Distilling Knowledge Scotch Irish and Japanese Whiskies Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Distilling Knowledge Scotch Irish and Japanese Whiskies Deck (56)
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1
Q

How is malting started?

A

Artificially creating the ideal levels of moisture and temperature

2
Q

When do distillers introduce peat flavours?

A

When all the starch has been modified and the green malt is moved to the kiln.

3
Q

How long does it take peat to form?

A

10 years for 1cm of peat to accumulate

4
Q

What are some aromas of peat?

A

These are phenolic compounds with scents of seaweed smoke and tar.

5
Q

What is ‘grist’?

A

Soluble starch must be dissolved in water and converted into fermentable sugar. This is done by milling the malted barley into a coarse flour

6
Q

What is the ideal water temperature for grist?

A

63-64C

7
Q

What is the purpose of a mash tun?

A

Grist is mixed with hot water reactivating the enzymes that carry out out sugar conversion

8
Q

What happens once conversion is completed?

A

The ‘wort’ is drawn off the bottom of the mash tun cooled and pumped ti a fermenter called a ‘washback’

9
Q

What part can mashing play in the creation of flavor?

A

Solids can be pulled into the washback creating a cloudy wort that produces a spirit with a greater malty, cereal character than a whisky made from a clear wort

10
Q

How long does fermentation last and how strong is the finished product?

A

Fermentation is usually completed within 48 hours and yields a ‘wash’ between 7-10abv

11
Q

What distillation method is used for Scotch?

A

Double distilled in a pot still First product is called low-wines 21-28%abv Second around 70% The heads and tails are distilled with the next batch of low wines Some distillers will use a triple distillation

12
Q

What do cut points affect in Scotch production?

A

Early cut - lighter flavored spirit If peat is a key flavor this character comes from congeners of low boiling points

13
Q

How do Bourbon barrels influence Scotch?

A

Made from Q. alba these are heavily charred. They add vanilla coconut pine cherry and spice

14
Q

What do Sherry barrels add to scotch?

A

these are known as ‘butts’ these are seasoned not charred and add dried fruit christmas cake, clove, resin and orange peel

15
Q

What is the law regarding Scotch maturation?

A

3 years in Scotland for with a max 700liter only water or caramel added for coloring

16
Q

What is wood finishing?

A

Moving an aged whisky into a barrel from a different source for a relatively short time prior to bottling

17
Q

What does it mean when you see a location on the label Scotch bottle?

A

The bottle was distilled there

18
Q

Describe the style of Islay and name 2 producers

A

Flavor most closely linked to peat

Ardbeg

Laphroaig

Lagavulin

19
Q

Describe the style of Highland and name 2 producers

A

Ranged from Peated - Highland Park

Rich and Heavy - Dalmore

Light citric - Glenmorangie

20
Q

Describe the style of Speyside and name 2 producers

A

Lighter - Glenfiddich and Glenlivet

Rich Fruity- Balvenie and The Macallan

21
Q

Describe the style of Lowland

A

Light only 3 producers

Auchentoshan

Daftmill

Glenkinchie

22
Q

Describe the style of Campbeltown?

A

Rich and heavy also only 3 producers

Glengyle

Glen Scotia

Springbank

23
Q

What are the two main differences between grain whisky and malt whisky?

A

Grain whisky is made from a mix of malted barley and other grains. It is distilled in a continuous still.

24
Q

What happens to most grain whisky production?

A

Used in the creation of Blended Scotch Whisky

25
Q

What is a ‘mashbill’?

A

This is a recipe of percentages of grains including wheat and corn with malted barley added for its enzymes

26
Q

How is the starch hydrolysed in wheat and corn?

A

It is cooked in a pressure cooker at high temperatures average 144°C

27
Q

Why is malted barley added to grain whisky?

