Whiskey Basics (American, Canadian, Scotch, Irish) Flashcards
What is whiskey?
spirit made from fermented grain mash
Which grains are used in whiskey production?
barely, corn, rye, wheat
Whiskey is usually aged in…
charred white oak casks
The spelling “whiskey” is used in…
Ireland and the USA, otherwise it’s “whisky”
Whiskey must be at least what percentage alcohol?
40% or 80 proof
American whiskey may not be more than what percentage alcohol?
80% or 160 proof
American whiskey may only be finished with…
water, no additional flavor or color
American whiskey is aged in…
new charred oak (except for corn)
The only American whiskey that doesn’t need to be aged?
corn
American corn whiskey is sometimes marketed as
moonshine
Canadian whisky is usually comprised of…
multi grain blend, mostly corn
Irish whiskey is usually smoother than Scotch which is more…
smokey, earthy
Scotch is usually more smokey and earthy than Irish whiskey which is more…
smooth
The earthiness and smokiness of scotch comes from…
peating
What is blended malt whiskey?
a blend of single malt whiskeys from different distilleries
What is blended whiskey?
a blend of whiskeys from different distilleries
Bourbon whiskey is at least…
51% corn
What determines the age of whiskey?
aging time BEFORE bottling
Corn whiskey is at least…
80% corn
Grain (or light) whiskey is at least…
80% one type of grain
Malt whiskey is at least…
51% malted barley
Rye whiskey is at least…
51% rye (malted rye is at least 51% malted rye)
What makes single cask whiskey special?
It comes from one, usually numbered cask, distinctive flavor each time.
Single malt whiskey is…
malted whiskey from one particular distillery, but blended from different casks
