Must be produced in Tennessee
- Always filtered with sugar-maple charcoal
- Takes 10 days to filter
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Tennessee whiskey
- Jack Daniel’s
- George Dickel Whiskey
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Rye whiskey
- Usually blended with other whiskies to add character
- Must be at least 51% rye
- Distilled at less than 80% alcohol by volume
- Stored in new charred oak casks for at least two years
- Made in Indiana and Kentucky
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Rye whiskey
- Wild Turkey Straight Rye Whiskey
- Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey
- Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year
- Sazerac Rye Whiskey 18 year
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Corn whiskey
- Must be at least 80% corn
- Does not have to be aged in wood
- Has to be aged in either un-charred or used bourbon barrels
- One of the harshest, cheapest whiskey types
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Corn whiskey
- Bush Pilot’s
- Shine On Georgia Moon
What are the four whiskey types common in Ireland?
- single malt
- single grain
- pure pot still
- blended
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Irish whiskey
- Uses barley as a main distilling ingredient
- A mix of malted and unmalted grains
- Contains grains distilled in a Coffey still
- Distilled three times
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Irish whiskey blends
- Black Bush
- Jameson
- Bushmills Original
- Inishowen
- Locke’s Blend
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Irish pure pot still whiskeys
- Green Spot
- Jameson 15 Year Old Pot Still
- Redbreast
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Irish single malt whiskeys
- Bushmills (10, 16, and 21 Years)
- Connemara Peated Malt (Regular, Cask Strength, and 12 Years)
- Locke’s Single Malt (8 Year)
- Tyrconnell
What is a popular brand of the following type of whiskey?
Irish single grain whiskeys
Greenore (8 and 10 Years)
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Scotch whiskey
- Must be distilled and matured in Scotland
- Must mature in barrels not exceeding a 700 liter maximum
- Must contain no additives other than water and spirit caramel to preserve the color
- Must be distilled at less than 94.8% alcohol by volume
What are the 5 types of Scotch whiskey?
- blended
- single grain
- single malt
- single cask malt
- vatted malt
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Blended Scotch whisky
- The majority of Scotch sold worldwide is blended
- Averages about 80% grain and 20% malts
- Can have up to 20 different malts in one whisky
- Each blend has its own distinguished taste
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Single grain Scotch whisky
- Made from the whisky of one distillery
- Contains unmalted barley, corn/wheat, water, and malted barley
- Rare
What smells and flavors should you detect in the following whiskey?
Single malt scotch
- peat
- smoky
- hints of oak
- citrus
- hints of maple sugar and tea
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Single cask scotch whisky
- Bottled from one cask
- Very rare
- Sometimes bottled without water dilution
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Vatted malt scotch
- Made exclusively from malted barley
- Contains several malt whiskies
- Never contains any grain whisky
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
American whiskey
- Made from a grain mash
- Distilled at 90% or less alcohol by volume
- Bottled at 40% or more alcohol by volume
What smells and flavors should you detect in the following whiskey?
Bourbon
- fruity
- sweet
- peppery
- nutty
- woody
What smells and flavors should you detect in the following whiskey?
Tennessee whiskey
- smoky flavor
- woody
- fruity overtones
- rich, sweet smell
- licorice aroma
What smells and flavors should you detect in the following whiskey?
Rye whiskey
- molasses and hickory aroma
- vanilla
- spiced rum
- charred oak
- honey
- toffee
What smells and flavors should you detect in the following whiskey?
Corn whiskey
- No “good” corn whiskey exists
- Very harsh initial aroma
- Reminiscent of moonshine
- Light corn taste
What are the defining characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Sour mash
- A process of distillation
- When a previously fermented mash (grain, water, and malt) is added to provoke the fermentation of a new mash
- This mash hybridization is used to manipulate the level of flavor-altering bacteria
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Sour mash
- Jack Daniel’s
- Jim Beam
- Knob Creek
- Maker’s Mark
- Old Crow
- Old Fitzgerald
- Wild Turkey
What smells and flavors should you detect in the following whiskey?
Blended scotch
- smoky
- flavorful
- creamy
- hint of dried fruit
- cedar
- leather
- peat
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Blended scotch
- Chivas Regal 12 Year Old
- Johnnie Walker Gold
- White Horse 12 Year Old
- The Famous Grouse Finest
- Cutty Sark Original
What smells and flavors should you detect in the following whiskey?
