Whisky/Whiskey Flashcards
Know the differences between Scotch, Irish, Japanese, Canadian and the various American styles of whiskey.
What raw materials must whiskey be made of?
Grains
This will almost always include barley, corn, or wheat but occasionally other grains are used
What are whiskies aged in?
Oak barrels
What is the process that grains need to go through in order for their starches to be converted to sugars?
Malting
What type of stills are used to produce whiskeys?
Both column and pot stills
True or False:
All whiskies are aged in oak
True
What processes happen after aging for whiskies?
Whiskeys are blended, colored and diluted to bottling strength
What abv are most whiskeys diluted to before bottling?
40% abv
New oak barrels must be used in the production of what?
All American whiskey styles, including Bourbon, Rye and other blended styles
True or False:
Older oak barrels impart a lot of color and intense flavors to whiskey.
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.
What are the goals when blending spirits?
Consistency and complexity
What is the easiest way to achieve complexity in a whiskey?
Blending whiskeys with different characteristics
What is one problem when trying to maintain consistency in spirits?
Color from oak-aged spirits can vary from one barrel to another
What is the coloring material used to achieve consistent coloring in spirits?
Caramel
How long must Scotch Whisky be aged?
A minimum of three years
What are the criteria for Single Malt Whiskies?
- Can only be a blend of whiskies from one distillery (single)
- Made in pot stills
- Made from 100% barley (malt)
What is the one flavor that is sometimes found in single malt whisky?
Smoke
Which comes from the burning of peat in the kilning process to dry the malted barley
Where does the smoke flavor in single malt whiskies come from?
Peat
Peat is burned in kilns at the end of the malting process. The smoke that is created interacts with and flavors the grains
What is the criteria for blended Scotch whiskies?
Blended Scotch whiskies are a blend of malt whiskies and grain whiskies from different distilleries
What is the number one US state for the production of Bourbon?
Kentucky
But it should be noted that Bourbon can legally be made anywhere in the US
What factors determine the style of a Bourbon?
- 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
How is Tennessee whiskey made differently than Bourbon?
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
Rye whiskey must be made of what percentage of rye grains?
51%
What types of distillates are most Irish whiskies made from?
A blend of pot and column stilled whiskies
What are the five countries best known for making whiskey?
- Scotland
- Ireland
- USA
- Canada
- Japan
What would be some key aroma/flavor characteristics of Bourbon?
Sweet corn, cereal, fruit, vanilla, and coconut
How do Irish whiskies typically differ to other whiskies, such as scotch?
Irish whisky is often lighter and smoother
What is the signature flavor of the best Canadian whiskies?
Rye
What are Japanese whiskies modeled after?
Single malt scotch
