Theory

What ways can be used to classify Vodka?

Region, Crop, Flavour

Does Vodka need to be aged?

No

What are the two most common crops for producing Vodka?

Wheat & Rye

What average percentage is Vodka before dilution?

Around 95%

Who were the first to put the name Vodka on a Spirit?

The Polish

What does Zhiznennia Voda mean?

Water of Life

Before current distillation methods, what methods were used to separate alcohol from water?

Freezing wine or catching vapour in wool

What did Theodore Lowitz discover and in what year?

Charcoal filtrering in 1780

When did the story of Gin begin?

In the 1570’s

What name did the English give this new spirit after seeing the Dutch drink it before battle?

Dutch courage

What was the period of social disorder in England at the beginning of the 1700’s called?

The Gin Craze

During american prohibition and the Gin Craze, homemade Gin was nicknamed what?

Bathtub Gin

What is the most common Gin classification?

London Dry

What is the main natural ingredient in all Gin?

Juniper Berries

Which two flavors are added to Hendrick’s after distillation?

Cucumber & Rose petals

What are the three production methods for Gin?

Cold compounding, Distilled Gin, Flavor extracted

Who brought sugarcane to the Caribbean?

Christopher Columbus

What three famous cocktails originated in Cuba?

Cuba Libre, Daiquiri, Mojito

What were the people who suggested rum during prohibition called?

Rum runners

What is the by-product of sugar refining called?

Molasses

Name one of the two most influential bartenders in the tiki movement.

Don Beach & Trader Vic

What is the evaporation of spirit during aging called?

Angel’s share

Which country, influenced by Spanish culture, has most significantly contributed to the worldwide popularity of rum?

Cuba

What is Brazil’s national spirit?

Cachaça

What is Rhum Agricola made from?

Sugarcane juice

What is the current name of fermented Agave juice (aguamiel)?

Pulque

What did distilled pulque become Knowles as?

Vino de Mezcal

Who became the first to produce Vino de Mezcal commercially?

José Cuervo

What are the 5 classifications of 100% Agave Tequila?

Blanco, Joven (Oro), Reposado, Añejo, Extra Añejo

What state does most Mezcal come from?

Oaxaca

What state does most Tequila come from?

Jalisco

How long does a typical Agave take to mature?

7-10 years

What became popular in the 17th and 18th century that caused a change in the liqueur market?

Sugar

What were liqueurs originally produced for?

Medicinal purposes

What method of production will produce a transparent liqueur?

Distillation

What are the 4 main methods of liqueur production?

Maceration, Infusion, Filtration, Distillation

What are the 5 category’s of liqueurs, relating to raw ingredients?

Bitters, Herbal, Fruit, Nutty, Emulsion

What is the minimum amount of sugar allowed in a crème de…?

250g per litre

What is the world’s bestselling liqueur?

Baileys

What brand has the largest range of bitters in the world?

Fee Brothers

Who was the first to produce Tequila using only Blue Agave?

Sauza (Cenobio)

What are the 5 main steps to brewing beer?

Malting, Mashing, Wort separation, Wort boiling, Fermentation

Older styles of beer like Ale and Stout will use top or bottom fermentation?

Top fermentation

What is the most common grain used for beer?

Barley

What flower is added during wort boiling?

Hops

What are the 2 categories of wheat beer?

Kristall & Hefe

What beer is usually hand pumped?

Bitter

What beer category generally has a strong, happy character?

IPA’s

What category is by far the most popular?

Pale Lager

What grain is all scotch malt whiskey made from?

Barley

What are the 5 steps of whiskey production?

Malting, Mashing, Fermentation, Distillation, Aging

What is used to give scotch a Smokey flavor?

Peat

What is the minimum age of any scotch whiskey?

3 years

What was the name of the act passed in America in 1920?

Volstead Act

Which 2 grains are most American whiskeys made from?

Corn & Rye

What are the 3 main classifications of American Whiskey?

Bourbon, Tennessee, Rye

What process separates Tennessee from Bourbon?

Lincoln county process

The color in red wine comes from what part of the grape?

The skin

What is the production of wine called?

Vinification

What word describes a vineyards soíl and general environment?

Terroir

Which wine is made by fermenting grapes, half with skin and half with them off?

Rosé

What is the main wine producing region in Spain?

Rioja

Why would you decant a young wine?

To aerate it

Name two examples of fortified wine.

Vermouth, Sherry Port, Madeira

What is the main wine producing region in the USA?

California

Brandy comes from brandewijn which translates to?

Burned wine

What significant process did storage and shipping create in the 1600’s?

Maturation/aging

Eau de Vie is used to describe what kind of brandy?

Unaged

What happened to European vineyards in the 1880’s?

Phylloxera destroyed 85% of vines

What is still used to distill Cognac?

Alambic Charentaise

What does a “Fine Champagne” label mean?

That all the grapes are from the Grande and Petit ‘champagne’ regions

Name the 2 most important Cognac regions.

Grande Champagne, Petit Champagne

What are the 3 aging categories for Cognac?

VS-2years, VSOP-4years, XO-10years

What date is the earliest record of whisky being produced in Scotland?

1494

What does Uisge Beatha mean?

Water of life

When was single malt Scotch Whisky marketed for the first time

1963

Name two Countries that spell whisky without the e

Scotland, Japan, Canada, India