Certified Specialist of Spirits Exam With Complete Solutions
What are the 3 byproducts of sugar in fermentation? -Answer CO2, alcohol, heat
What are the 5 things a fermented liquid contains? -Answer water, acid, aldehydes,
esters, and congeners
What is fractional distillation? -Answer Separation and concentration of two or more
liquids with different boiling points
What counts as a congener? -Answer Acids, aldehydes, esters, fusel oils, other alcohols
What are the four types of stills? Answer Pot still, hybrid still, column still, multiple
column still
What two parts does a pot still have? Answer Still and worm condenser
What is a worm condenser? Answer A spiral metal tube connected to a still by a metal
pipe which passes through a cold water jacket to aid in rapid condensation
What is the ABV of first batch run through a pot still? - Answer 25% ABV
What is ABV range of pot still can distil to? - Answer 55-70% ABV
What is a reflux? - Answer Controls what elements pass on to condenser vs. returning to
still to be redistilled
What does a liquid return contain? - Answer A mixture of condensate water and some
,wash with alcohol in it
What does the analyzer part of a column still contain? - Answer Stripping section and
rectifying section
What is another name for a multiple column still? - Answer Continuous still
What does a hydroselector column do? - Answer Adds hot water to a spirit in a purifier
column and permits the volatile components of liquid to vaporize easier
What is an advantage of a hybrid still? - Answer Simplicity of design, construction, and
operation
What is a disadvantage of a hybrid still? - Answer Lower distillation efficiency
What are the 6 processes in barrel maturation? - Answer Extraction, evaporation,
oxidation, concentration, filtration, and coloration
What happens in extraction step of maturation? - Answer Interior of barrel is toasted or
charred to allow water and alcohol to extract aromas and flavors
Evaporation step of maturation: What happens? - Answer About 3% is lost to alcohol,
therefore the proof of spirit over time is reduced
Oxidation step of maturation: What happens? - Answer The barrel space is filled with
oxygen that dissolves in the alcohol creating aromatics
Filtration step of maturation: What happens? - Answer Charcoal acts like a filter
What happens during colouration step of maturation? - Answer Charring process turns
, spirit reddish brown, colour darkens over time
Where is American White Oak sourced from? - Answer Ozarks
What do tannins add to a spirit? - Answer Add coconut flavored lactones and volatile
phenolic acids
To what does the US require vodka be distilled to? - Answer At or above 190 proof (95%
ABV)
What must vodka be made of according to the EU? - Answer Potatoes, cereal, other
agricultural raw materials
At what ABV does the EU require vodka to be bottled? - Answer 37.5% ABV 75 proof
Do EU regulations of vodka allow for base materials other than potatoes or grain? -
Answer Yes, but must be noted on the label
What is ethyl laureate? - Answer Congener that adds fruity and floral aromas
What are ethyl palmitate and myristate? - Answer Congeners that add waxy flavor and
character
What is Russia's base vodka ingredient? - Answer Wheat
What is Poland's base vodka ingredient? - Answer Rye or potato
What flavors do wheat and barley based vodkas have? - Answer Highly acidic and
lighter in body
What are the 3 byproducts of sugar in fermentation? -Answer CO2, alcohol, heat
What are the 5 things a fermented liquid contains? -Answer water, acid, aldehydes,
esters, and congeners
What is fractional distillation? -Answer Separation and concentration of two or more
liquids with different boiling points
What counts as a congener? -Answer Acids, aldehydes, esters, fusel oils, other alcohols
What are the four types of stills? Answer Pot still, hybrid still, column still, multiple
column still
What two parts does a pot still have? Answer Still and worm condenser
What is a worm condenser? Answer A spiral metal tube connected to a still by a metal
pipe which passes through a cold water jacket to aid in rapid condensation
What is the ABV of first batch run through a pot still? - Answer 25% ABV
What is ABV range of pot still can distil to? - Answer 55-70% ABV
What is a reflux? - Answer Controls what elements pass on to condenser vs. returning to
still to be redistilled
What does a liquid return contain? - Answer A mixture of condensate water and some
,wash with alcohol in it
What does the analyzer part of a column still contain? - Answer Stripping section and
rectifying section
What is another name for a multiple column still? - Answer Continuous still
What does a hydroselector column do? - Answer Adds hot water to a spirit in a purifier
column and permits the volatile components of liquid to vaporize easier
What is an advantage of a hybrid still? - Answer Simplicity of design, construction, and
operation
What is a disadvantage of a hybrid still? - Answer Lower distillation efficiency
What are the 6 processes in barrel maturation? - Answer Extraction, evaporation,
oxidation, concentration, filtration, and coloration
What happens in extraction step of maturation? - Answer Interior of barrel is toasted or
charred to allow water and alcohol to extract aromas and flavors
Evaporation step of maturation: What happens? - Answer About 3% is lost to alcohol,
therefore the proof of spirit over time is reduced
Oxidation step of maturation: What happens? - Answer The barrel space is filled with
oxygen that dissolves in the alcohol creating aromatics
Filtration step of maturation: What happens? - Answer Charcoal acts like a filter
What happens during colouration step of maturation? - Answer Charring process turns
, spirit reddish brown, colour darkens over time
Where is American White Oak sourced from? - Answer Ozarks
What do tannins add to a spirit? - Answer Add coconut flavored lactones and volatile
phenolic acids
To what does the US require vodka be distilled to? - Answer At or above 190 proof (95%
ABV)
What must vodka be made of according to the EU? - Answer Potatoes, cereal, other
agricultural raw materials
At what ABV does the EU require vodka to be bottled? - Answer 37.5% ABV 75 proof
Do EU regulations of vodka allow for base materials other than potatoes or grain? -
Answer Yes, but must be noted on the label
What is ethyl laureate? - Answer Congener that adds fruity and floral aromas
What are ethyl palmitate and myristate? - Answer Congeners that add waxy flavor and
character
What is Russia's base vodka ingredient? - Answer Wheat
What is Poland's base vodka ingredient? - Answer Rye or potato
What flavors do wheat and barley based vodkas have? - Answer Highly acidic and
lighter in body
