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WSET Level 2 in Spirits > Chapter 5 > Flashcards

Chapter 5 Flashcards

1
Q

What countries have an established reputation for premium whiskies?

A

The USA
Canada
Scotland
Ireland
Japan

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2
Q

What are the two things that all whiskies have in common?

A

They are made from grains
They are matured in oak

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3
Q

———— are seeds that are produced by a number of different species of grass.

A

Grains

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4
Q

What are the most important grains used to make whisky?

A

Barley
Corn
Wheat
Rye

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5
Q

Distillers are interested in the store of starch in each grain that needs to be converted into sugar. There are two techniques to convert starch into sugar. What are those?

A

Malting
Cooking

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6
Q

How is Barley used by distillers for the production of Whisky?

A

Typically malted

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7
Q

How are corn, wheat, and rye typically used by distillers?

A

They are cooked and then mixed with malted barley

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8
Q

The grains of barley are placed in a warm, damp room and as a result they start to grow. As they grow, the new plant releases chemicals called enzymes. After a few days the plant has done its job and the growth in the grain, now called green malt, is stopped by heating the grains. What is the name of this process?

A

Malting and the barley is called malted barley

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9
Q

Who will determine the type of still that should be used by whisky producers?

A

Local laws

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10
Q

When is peat aromas added to whisky?

A

When the green malt is heated

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11
Q

In Whisky making corn, wheat, and rye are not malted. The grains are crushed mixed with water and cooked at a high temperature. What is the outcome of this process?

A

The heat converts the starch into soluble form

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12
Q

Why do whisky distillers add some crushed malted barley to their crushed cooked grain liquid?

A

The enzymes in the malted barley convert all the starch that is present to sugar.

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13
Q

What does the liquid that is sent for fermentation and production of a spirit called?

A

Wort and it’s sugary

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14
Q

What is the goal of maturation in Whisky production?

A

To balance the oak flavors with those that come from grains.

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15
Q

In blending whiskies, a distiller may choose to use pronounced spirits, what are these called?

A

Flavouring spirits

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16
Q

What are the three different types of whiskies produced in the USA?

A

Bourbon
Tennessee
Rye whiskey

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17
Q

True or false?
Bourbon can be made anywhere in the USA, but the vast majority of production is located in the state of Kentucky.

A

True

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18
Q

What is the minimum amount of corn required for the production of Bourbon?

A

51%

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19
Q

What are the main characteristics of a spirit that is made with a minimum 51% corn?

A

Corn makes a relatively soft whiskey with sweetcorn aromas

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20
Q

Why do Bourbon distillers use flavouring grains?

A

To bring extra character to their whiskeys

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21
Q

What is the role of malted barley in whiskey production?

A

It’s enzymes are used for converting starches of other grains into sugar

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22
Q

What flavors does rye bring to bourbon?

A

Spicy notes and rye-bread aromas

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23
Q

What contribution does wheat make to Bourbon?

A

Wheat brings a soft and smooth texture

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24
Q

What does the combination of grains called in Bourbon production?

