WSET Level 2: Spirits Latest Update Graded A

WSET Level 2: Spirits Latest Update Graded A distillation a process that increases the alcohol content of a liquid pot still batch process that produces characterful spirits of relatively low strength oldest, simplest kind of still; relatively inefficient = multiple distillations needed continuous still continuous process that can produce very high-strength, neutral spirit, or lower strength spirits more efficient than pot still _____ strength spirits generally have more character from the base material, but have harsher alcohol lower strength _____ strength spirits are lighter in character & smoother higher strength direct from the still, all spirits are ______ & ______ water-white & bone-dry most spirits are _____ to around __% abv before bottling reduced (diluted with water) 40% abv _____ are extremely important in most spirits categories Brands ethanol boils at a _____ temperature than water lower heads aka foreshots the most volatile components, which boil off first in a still contain undesirable components including methanol not used in the final spirit, returned to pot to be redistilled hearts aka spirit follows the heads contains the highest proportion of ethanol & lowest proportion of undesirable impurities tails aka feints least volatile components that boil off last & not used in the final spirit, returned to the pot to be redistilled most stills are made of ____ copper when tasting spirits, more emphasis is placed on ____ the aromas & flavors- especially in the finish when tasting spirits, pour __mL of the spirt to assess ____ & then add ___mL of ___ to assess the ____ & _____ -25mL spirits to assess appearance -25mL water to assess the nose & palate _____ in spirits is usually a sign of a fault haziness adding water to spirits helps to _____ release the aromas (do not swirl) aroma groups for spirits are very ____ from those for wine different Brandy wine that is distilled & usually aged Cognac oak aged grape brandy from Cognac region (north of Bordeaux) made with copper pot still amber color, fruity, floral & elegant, dry Armagnac oak aged grape brandy from Armagnac region (south of Bordeaux) made with continuous or pot still amber color, robust, with dried fruit aromas, dry VS, VSOP, XO (Napoleon) indicate increasing age, but their meing is only legally controlled for Cognac & Armagnac Brandy de Jerez Grape brandy matured in the Sherry region (Spain) pot or continuous still amber or brown color; dried fruit aromas; full bodied with medium sweetness (added sugar) marc or grappa spirit from distilled grape skins or residue left over from fermentation Calvados spirit from distilled, fermented apple or pear juice from northern France Eaux-de-vie spirits Whisk(e)y cereal grains > (starch converted to sugar, which is extracted & fermented) unhopped beer > (distilled, aged) > Whiskey - can be thought of as distilled beer that is matured in oak Scotch whisky distilled & aged (minimum 3 years) in Scotland Malt whisky uses malted barley only, distilled in a copper pot still Amber color; flavors depend on region but can include peat smoke, floral, grain, fruit, dried fruit, honey, spice & wood aromas single malt whisky -malt whiskey that comes from just one distillery -can vary greatly in style blended whisky -a blend of several single malt whiskies & grain whiskey (a lighter style whiskey made using a continuous still) -the best are smooth & well balanced Irish whiskey distilled and aged in Ireland generally smooth, unpeated & dry Bourbon American Whiskey mainly maize, aged in charred new American oak barrels Amber color; cereal, vanilla & oak aromas; robust & some sweetness (from the oak) Tennessee Whiskey similar to Bourbon, but charcoal-filtered, which adds smoky aromas Canadian Whiskey generally large volume continuous-still spirit Rum Sugar cane juice OR watered-down molasses > fermented > distilled> (sometimes aged) > Rum White Rum generally water-white with vodka-like neutral character, and dry Golden Rum gold color; often with fruit & oak aromas; dry or off-dry Dark Rum amber or brown color; often with dried fruit, spice & oak aromas; generally full-bodied and medium or sweet. Color often comes from added caramel, rather than oak Tequila Blue agave > starch converted by cooking, agave crushed and juice fermented > distillation and ageing (rarely) > Tequila Silver/Plata Tequila unaged and water white, intense vegetable, spice aromas Golden Tequila unaged and colored Reposado Tequila short aged, some oak character and pale color Añejo Tequila a long period in oak, deepened color and oak flavors softened palate with often muted agave character Vodka ANY fermentable base material. (cereal grains are most common, but potatoes & grapes are also used) Base material > (starch converted into sugar, if necessary) > fermented, distilled > Vodka only use column still; many use charcoal filtering; do not need aging Neutral Style Vodka continuous still very little character from the base material remains. water white, neutral nose, neutral palate, dry. 'Characterful' style vodka continuous still still almost neutral, but many Polish and Russian, and some other premium Vodkas show delicate characteristics from the base material (rye, wheat, potato, grapes) Gin Neutral base spirit > added botanical flavorings > (redistilled for the best gins) > Gin water white; intense aromas of juniper and other botanicals; dry Continuous still for base spirit, pot still for addition of botanicals Gin Botanicals juniper, coriander, citrus peel + others London Dry Gin the neutral spirit is redistilled with the botanicals to fix the aromas in the spirit. Once redistilled no other botanicals are permitted to be added Cold Compounded Gin the very cheapest gins simply add flavor essences to the neutral spirit Pastis -a spirit that is flavored with a combination of herbs & spices, with anise dominating -related to absinthe & ouzo Liqueurs a sweetened liquid that contains a component of spirit, usually with coloring and flavoring that may be natural or synthetic Crème de Cassis Blackcurrant Liqueur Apricot Liqueur Apricot Brandy Cherry Liqueurs Cherry Brandy Cherry Heering Maraschino Orange Liqueurs Curaçao Cointreau Grand Marnier Peach Liqueur Southern Comfort Multi-herb Liqueurs Bénédictine Chartreuse Drambuie Seed Liqueur Kummel Mint Liqueur Crème de Menthe Coffee Liqueur Kahlua Tia Maria Chocolate Liqueur Crème de Cacao Nut Liqueur Amaretto Malibu Egg Liqueur Advocaat Cream Liqueur Bailey's Irish Cream