WSET SPIRITS LEVEL 2 EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What is the aim of processing the raw material? - (ANSWER)To create a sugary
liquid
What happens during alcoholic fermentation? - (ANSWER)Yeast eats sugars to
create alcohol, congeners and carbon dioxide
What system is used in the USA to express alcohol content? - (ANSWER)Proof.
Two degrees proof equals 1% abv
What is the aim of distillation? - (ANSWER)To select and concentrate parts of the
alcoholic liquid (alcohol and congeners) and leave others behind
What is the aim of post-distillation operations? - (ANSWER)To ensure that when a
spirit is put on sale it has the correct colour, aroma, sweetness and alcoholic
strength
What is the most important alcohol in a spirit? - (ANSWER)Ethanol
What type of aromas are created by esters? - (ANSWER)Fruity aromas
What is the appearance of a newly made spirit? - (ANSWER)Water-white and
colourless
,Ethanol boils at a lower temperature than pure water. True or False? -
(ANSWER)TRUE
What is the name of the section of the still between the pot and the head? -
(ANSWER)Swan neck
What is the typical heat source for a pot still? - (ANSWER)Steam
What is the purpose of a condenser in a pot still? - (ANSWER)Converts the
vapours back to a liquid
In pot still distillation, what happens in the first distillation? - (ANSWER)Distil
alcoholic liquid into low wines, discard watery waste
In pot still distillation, what is the typical abv of the low wines? - (ANSWER)25-
30%
In pot still distillation, what happens in the second distillation? - (ANSWER)Distil
low wines with heads and tails of previous batch, separate heads, hearts and tails,
discard watery waste
What happens to the heads and tails at the end of the second distillation? -
(ANSWER)They are collected and used for the next distillation
, What is the name for the portion of the second distillation that will be kept and
sold? - (ANSWER)Heart
Column stills can run continuously. True or false? - (ANSWER)TRUE
In a column still, where are the hearts typically taken from? - (ANSWER)A plate
just below the top of the still
What is the highest abv that can be reached in a column still? - (ANSWER)96%
What intensity would you expect in a spirit taken off the still at 75%? -
(ANSWER)Pronounced
What intensity would you expect in a spirit taken off the still at 96%? -
(ANSWER)Neutral
What is the function of the bubblecap on a plate? - (ANSWER)Forces vapours
through the layer of alcoholic liquid on the plate. The heat in the vapours means
the liquid is kept boiling
What is the function of the downcomer on a plate? - (ANSWER)Allows water and
less volatile fractions to overflow to the plate below
ANSWERS
What is the aim of processing the raw material? - (ANSWER)To create a sugary
liquid
What happens during alcoholic fermentation? - (ANSWER)Yeast eats sugars to
create alcohol, congeners and carbon dioxide
What system is used in the USA to express alcohol content? - (ANSWER)Proof.
Two degrees proof equals 1% abv
What is the aim of distillation? - (ANSWER)To select and concentrate parts of the
alcoholic liquid (alcohol and congeners) and leave others behind
What is the aim of post-distillation operations? - (ANSWER)To ensure that when a
spirit is put on sale it has the correct colour, aroma, sweetness and alcoholic
strength
What is the most important alcohol in a spirit? - (ANSWER)Ethanol
What type of aromas are created by esters? - (ANSWER)Fruity aromas
What is the appearance of a newly made spirit? - (ANSWER)Water-white and
colourless
,Ethanol boils at a lower temperature than pure water. True or False? -
(ANSWER)TRUE
What is the name of the section of the still between the pot and the head? -
(ANSWER)Swan neck
What is the typical heat source for a pot still? - (ANSWER)Steam
What is the purpose of a condenser in a pot still? - (ANSWER)Converts the
vapours back to a liquid
In pot still distillation, what happens in the first distillation? - (ANSWER)Distil
alcoholic liquid into low wines, discard watery waste
In pot still distillation, what is the typical abv of the low wines? - (ANSWER)25-
30%
In pot still distillation, what happens in the second distillation? - (ANSWER)Distil
low wines with heads and tails of previous batch, separate heads, hearts and tails,
discard watery waste
What happens to the heads and tails at the end of the second distillation? -
(ANSWER)They are collected and used for the next distillation
, What is the name for the portion of the second distillation that will be kept and
sold? - (ANSWER)Heart
Column stills can run continuously. True or false? - (ANSWER)TRUE
In a column still, where are the hearts typically taken from? - (ANSWER)A plate
just below the top of the still
What is the highest abv that can be reached in a column still? - (ANSWER)96%
What intensity would you expect in a spirit taken off the still at 75%? -
(ANSWER)Pronounced
What intensity would you expect in a spirit taken off the still at 96%? -
(ANSWER)Neutral
What is the function of the bubblecap on a plate? - (ANSWER)Forces vapours
through the layer of alcoholic liquid on the plate. The heat in the vapours means
the liquid is kept boiling
What is the function of the downcomer on a plate? - (ANSWER)Allows water and
less volatile fractions to overflow to the plate below
