Whisky/Whiskey

Question 1

What raw materials must whiskey be made of?

Answer 1

Grains

This will almost always include barley, corn, or wheat but occasionally other grains are used

Question 2

What are whiskies aged in?

Answer 2

Oak barrels

Question 3

What is the process that grains need to go through in order for their starches to be converted to sugars?

Answer 3

Malting

Question 4

What type of stills are used to produce whiskeys?

Answer 4

Both column and pot stills

Question 5

True or False:

All whiskies are aged in oak

Answer 5

True

Question 6

What processes happen after aging for whiskies?

Answer 6

Whiskeys are blended, colored and diluted to bottling strength

Question 7

What abv are most whiskeys diluted to before bottling?

Answer 7

40% abv

Question 8

New oak barrels must be used in the production of what?

Answer 8

All American whiskey styles, including Bourbon, Rye and other blended styles

Question 9

True or False:

Older oak barrels impart a lot of color and intense flavors to whiskey.

Answer 9

False

Old oak barrels impart less flavor and color.

They are widely used in the production of Scotch whiskey.

New oak barrels, commonly used for American whiskey, will impart lots of color and flavor.

Question 10

What are the goals when blending spirits?

Answer 10

Consistency and complexity

Question 11

What is the easiest way to achieve complexity in a whiskey?

Answer 11

Blending whiskeys with different characteristics

Question 12

What is one problem when trying to maintain consistency in spirits?

Answer 12

Color from oak-aged spirits can vary from one barrel to another

Question 13

What is the coloring material used to achieve consistent coloring in spirits?

Answer 13

Caramel

Question 14

How long must Scotch Whisky be aged?

Answer 14

A minimum of three years

Question 15

What are the criteria for Single Malt Whiskies?

Answer 15

• Can only be a blend of whiskies from one distillery (single)
• Made in pot stills
• Made from 100% barley (malt)

Question 16

What is the one flavor that is sometimes found in single malt whisky?

Answer 16

Smoke

Which comes from the burning of peat in the kilning process to dry the malted barley

Question 17

Where does the smoke flavor in single malt whiskies come from?

Answer 17

Peat

Peat is burned in kilns at the end of the malting process. The smoke that is created interacts with and flavors the grains

Question 18

What is the criteria for blended Scotch whiskies?

Answer 18

Blended Scotch whiskies are a blend of malt whiskies and grain whiskies from different distilleries

Question 19

What is the number one US state for the production of Bourbon?

Answer 19

Kentucky

But it should be noted that Bourbon can legally be made anywhere in the US

Question 20

What factors determine the style of a Bourbon?

Answer 20

• 51% Or more of the grain used must be corn
• The maximum permitted strength is relatively low
• It has to be aged in new oak barrels

Question 21

How is Tennessee whiskey made differently than Bourbon?

Answer 21

It must be passed through a maple charcoal filter before going into oak barrels

This is called the Lincoln County process, and it removes some impurities and creates a smoother product

Question 22

Rye whiskey must be made of what percentage of rye grains?

Answer 22

51%

Question 23

What types of distillates are most Irish whiskies made from?

Answer 23

A blend of pot and column stilled whiskies

Question 24

What are the five countries best known for making whiskey?

Answer 24

• Scotland
• Ireland
• USA
• Canada
• Japan

Question 25

What would be some key aroma/flavor characteristics of Bourbon?

Answer 25

Sweet corn, cereal, fruit, vanilla, and coconut

Question 26

How do Irish whiskies typically differ to other whiskies, such as scotch?

Answer 26

Irish whisky is often lighter and smoother

Question 27

What is the signature flavor of the best Canadian whiskies?

Answer 27

Rye

Question 28

What are Japanese whiskies modeled after?

Answer 28

Single malt scotch