Whiskey Flashcards by Matthew Stevens

Bourbon whiskey requirements

Made in the USA
produced from fermented mash of min 51% corn
distilled at abv max 160 proof
stored at max 125 proof in charred new oak

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rye whiskey requirements

min 51% rye mash
distilled at abv max 160 proof
max 125 proof in charred new oak

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corn whiskey requirements

mash must be min 80% corn
distilled at abv max 160 proof
no requirement for oak

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“straight” meaning

aged for at least two years in barrel

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Scotch whisky must be aged in oak for a minimum of..

3 years

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5 step production procedure for whiskey

mash/wort preparation
fermentation
distillation
maturation
blending and bottling

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4 primary grains for whiskey production

barley
corn
rye
wheat

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saccharification

the conversion of a starch to fermentable sugars

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malting

allowing the grain to sprout

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what happens when a grain sprouts

speicific enzymes are released that convert the grain’s starch to sugar

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most widely used whiskey grain

barley

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How is the malting stage begun?

barley or other grain is soaked in water - causing grain to sprout

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What is a kiln

an oven

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what happens after malting

kilning - the malt is dried and roasted in a kiln (oven)

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what happens after kilning

milling - the kilned malt is screened and grounded into grist

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what happens after milling

mashing - the ground malt is mixed with hot water - the hot water fully activates the enzymes that convert starch into sugar

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What is “washing”

Process used in Scotland and Ireland - post mashing - the sugary liquid is washed from the malt and drained off. this liquid is known as the mash or wort.

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What is a “mash” in the US?

sugary liquid and ground grain mixture

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why is water a critical component of whiskey production?

water must be iron free, or the whiskey will become black-tinged
hard vs soft water affects final flavor

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“cask-strength” and “barrel-proof bottling” meaning

no water is added to the whiskey before bottling

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the 5 categories of Scotch whisky

Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Blended Grain Scotch Whisky
Blended Scotch Whisky

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Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distilled at a single distillery by batch distillation in a pot still
Solely made with malted barley
Must be bottled in Scotland

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Single Grain Scotch Whisky

Distilled at a single distillery
Produced from other malted or unmalted grains (typ. wheat or corn) + malted barley

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t/f: Single Grain Scotch Whiskey means that the Scotch was made from a single type of grain, eg, wheat

False - single refers to the use of a single distillery

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Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

blend of two or more single malt single malt Scotch whiskies that have been produced at more than one distillery

Blended Grain Scotch Whisky

blend of two or more single grain Scotch whiskies that have been produced at more than one distillery

Blended Scotch Whisky

blend of one or more single malt scotch whiskies with one or more single grain scotch whiskies

Blended scotch whisky accounts for about __% of production

Cutty Sark

well known blended Scotch

Floor Malting

traditional process used to prepare barley for fermentation - soaked grains are spread out over a smooth stone or cement floor while they germinate for a few days - not widely used

What is peat?

Peat is a wetland soil - made from decomposed plants

Malt scotch whiskies are generally aged in (used/new) barrels

used

5 Scotch regions

The Highlands The Lowlands Speyside Islauy Campbeltown

The Highlands profile

excellent entry-level scotches sweet, soft finish not as complex Dalmore, Glenmorangie, Dalwhinnie are notable

3 notable distillers from the Highlands

Dalmore (*) Glenmorangie (*) Dalwhinnie

The Lowlands profile

General style is triple distilled, creating a lighter style. Grassy, citrus, with dry finish

Name a Lowlands distillery

Ailsa Bay

Scotch region with most distilleries

Speyside

Name 4 Speyside distilleries

Macallan Glenfiddich Glenlivet Balvenie

Islay profile

salty sea breeze + SMOKE

Name 3 Islay distilleries

Lagavulin (*) Laphroaig (*) Bowmore

Why are Islay distilleries known for the peat-heavy profile?

the island of Islay has the greatest quality of peat in Scotland

Name one distillery of Campbeltown

Springsbank Distillery

Age statements on Scotch reflect...

the age of youngest component of the Scotch

Irish whiskey must be aged in cask for a min of..

3 yrs

4 types of Irish Whiskey

Irish Malt Whiskey Irish Grain Whiskey Irish Pot Still Whiskey Blended Irish Whiskey

t/f: Irish whiskey distillers are known for their used of peated malt

false - almost always non peated malt - results in a smoother and less smoky whisky

Grain recipe for Irish whiskey vs Scotch

(excluding Irish malt whiskey) Irish whiskey is produced via combo of malted and unmalted barley - unmalted barley imbues leathery flavors

"bottled-in-bond"

no colorings, flavors, sweeteners

Bourbon is named after...

Bourbon County, Kentucky

History of American WHiskey

Immigranted traveled to Pennsylvanie and Virgina - rye and corn grows very well here, but were difficult to transport - whiskey became a big use of these crops - and soon, a thriving whiskey market began

legal aging req for bourbon

no mandatory minimum

t/f: bourbon may not contain coloring agents

true (except for blended bourbon)

Straight bourbon

aged in charred new oak for at least 2 yrs

Blended bourbon

may contain coloring or flavoring agents, other spirits, min 51% straight bourbon

95% of bourbon is made in...

Kentucky

5 producers of Kentucky Bourbon

Four Roses Jim Beam Makers Mark Elijah Craig Blanton's Basil Hayden's Angel's Envy Evan Williams Woodford Reserve Pappy Van Winkle

Kentucky Bourbon reqs

produced from grains cooked, fermented and distilled in state aged min 1 yr in charred new oak in state

Tennessee whiskey requirements

bourbon reqs w/ couple other standards: produced in tennessee filtered through maple charcoal

what does a maple charcoal filter result in

a fuller, robust flavor

name 2 tennesee whiskeys

jack daniel's george dickel

rye whiskey must be min.

51% rye in the mash

name 4 popular rye whiskies

Templeton Rye Sazerac Rye Bulleit Rye WIld Turkey Rye

american corn whiskey reqs

min 80% corn

this American whiskey is often unaged

corn whiskey

Canadian whisky requirements

aged in cask min 3 yrs mashed distilled and aged in Canada min 40% ABV

name 3 canadian whiskeys

canadian club crown royal seagram's 7

1st commercial malt whisky distillery in japan

suntori (1923)

Nikka founder

the founder of Nikka was the founding distiller at Suntori

Japanese whisky reqs

made in Japan aged in cask min 3 yrs

t/f: the barley used for Japanese whisky is imported from scotch

true

Where is Kavalan?

Taiwan

Whiskey Flashcards

(73 cards)