Single grain scotch
- citrus
- notes of cut grass
- woody bitterness
- coconut aroma
- peppery
- hints of chocolate
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Single grain scotch
- Black Barrel
- Cameron Bridge
- Carsebridge 45 Year Old
- Compass Box Hedonism
- Invergordon 42 Year Old
- Loch Lomond Organic
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Single malt scotch
- Aberlour
- Balvenie
- Glenfiddich
- Glenkinchie
- Glenlivet
- Glenmorangie
- Laphroaig
- Talisker
What smells and flavors should you detect in the following whiskey?
Vatted malt scotch
- pungent
- oaky
- peppery
- gentle smokiness
- sweet
What are some popular brands of the following type of whiskey?
Vatted malt scotch
- Auld Reekie
- Blaimhor
- Glencoe
- Hankey Bannister
- Johnnie Walker Green Label
- Monkey Shoulder
- Old Elgin
In which regions of Scotland is whisky produced?
- Islay
- Lowlands
- Speyside
- Highlands
- Campbeltown
- Islands
Where is Islay located in Scotland?
Islay is an island west of the Scottish mainland.
What distinguishes Islay whisky?
- smoky
- peaty
- salty
- tangy
Where are Lowlands in Scotland?
southernmost part
What distinguishes Lowlands whisky?
- not very salty
- flavorful
- spicy
- not peaty
- smooth
Where is Speyside in Scotland?
northern
What distinguishes Speyside whisky?
- rich flavor
- sweet
- not peaty
- hint of carnations
- reminiscent of cream soda
Where are the Highlands in Scotland?
northernmost part
What distinguishes Highlands whisky?
- very smoky
- spicy
- fruity
- have a dry finish
Where is Campbeltown in Scotland?
in the southern peninsula
What distinguishes Campbeltown whisky?
- nutty
- crisp
- creamy
- salty
- peaty
- buttery
Where are the Islands in Scotland?
north of mainland Scotland
What distinguishes Islands whisky?
- marine flavors
- peaty
- smoky
- milder version of Islay whiskies
What is “peat” in whisky production?
- Dead vegetation like moss, soil, and grass that has been compacted over thousands of years
- Burned to heat up barley to stop germination during malting
- Produces strong smoky flavor in whisky
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Aberlour Scotch
- Made in a Sherry cask
- Sweet, smooth, and rich, without smoke
- Dessert Scotch
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Balvenie Scotch
- single malt
- single cask
- rich and smooth
- honey taste
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Edradour Scotch
- Single malt
- Sherry cask
- Tastes like sugared almonds
- Smooth, creamy, and light
- Hint of smokiness
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Glenfiddich Scotch
- single malt
- fragrant
- tastes like pear and oak
What are the types (colors of label) of Johnnie Walker whiskies in order of quality?
- Red Label (lowest)
- Black Label
- Gold Label
- Green Label
- Blue Label (highest)
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Johnnie Walker Red Label
- Rich, full-bodied blend
- According to the Johnnie Walker website, it is a “combination of spicy, smoky malts and lingering, lighter grains”
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Johnnie Walker Black Label
- Blended with over 40 whiskies
- Has a fruity, earthy, creamy, vanilla taste
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Johnnie Walker Green Label
- Fresh and distinctive blend of single-malt whiskies
- Pepper, oak, and fruit flavors
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Johnnie Walker Blue Label
- Most exclusive Johnny Walker blend
- Each bottle is individually numbered
- Aromatic and smokey
- Tastes like honey, rose petals, sandalwood, and chocolate
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Johnnie Walker Gold Label
- A blend of rare, aged malts from Scotland’s best distilleries
- Rich, creamy, honey taste
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Dalwhinnie Scotch
- Single malt
- Water used in distilling Dalwhinnie is from an exclusive source which lies at a 2,000-foot elevation that no other distillery can use
- Sweet, clean, malty, and smokey taste
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Chivas Regal Scotch
- A blend of single malt and grain whiskies
- Rich, smooth, multifaceted, and displays harmony between flavors
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Clynelish Scotch
- single malt
- crisp, salty, seaweed flavor
- traces of pungent smokines
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Glenkinchie Scotch
- distilled in an Amontillado cask
- sweetly dry
- light and spicy
- sherry-like finish
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Oban Scotch
- distilled in a Montilla cask
- smooth and bold
- zesty
- fruity and sweet
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Cragganmore Scotch
- spicy
- smoky
- complex, yet clean
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Talisker Scotch
- unique and powerful character
- spicy
- peppery
- peaty
- smooth and smokey
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Caol Ila Scotch
- subtle peaty taste
- robust
- sweet
- smoky
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the following type of whiskey?
Lagavulin Scotch
- dense
- complex and powerful
- Scotland’s smokiest malt
- peaty
