WSET - Level 3 Spirits - Fundamentals of Distillation

What are the two principal aims of distillation? - Answer- Concentration and selection. What is the name of the mixture of gas and tiny liquid droplets that rises up from a boiling liquid? - Answer- Vapour. What is the boiling point of pure ethanol at standard atmospheric pressure? - Answer- 78.3°C (173°F). Is ethanol more or less volatile than water? - Answer- Ethanol is more volatile than water. What is the name of the interaction of gas and liquid during distillation? - Answer- Reflux. The result of reflux is that a greater proportion of the more volatile fractions end up as a gas and a greater proportion of the less volatile fractions end up as a liquid. What is rectification? - Answer- The cumulative effect of reflux. In distillation this is used to refer to the increasing level of ethanol in the vapour. A spirit that is distilled to a higher abv than another one is said to be 'more highly rectified'. What is the most important Group 2 fraction? - Answer- In this course, we have separated the fractions in four groups to simplify matters. Ethanol is the most important fraction in group 2. When highly concentrated, what aromas can Group 3 fractions have? - Answer- The fractions in this group have notably higher boiling points than ethanol. When highly concentrated, they can have unattractive cheesy and plastic aromas. How is the boiling point of Group 4 fractions compared to the boiling point of fractions in other groups? - Answer- The boiling point of these fractions is very high and they do not come over during distillation. What is a dephlegmator or head condenser? - Answer- A small condenser installed at the top of the still to actively control the temperature at the top of the still. What are Maillard reactions? - Answer- A Maillard Reaction happens when a sugar reacts with an amino acid. These reactions can take place in a still creating new flavours. What is the name of the chemicals that is formed when a fatty acid reacts with an alcohol? - Answer- Ester. They commonly have fruity aromas. What type of molecules have ver