A

Mash bill

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25
What still is commonly used in Bourbon production?
Column still called beer still. It doesn’t have viewing windows.
26
What are the characteristics of a Bourbon spirit coming out of a still?
Bourbon by law is relatively low strength
27
What kind of cask should be used for bourbon maturation?
New charred-oak barrels
28
What flavor characteristics does a new charred oak barrel impart into a spirit?
A lot of intense aromas of vanilla, coconut, and sweet spice
29
The legal controls that require a high percentage of corn, low strength and the use of new charred oak means that Bourbon typically has…
Pronounced flavors and a warming and sometimes sharp texture
30
What makes a whiskey, a Tennessee whiskey?
Can only be made in Tennessee It must be made from 51% corn Filtered through maple-wood charcoal Then be matured in new charred-oak barrels
31
The law requires the newly made spirit for Tennessee whiskey should be filtered through maple-wood charcoal before going into barrel. What does this process called?
Lincoln County Process
32
What contribution does filtration make to Tennessee whiskey?
Softens and smooths the spirit
33
How is Rye whiskey made?
In an almost identical way to Bourbon except that 51% of the grains used must be rye
34
Rye whiskey is characterized by———-
a spice flavor/aroma particular to rye, lemon zest, rye bread
35
True or false Canadian whisky is dominated by blends.
True
36
What kind of whisky is this? Distillers typically produce their brands by blending a small amount of a pronounced whisky with a light-flavoring whisky normally made using corn and distilled to a high strength.
Canadian
37
The most commonly used flavouring whiskies used in Canadian Whisky are made from ———
Rye
38
What is a Canadian Rye Whisky/ Rye Whisky?
A Canadian whisky with Rye Flavouring in the final blend
39
Large Canadian whisky brands have a very soft character, why is that?
This is due to the high percentage of corn used
40
What are the two most important whiskies of Scotland?
Single Malt Scotch Blended Scotch
41
What are the requirements of Single Malt Scotch
Can only be made using malted barley Must be distilled using a pot still Most of them are double distilled Must be matured for a minimum of three years in oak barrels It’s a product of one distillery They are complex blends made from a mix of older and younger spirits
42
What is the main characteristics of a single malt whisky?
Barley gives a distinct flavor of malt and cereal
43
What is peat?
Damp, partly decayed vegetation that is cut from the ground. Once it is dried it can be burned to produce a very aromatic smoke
44
True or false Pot stills do not create flavours.
True
45
How does the shape of a pot still influence the style of the spirit?
The shape and the height of the still can influence the style of the spirit
46
How does a short pot still affect the flavor of a spirit?
Short pot stills create more pronounced aromas than taller ones, which produces a lighter style of spirit
47
True or false New oak is rarely used in Scotland
True
48
Where are the barrels for scotch whisky production come from?
The US bourbon industry Jerez in southern Spain where sherry is made
49
What flavor and aromas do sherry barrels bring to the spirit?
Dried fruit & orange peel
50
What is wood finishing?
A technique used in the production of malt whisky. This technique is used during the final stage of maturation. The finishing barrel will have previously contained a wine or a spirit and some of the previous contents will still be absorbed in to the staves of the barrel. This liquid in the stave will come out and add flavor and somethings color to the spirit.
51
What is a blended scotch whisky?
It is a blend of malt whisky and grain whisky
52
What is a grain whisky?
Made from a blend of grain whisky that is distilled to high strength in a column still and has a light flavor intensity
53
True or false Grain whiskies are rarely sold on their own.
True
54
What is the minimum age requirement for a blended scotch whisky?
3 years
55
True or false? The majority of Irish whiskeys are blends.
True
56
What still is used in the production of Irish whiskey?
Both pot still and column still/ but there are some pot-still malt whiskey
57
True or false? Irish whiskeys are lighter in style than Scotch and use of peat is rare.
True
58
What is special about Irish Pot Still whiskey?
They are triple distilled
59
What is a common feature of Irish whiskeys?
They are made with unmalted barley
60
What are the main aromas of unmalted whiskey?
Spicy Fruity With an oily texture
61
What style do Japanese distillers use for their whiskies?
Scotch
62
What kinds of stills do Japanese use in whisky production?
Grain whisky in column Malt whisky in pot still
63
What’s the difference between Scotch and Japanese whiskies?
Japanese style tend to be purer and do not have the same level of malty cereal flavor that are common in Scottish Whisky.
64
In Scotland and Canada the spelling is ———, in Ireland and the USA the spelling is ———.
Whisky Whiskey
65
What are the five whisky regions of Scotland?
Islay Highland Campbeltown Speyside Lowland
66
What does the appearance of a whisky region on a label tell the consumer?
That where the distillery located
67
True or false? The vast majority of whiskies produced on Islay have a distinct smoky aroma of peat.
True
68
When does chill-filtering happen?
Immediately prior to bottling
69
What is the effect of chill-filtering?
This technique stops a whisky becoming hazy but some believe it removes flavors and texture too.
70
What are the two most important states for whiskey production in the US?
Kentucky Tennessee
71
What does the word straight means on American Whiskeys?
Two years maturation
72
What are three conditions that make a whiskey a bourbon?
51% corn Distilled to no more than 80% abv (160 proof) Matured in new oak barrels
73
Why do distillers use the term small batch on their labels?
It’s an indicator of a higher quality product
74
True or false What constitutes a small batch is not legally defined.
True
75
What does straight on American Whiskeys mean?
Matured for at least 2 years No colour or flavour had been added.
76
What does straight rye mean?
Matured 2 years, no color or flavor has been added
77
True or false If a Bourbon is made using a whiskey that is less than four years old, an age statement must appear on the label.
True
78
What is proof?
This is a system used in the USA for expressing the alc content of a spirit. 2 proof = 1% abv 90 proof = 45% abv
79
A straight Bourbon that has been made and matured in the state of Tennessee that has gone through the charcoal filtration process.
Tennessee Whiskey
80
What producer is the biggest name in Tennessee whiskey production?
Jack Daniel’s
81
Describe Old No. 7 texture and aromas
Made using the Lincoln County Process It has a notably smooth texture With aromas of sweetcorn, vanilla, banana
82
What is the name of this production method: the acidic residue in the base of the column still has been added back to the fermenter
Sour mash

WSET Level 2 in Spirits (9 decks)

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