2025/2026 WSET Level 2 Spirits Exam Prep Test Bank
with 300+ Real Exam Practice Questions and Correct
Answers / WSET Level 2 Spirits Exam Qs with 100%
Verified Answers|||Latest Version|||Graded A+
What components of a spirit does the appearance section of the
SAT address?
The clarity, intensity of color, color and any other observations on the
spirit.
What components of a spirit does the nose section of the SAT
address?
The condition, intensity of aromas, and the aromas characteristics of
the spirit.
What components of a spirit does the palate section of the SAT
address?
The sweetness, texture, flavor intensity, flavor characteristics and
finish of the spirits
What components of a spirit does the conclusions section of the
SAT address?
The quality level of the spirit
Broadly speaking, what can spirits be made of?
Anything of agricultural origin
What does 'abv' stand for?
Alcohol by volume
What system do distillers from the USA use to express alcohol
content and how ones it differ from abv?
The proof system. Two degrees proof equals 1% abv. To express
alcoholic strength using the proof system, just double the abv.
What are the four key stages of spirit production?
pg. 1
,Selecting and processing a raw material, alcoholic fermentation,
distillation, post-distillation operations
What do the raw materials of agricultural origin provide the
distiller with?
A store of carbohydrates and distinct set of flavors/aromas
What are congeners?
The compounds that are responsible for aromas and flavors
What does 'water white' mean?
When spirits are totally clear and transparent with the appearance of
water (e.g. vodka). All spirits come off the still as water-white
Does pure ethanol boil at a high or lower temperature than pure
water?
It boils at a lower temperature than water. Therefore it is more volatile
How are most modern still heated and what is one notable, legally
defined exception?
Most modern stills are heated by steam. A notable exception is
Cognac, where direct heat must be used.
Post-distillation operations can be broke down into four major
groups. What are they?
Storage and maturation in oak or inert vessels, adding flavors other
than oak, blending, and finishing.
How can oak barrel maturation affect the character of a spirit?
It can add color and congeners, change the flavors/aromas of the spirit
over time because of the exposure to oxygen, concentrate the spirit
and remove harshness.
What are the two fundamental objectives of blending?
Consistency and complexity
pg. 2
,Although spirits stored in inert vessels change very little, what
might happen to the texture of the spirit after many months of
storage?
The spirit can become smoother and more mouthfilling
What are demijohns?
Inert glass vessels that stop further oxidation and concentration of
spirits during maturation. They are most commonly used in Cognac
production
What can a distiller change post-distillation?
Color, aroma, sweetness, and alcoholic strength
You are tasting a sample and you see that the color of the spirit is
brown. What can you say about the quality or maturity of this
spirits based on the appearance?
Appearance tells you nothing about the quality or maturity of a spirit
When tasting spirits, what type of glass should be used?
ISO glass or whiskey nosing glass
When tasting spirits, why is it suggested that you dilute the
sample with water and reassess the nose?
Water can make it easier to distinguish one aroma from another and it
helps open up the aromas to reveal extra layers of complexity
A spirit that is balanced with distinct rather than generic
characteristics can be described as ...
Good
A spirit that lacks distinguishing characteristics or if is
unbalanced can be described as ______ or _______
Acceptable or poor
A spirit that has a particularly fine balance or some extra level of
complexity or expressiveness can be described as _____________.
pg. 3
, If it has all these things to a high level, it can be described as
_____________
very good
outstanding
What is the main function of fermentation?
Create an alcoholic liquid
Which still would generally require a second distillation when
used to produce a spirit?
Pot still
In a column still, where would you find the plate containing liquid
with the highest alcoholic strength?
At the top
What is the aim of the first distillation in a double pot still
distillation?
Remove some of the water from the fermented alcoholic liquid
You are distilling a liquid that only contains ethanol and water. If
there are enough plates the vapor come from the top is close to
pure _________________ and the liquid coming off the base is
close to pure ______________.
Ethanol
Water
The fractions that have a lower boiling point than ethanol will
reach the top of the still and pass out as a constant flow of
_____________.
Heads
The ________________ is typically collected a few plates below
the top of the still.
