Name 7 Scotch distilleries in The Islands (part of The Highlands)
Abhainn Dearg: aka Red River
Arran
Highland Park: Orkney Islands
Isle of Harris
Isle of Jura: "JU-RAH"
Scapa
Talisker
Tobermory
Name 3 Scotch distilleries in Campbeltown
Glengyle
Glen Scotia: "Glen" means "valley"
Springbank
Define "Bottled-in-Bond"
1897 law created by E.H. Taylor to ensure the authenticity of bourbon
Must be kept in a locked ("bonded") warehouse for 4 years
Must be the product of one distillery from one distilling season
Must be bottled at 100 proof
No colorings, flavorings, or sweetners
Can cut with water, filter and/or chill filter but otherwise not manipulated in any way
Usually applied to bourbon but may be applied to other American spirits as well
What is poitín (aka poteen)?
Irish "moonshine" awarded PGI in 2008
Base materials include grain, sugar beet molasses, potatoes
Most is unaged but some styles may be aged in wood up to 10 weeks (e.g., if < 50% grain)
Clear spirit min 40% abv (some bottled 90% abv)
Flavored styles produced via infusion or maceration using fruits, spices, berries, herbs
Name the top selling North American Whiskey brands
Jack Daniel's
Jim Beam
Crown Royal*
Seagram's 7 Crown
Maker's Mark
Canadian Club*
Wild Turkey
Canadian Mist*
Define sour mashing
When making bourbon, backset (acidic) is fermented with the local water (alkaline) to help the yeast grow. Backset is the residue from the first distillation. Sour mashing helps to create a consistent product from one batch to another.
What is the difference between a doubler and a thumper?
A doubler is an addition to a pot still that receives the condensed low wines from the first distillation. The low wine is driven to a chamber that contains heated liquid that concentrates ("doubles") the alcohol.
A thumper is a type of doubler that receives vapors from the first distillation before they have been cooled and condensed. The vapors are driven into a layer of hot water (above boiling point of ethanol but below that of water) so the ethanol vapor continues through the water and condenses as high wine. Heavier alcohols are captured by the water and drained off at the end of a run.
T or F? Bourbon has no legally mandated minimum aging requirement.
True: however it must be stored at not more than 125 proof in charred new oak containers
T or F? Bourbon is not allowed to contain caramel or other coloring
True: except for blended bourbon
Which types of American whiskey may be labeled as straight?
Bourbon, barley malt, corn, wheat, rye, rye malt
How long must straight bourbon be aged?
2 years in charred new oak
if aged 4 years or more a statement of age is optional, otherwise the age in years must be stated on the label
Name the 4 types of Canadian Whisky
Grain: aka base whisky
Flavoring: similar to bourbon
Canadian Blended: grain, flavoring, max 9.09% other ingredients (e.g., wine, sherry, brandy,non-Canadian whisky)
Specialty: note that single malt and extra rare are not defined in Canadian law
Name 5 Canadian Specialty Whiskies
Glenora Distillery: Nova Scotia; single malt
Still Waters Distillery: Ontario; single malt distilled in copper pot still using two-row malted barley
Crown Royal: extra-rare whisky series
Hiram Walker: Lot 40, single copper pot still
Alberta Premium: 30 years old
Name the first commercial distillery in Japan
Suntory: located in Yamazaki, opened in 1923; founder Sinjiro Torii hired Masataka Taketsuru who trained at Hazelburn Distillery in Campbeltown, Scotland; their first whisky, Shirofuda White Label, was released in 1929
T or F? Suntory's distiller opened his own whisky house
True: Masataka Taketsuru opened Nikka in 1934
What distinguishes Japanese whisky from Scotch?
Emphasis on clear worts produced by long fermentation using selected yeast
Japanese distillers don't sell to other distillers
T or F? Indian whisky is at least partially made with molasses-based neutral spirits
True: classified as Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL)
T or F? IMFL may be sold as blended whisky in the EU and as spirit whiskey in the US
True: may be flavored and blended with small amounts of other spirits
Name the two layers in a charred barrel
Char Layer: Little flavor comes from this layer because most of the wood has been broken down severely
Red Layer: Rich and varied concentrations of aromatics are created in this layer
Name the first producer of grain-based whisky in India
Amrut Distilleries: founded in 1948 by Neelakanta Jagdale, they released a single malt in 2004 known as Amrut ("nectar of the gods" or "elixir of life").
How does Amrut Distilleries produce their single malt?
100% barley, some peated from Scotland
double-distilled in large pot stills
Diluted to 125 proof (62.5% abv)
Aged in oak barrels for min 4 years
Name an Indian producer of single malt other than Amrut
John Distilleries: Paul John Single Cask 161 Whisky double-distills 100% Indian barley in American oak barrels for 3-5 years
Name some lesser known countries making malt whiskeys
Czech Republic: Pradlo Distillery makes 20 year old Hammer Head single malt
Spain: Destilerías y Crianza del Whisky S.A. (aka Whisky DYC)
Australia: Tasmania Distillery makes Sullivans Cove Single Cask Malt Whisky
Turkey
England
New Zealand: Southern Distilleries is the world's most southern distillery
