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WSET LEVEL 1 SPIRITS TEST EXAM ACTUAL
PREP QUESTIONS AND WELL REVISED
ANSWERS - LATEST AND COMPLETE UPDATE
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS – ASSURED PASS
If a spirit has a low distillation strength, does it have high or low flavor intensity -
ANSWER--High flavour intensity
If a spirit has a high distillation strength does it have high or low flavor intensity -
ANSWER--Low flavor intensity
What is the definition of a neutral spirit? - ANSWER--A spirit that is distilled to
95-96% abv with virtually no flavour left
What often happens to spirits after distillation? - ANSWER--Adjustment of the
color, aromas, sweetness and alcoholic strength as required for the style of spirit
being made
Identify the 2 aims of blending and what each aim intends to achieve - ANSWER-
-Overall a blender has 2 aims:
1. Consistency. Most consumers expect their spirit to be consistent from one
bottle to the net.
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2. Complexity. Some individual barrels can be extraordinarily complex, the
easiest way of creating complexity and depth is by blending spirits with different
characteristics.
Why would a blender choose to use caramel coloring? - ANSWER--The color of
oak ages spirits can vary considerably from one barrel to another this is a problem
for blenders who are striving for consistency. Therefore, when they blend the
contents of the barrels together to make up their batches they sometimes use very
small amounts of a coloring material called caramel to ensure that each batch has
the correct color.
In a column still, which plate has the highest abv - ANSWER--the top plate
Which distillation process can produce a neutral spirit - ANSWER--a column still
in a pot still what is the name of the part that holds the liquid that is going to be
distilled - ANSWER--Pot
T/F column stills cannot be used to produce a neutral spirit - ANSWER-False
What strength and aroma intensity does a newly made spirit produced via pot
distillation have - ANSWER--low strength and a pronounced (high) intensity
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What is Cognac - ANSWER--a grape brandy is a wine that has been distilled.
Cognac is a well known grape brandy that must be made from grapes grown in a
specific part of south west France north of the town of Bordeaux. The grapes
grown in the Cognac area give the spirit fruity and floral aromas
How does fermentation happen - ANSWER--Yeast eats sugar to create the alcohol
and carbon dioxide gas. After fermentation the alcoholic liquid is typically around
10% abv. Fermentation also creates extra flavours, in particular fruity flavours are
created by yeast
What is the aim of distillation - ANSWER--To concentrate the level of alcohol in
the fermented alcoholic liquid
What happens during distillation? - ANSWER--An alcoholic liquid is boiled and
turned into vapor. The vapors are then collected and condensed into a new liquid
which is more alcoholic than the original one.
Outline the process of distillation - ANSWER--1. Distillation starts with a
fermented alcoholic liquid
2. the liquid is heated and brought to boil
3. in order to separate the alcohol from the rest of the liquid a distiller can take
advantage of the fact that pure ethanol (the most common alcohol in alcoholic
WSET LEVEL 1 SPIRITS TEST EXAM ACTUAL
PREP QUESTIONS AND WELL REVISED
ANSWERS - LATEST AND COMPLETE UPDATE
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS – ASSURED PASS
If a spirit has a low distillation strength, does it have high or low flavor intensity -
ANSWER--High flavour intensity
If a spirit has a high distillation strength does it have high or low flavor intensity -
ANSWER--Low flavor intensity
What is the definition of a neutral spirit? - ANSWER--A spirit that is distilled to
95-96% abv with virtually no flavour left
What often happens to spirits after distillation? - ANSWER--Adjustment of the
color, aromas, sweetness and alcoholic strength as required for the style of spirit
being made
Identify the 2 aims of blending and what each aim intends to achieve - ANSWER-
-Overall a blender has 2 aims:
1. Consistency. Most consumers expect their spirit to be consistent from one
bottle to the net.
,2|Page
2. Complexity. Some individual barrels can be extraordinarily complex, the
easiest way of creating complexity and depth is by blending spirits with different
characteristics.
Why would a blender choose to use caramel coloring? - ANSWER--The color of
oak ages spirits can vary considerably from one barrel to another this is a problem
for blenders who are striving for consistency. Therefore, when they blend the
contents of the barrels together to make up their batches they sometimes use very
small amounts of a coloring material called caramel to ensure that each batch has
the correct color.
In a column still, which plate has the highest abv - ANSWER--the top plate
Which distillation process can produce a neutral spirit - ANSWER--a column still
in a pot still what is the name of the part that holds the liquid that is going to be
distilled - ANSWER--Pot
T/F column stills cannot be used to produce a neutral spirit - ANSWER-False
What strength and aroma intensity does a newly made spirit produced via pot
distillation have - ANSWER--low strength and a pronounced (high) intensity
, 3|Page
What is Cognac - ANSWER--a grape brandy is a wine that has been distilled.
Cognac is a well known grape brandy that must be made from grapes grown in a
specific part of south west France north of the town of Bordeaux. The grapes
grown in the Cognac area give the spirit fruity and floral aromas
How does fermentation happen - ANSWER--Yeast eats sugar to create the alcohol
and carbon dioxide gas. After fermentation the alcoholic liquid is typically around
10% abv. Fermentation also creates extra flavours, in particular fruity flavours are
created by yeast
What is the aim of distillation - ANSWER--To concentrate the level of alcohol in
the fermented alcoholic liquid
What happens during distillation? - ANSWER--An alcoholic liquid is boiled and
turned into vapor. The vapors are then collected and condensed into a new liquid
which is more alcoholic than the original one.
Outline the process of distillation - ANSWER--1. Distillation starts with a
fermented alcoholic liquid
2. the liquid is heated and brought to boil
3. in order to separate the alcohol from the rest of the liquid a distiller can take
advantage of the fact that pure ethanol (the most common alcohol in alcoholic
