Flavored Spirits and Liqueurs Flashcards
Understanding the various types of spirits where added flavors are key to their style.
What is the base typically used to make Spiced Rum?
Golden Rum that have been sweetened
How are flavored vodkas traditionally flavored?
Flavored vodkas are tradtionally flavored using honey, fruits, and spices added using maceration.
Bison grass is one of the best known aromatic herbs used to flavor vodka.
What is the only botanical that is legally required to be present in Gin?
Juniper
What are some examples of aniseed flavored spirits and where do they come from?
- Pastis and absinthe from France
- Ouzo from Greece
- Raki from Turkea
All are unaged
What process is traditionally used in spirits service and results in an opaque, cloudy suspension?
Louching
What is one of the most well known aniseed drinks in which a producer must use liquorice in addition to aniseed, fennel and star anise?
Pastis
It is normally yellow, green, or green-brown; this drink must be sweetened.
What spirit was banned for decades in the late nineteenth century?
Absinthe
It is noted for being bottled as a very high abv but when consumed as intended, it should be diluted to a strength similar to a glass of wine.
What are bitters?
Bitters are a neutral spirit with an obvious bitter taste from botanicals. They are flavored with aromatic botanicals and sugar to balance the bitter flavors.
Describe liqueurs.
Liqueurs are flavored spirits that have been sweetened. Artificial colors are used as they are often vivid colors. They have a lower abv compared to other spirits.
When using natural flavors to create spiced rums, why is the process of maceration used?
Maceration is used because redistillation would damage the aged rum and remove color.
What are the commonly used botanicals found in gin?
- coriander seeds
- citrus peel
- angelica root
- orris root
In the EU, gins must be made from what?
Neutral spirits
Once flavored, where are most gins stored?
Inert vessels
There is a trend to mature gins in oak giving them a pale yellow color and some flavor from the barrel.
What are the three ways to add botanical flavors to neutral spirits using redistillation?
- Neutral spirits are diluted and added to pot still with the botanicals to macerate.
- Botanicals are put in a basket in a tube that connects to the still to the condenser. This creates a much lighter style of gin.
- Distill some of the botanicals individually to create a much more pure flavor.
What chemical is extracted from a few plants to give aniseed flavored spirits their distinct flavor and where is this chemical found?
Anethole
It is found in aniseed, fennel and star anise.