Heart
pg. 4
with 300+ Real Exam Practice Questions and Correct
Answers / WSET Level 2 Spirits Exam Qs with 100%
Verified Answers|||Latest Version|||Graded A+
What components of a spirit does the appearance section of the
SAT address?
The clarity, intensity of color, color and any other observations on the
spirit.
What components of a spirit does the nose section of the SAT
address?
The condition, intensity of aromas, and the aromas characteristics of
the spirit.
What components of a spirit does the palate section of the SAT
address?
The sweetness, texture, flavor intensity, flavor characteristics and
finish of the spirits
What components of a spirit does the conclusions section of the
SAT address?
The quality level of the spirit
Broadly speaking, what can spirits be made of?
Anything of agricultural origin
What does 'abv' stand for?
Alcohol by volume
What system do distillers from the USA use to express alcohol
content and how ones it differ from abv?
The proof system. Two degrees proof equals 1% abv. To express
alcoholic strength using the proof system, just double the abv.
What are the four key stages of spirit production?
pg. 1
,Selecting and processing a raw material, alcoholic fermentation,
distillation, post-distillation operations
What do the raw materials of agricultural origin provide the
distiller with?
A store of carbohydrates and distinct set of flavors/aromas
What are congeners?
The compounds that are responsible for aromas and flavors
What does 'water white' mean?
When spirits are totally clear and transparent with the appearance of
water (e.g. vodka). All spirits come off the still as water-white
Does pure ethanol boil at a high or lower temperature than pure
water?
It boils at a lower temperature than water. Therefore it is more volatile
How are most modern still heated and what is one notable, legally
defined exception?
Most modern stills are heated by steam. A notable exception is
Cognac, where direct heat must be used.
Post-distillation operations can be broke down into four major
groups. What are they?
Storage and maturation in oak or inert vessels, adding flavors other
than oak, blending, and finishing.
How can oak barrel maturation affect the character of a spirit?
It can add color and congeners, change the flavors/aromas of the spirit
over time because of the exposure to oxygen, concentrate the spirit
and remove harshness.
What are the two fundamental objectives of blending?
Consistency and complexity
pg. 2
,Although spirits stored in inert vessels change very little, what
might happen to the texture of the spirit after many months of
storage?
The spirit can become smoother and more mouthfilling
What are demijohns?
Inert glass vessels that stop further oxidation and concentration of
spirits during maturation. They are most commonly used in Cognac
production
What can a distiller change post-distillation?
Color, aroma, sweetness, and alcoholic strength
You are tasting a sample and you see that the color of the spirit is
brown. What can you say about the quality or maturity of this
spirits based on the appearance?
Appearance tells you nothing about the quality or maturity of a spirit
When tasting spirits, what type of glass should be used?
ISO glass or whiskey nosing glass
When tasting spirits, why is it suggested that you dilute the
sample with water and reassess the nose?
Water can make it easier to distinguish one aroma from another and it
helps open up the aromas to reveal extra layers of complexity
A spirit that is balanced with distinct rather than generic
characteristics can be described as ...
Good
A spirit that lacks distinguishing characteristics or if is
unbalanced can be described as ______ or _______
Acceptable or poor
A spirit that has a particularly fine balance or some extra level of
complexity or expressiveness can be described as _____________.
pg. 3
, If it has all these things to a high level, it can be described as
_____________
very good
outstanding
What is the main function of fermentation?
Create an alcoholic liquid
Which still would generally require a second distillation when
used to produce a spirit?
Pot still
In a column still, where would you find the plate containing liquid
with the highest alcoholic strength?
At the top
What is the aim of the first distillation in a double pot still
distillation?
Remove some of the water from the fermented alcoholic liquid
You are distilling a liquid that only contains ethanol and water. If
there are enough plates the vapor come from the top is close to
pure _________________ and the liquid coming off the base is
close to pure ______________.
Ethanol
Water
The fractions that have a lower boiling point than ethanol will
reach the top of the still and pass out as a constant flow of
_____________.
Heads
The ________________ is typically collected a few plates below
the top of the still.
Heart
pg. 4
