spirits exam 3

American Whiskey Rules

Produced ONLY in the United States

Class of spirit distilled from fermented grain mash

Must be distilled to less than 95% ABV (190 proof) but some sub-categories set the limit lower than this

Bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV (80 proof),

American Whiskey Sub-Categories

Bourbon
Tennessee
Rye
Corn
Wheat
Malt
American Blended
Light

Mash Bill

Proportion of different types of grains
For American whiskey:
Primary grain = 51% or more
Secondary grain = 10 - 40%
Malted barley = 5 - 15%,

Sour Mashing

Process of using already-distilled mash to start the fermentation of a new batch,

Straight Whiskey

Aged at least 2 years AND meets ALL of the requirements of its sub-category,

Lincoln County Process

Filtering whiskey through sugar maple charcoal after distillation but before it is aged

ONLY used with Tennessee whiskey,

Bottled-in-Bond

One distilling season
One distiller at one distillery
Aged for a minimum of 4 years
Bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof)
Label identifies the distillery,

Barrel Strength

Bottled directly from the barrel without the dilution of water (usually around 125 proof)

Single Barrel

Bottled from one specific barrel

Bourbon Rules

Can be produced anywhere in the U.S.
Minimum 51% corn
Distilled to a maximum 80% (160 proof)
Aged in new, charred oak barrels
In the barrel at a maximum of 62.5% ABV (125 proof),

Tennessee Whiskey Rules

Produced ONLY in Tennessee
Minimum 51% corn
Distilled to a maximum 80% (160 proof)
Requires the Lincoln County Process before aging
Aged in new, charred oak barrels
In the barrel at a maximum of 62.5% ABV (125 proof),

Rye Whiskey Rules

Can be produced anywhere in the U.S.
Minimum 51% rye
Distilled to a maximum 80% (160 proof)
Aged in new, charred oak barrels
In the barrel at a maximum of 62.5% ABV (125 proof),

Corn Whiskey Rules

Can be produced anywhere in the U.S.
Minimum 80% corn
Distilled to a maximum 80% (160 proof)
Usually unaged, clear spirit
If age, must be aged in used or uncharred oak barrels,

Wheat Whiskey Rules

Can be produced anywhere in the U.S.
Minimum 51% wheat
All other production rules are the same as bourbon,

Malt Whiskey Rules

Can be produced anywhere in the U.S.
Minimum 51% malted barley
All other production rules are the same as bourbon,

Light Whiskey Rules

Can be produced anywhere in the U.S.
Distilled to above 80% (160 proof) but below 95% ABV (190 proof)
Must be aged in used or uncharred oak barrels (no maximum proof for aging)
No specifications for the mash bill/grain ratios,

Blended Whiskey Rules

Can be produced anywhere in the U.S.
Minimum 20% straight whiskey or blend of straight whiskies
The rest can be any type of whiskey and/or neutral spirits,

American Blended Whiskey Rules

Can be produced anywhere in the U.S.
A blend of straight whiskies
NOTHING else added,

Canadian Whiskey Rules

Produced ONLY in Canada
Produced from a mash of fermented cereal grains
Aged in small wood containers for a minimum of 3 years
Allowed to have added ingredients - up to 9.09% of the total product

Aging Requirement for Canadian Whiskey

Minimum 3 years in new or used wood barrels for youngest spirit in the blend

Canadian Whiskey Classification System

Grain/Base
Flavoring
Blended

BUT no classification system in terms of labeling,

Canadian Blended Whiskey

Blend of grain/base whisky and a small amount of flavoring whisky
Can include up to 9.09% of other aged spirits or wine
This is what is bottled and sold

Canadian Flavoring Whiskey

Usually made from a high percentage of a single grain
Produced in column still and distilled to a lower ABV OR in a pot still
Aged in charred oak barrels
Not used for retail sales

Primary Grains used for Canadian Whiskey

Any Cereal Grains

Canadian Base Whiskey

Usually made from corn
Produced in column still and distilled to a high ABV (92.5 - 94.5%)
Aged in used barrels
Not used for retail sales

Irish Whiskey Rules

Produced ONLY in Ireland
Produced from a mash of cereal grains
Must be aged in oak casks in Ireland for a minimum of 3 years,

Aging Requirement for Irish Whiskey

Minimum 3 years in oak barrels

Irish Whiskey Classification System

Single Malt
Grain
Pot Still
Blended Irish Whiskey

Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Single site, malted barley only, pot still

Irish Grain Whiskey

Malted barley (max 30%) PLUS unmalted cereal grains (usually corn, wheat, or barley)
Column still

Irish Pot Still Whiskey

Malted barley (minimum 30%) PLUS unmalted barley (minimum 30%)
Pot still

Blended Irish Whiskey

Combination of at least two of the other styles (single malt and/or grain and/or pot still),

Japanese Whiskey Rules

As of April 1st, 2021
Must be mashed, fermented, distilled, matured, and bottled in Japan
Must always include malted grains (other cereal grains can also be used)
Distilled to less than 95% ABV
Aged in wooden casks for minimum of 3 years,

Primary Grains used in Japanese Whiskey

Barley

Japanese Whiskey Classification System

No formal system - must refer to the label on the bottle and the distiller's notes,

Scotch Whiskey Rules

Produced ONLY in Scotland
Produced from a mixture of water, malted barley, and other whole cereal grains
Must be aged in oak casks in Scotland for a minimum of 3 years,

Main Scotch Whiskey Regions

Highlands
Lowlands
Speyside
Campbeltown
Islay (produces the smokiest whiskies),

Primary grains used in Scotch

Malted Barley

Minimum 3 years in oak barrels

Aging requirement for Scotch

Scotch Whiskey Classification System

Single Malt
Single grain
Blended Malt
Blended Grain
Blended Scotch

Single Malt Scotch

Single site, malted barley only, pot still

Single Grain Scotch

Single site, malted barley plus other malted or unmalted cereal grains, column still

Blended Malt Scotch

Blend of single malts
(Still 100% malt, blend of different sites)

Blended Grain Scotch

Blend of single grains (multiple grains, blend of different sites)

Blended Scotch

Blend of single malt Scotch and single grain Scotch

Brandy

Distilled spirit produced using the fermented juice, mash, or wine of fruit (or the residue of the winemaking process)
In the U.S.:
Distilled below 95% ABV
Bottled at minimum of 40% ABV,

Grape Brandy

Distilled from Wine

Fruit Brandy

Brandy distilled from fermented fruit juice OTHER than grapes

Pomace Brandy

Brandy distilled from solid remains of grapes/fruit after pressing for juice

Digestif

An alcoholic drink taken after a meal to aid in digestion

Bourbon must be at least 51% of this grain

Corn

Blended

Which type accounts for the vast amount of sales of both Scotch and Irish Whiskies?

3 years

Minimum aging requirement for Scotch?

Whiskey made in this country has no classification system

Canada

Bourbon can only be made in which country

United States

2 years

Minimum age requirement for straight whiskeys