A

The enzymes convert all of the starches in the wort to sugar

28
Q

Name 3 blended whiskies and describe their style

A

Johnnie Walker - Note of peat from Islay

Chivas - Lighter Speyside

Cutty Sark - post-Prohibition style and light

29
Q

Who are the 4 distilleries of Irish whiskey?

A

Bushmills (owned by Diagio but now Jose Cuervo)

Cooley

Kilbeggan (Owned by Pernod-Ricard)

Midleton (makes Jameson)

30
Q

What is the IDL?

A

Irish Distillers Ltd (Midleton and Old Bushmills until 2005)

31
Q

What is the signature of Irish whiskey?

A

Use of unmalted barley in the mashbill of the pot-still spirits

32
Q

What is the range of unmalted barley used in the IDL?

A

20-60% on the mashbill

33
Q

What is the distillation method used in Midleton?

A

Triple distillation First is the wash 22-50% Next this is redistilled in the feints still to 50-78% (split into head hearts and tails) Finally heads and tails redistilled ‘weak feints’ with low wine while heart (strong feints) is sent to the spirit still

34
Q

What parts does a midleton column still consist of

A

Rectifying colum Hydroselector column Final Rectifying Column

35
Q

What is the wood policy at the IDL

A

late 1970s involves greater use of first fill European oak casks and first fill American oak. Some new oak used for Jameson Gold Reserve

36
Q

What style does Bushmills produce?

A

Only malt whiskeys. Wash from 100% malted barley triple distilled to 84% following the Midleton template

37
Q

Describe the 10 stills at bushmills

A

Slender necks - encourage reflux Produce a spirit that is delicate fruity and floral

38
Q

What is the aging regime at bushmills?

A

Former bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey barels along with bespoke Oloroso Sherry casks

39
Q

What is used in the production of Bushmills Original and Black Bush blended whiskey?

A

Grain whiskeys supplied by Midleton

40
Q

What stills does Cooley have?

A

Two pot stills and a two-column continuous still

41
Q

How is Cooley different from other distilleries?

A

Their pot still whiskies are double pot distilled and one of their malt whiskey barnds uses peated malt. The column still produces grain whiskey for Ireland’s only single grain whiskey made from corn.

42
Q

What other distillery does Cooley run?

A

Kilbeggan (formerly Brisalt and Lockes distillery)

43
Q

Who was the first person to distill in Japan?

A

Masataka Taketsuru (apprenticed at Hazelburn in Scotland)

44
Q

What was the first distillery in Japan

A

Suntory Yamazaki

45
Q

What flavor does Japanese oak impart

A

Intense incense like perfume

46
Q

What is the market of Japanese whisky?

A

Blend dominated

47
Q

When was the first whisky distilled in Japan

A

1923

48
Q

Where does Japan get their barley?

A

Imported from Scotland as is peat should they require it

49
Q

What is a staple of Japanese whisky?

A

They use a clear wort and do not exchange whiskies. All flavor components must come from their own estates

50
Q

What are the 5 categories of Scotch?

A

1) Single Malt Scotch Whisky
2) Single Grain Scotch Whisky
3) Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
4) Blended Grain Scotch Whisky
5) Blended Scotch Whisky

51
Q

What is Single Malt Scotch Whisky

A

distilled at a single distillery in a pot still, in one or more batches, from water and malted barley

52
Q

What is Single Grain Scotch Whisky

A

any Scotch Whisky distilled at a single distillery that does not qualify as either Single Malt Whisky or Blended Scotch Whisky

53
Q

What is Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

A

blend of two or more Single Malt Scotch Whiskies that have been produced at more than one distillery (“pure malt” is no longer legally authorized as a synonym for blended malt)

54
Q

What is Blended Grain Scotch Whisky

A

blend of two or more Single Grain Scotch Whiskies that have been produced at more than one distillery

55
Q

What is Blended Scotch Whisky

A

blend of one or more Single Malt Whiskies with one or more Single Grain Whiskies

56
Q

Name 3 whisky products of the IDL?

A

Jameson

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