WHISKEY TSP EXAM STUDY GUIDE UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Whiskey is a spirit produced from _______________, as they are not readily fermentable, must first be
modified in order to be converted to alcohol. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Grains.
The _________ __________ are generally believed to be the first to produce a spirit from grains. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Irish Celts.
The present day name "whiskey" is attributable to the Scottish Celtic words uisge beatha, or the Irish
Celtic term uisge baugh (pronounced whis-geh-BAW), both meaning "__________ ___________
__________" or, as some scholars believe, "lively water." - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Water of life.
Every whiskey, regardless of origin, is crafted using a __________ - step production procedure. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅5
The four primary grains or base materials used in the production of whiskey are: - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Barley, corn, rye, and wheat.
Scotch Whisky Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Must be produced in Scotland
from a mash of malted barley and other cereal grains and aged in oak casks in an approved warehouse
in Scotland for a minimum of 3 years.
Irish Whiskey Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Must be produced in Ireland from a
mash of cereals and aged in wooden casks in Ireland for no less than 3 years.
Bourbon Whiskey Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Produced from a fermented
mash of no less than 51% corn, distilled no higher than 160 proof (80% ABV), and stored at no more
than 125 proof in charred new oak containers.
Tennessee Whiskey Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Must be made with a
minimum of 51% corn and distilled at an ABV no higher than 160 proof. These whiskeys have to be
stored in charred new oak containers for at least 2 years and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV. Must be
,produced in the state of Tennessee, and produced using a charcoal filtering technique known as the
Lincoln County Process.
American Whiskey (Rye Whiskey, Wheat Whiskey, Malt Whiskey, Rye Malt Whiskey) Production
Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Produced from a fermented mash of no less than 51% rye,
wheat, malted barley, or malted rye grain respectively. These whiskeys must be distilled no higher than
160 proof (80% ABV) and must be stored at no more than 125 proof in charred new oak containers.
Corn Whiskey Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Must be produced from a
fermented mash of no less than 80% corn and at 160 proof (80% ABV). There is no requirement for corn
whiskey to be stored in oak containers, but if it is, it must be stored at no more than 125 proof in used
or uncharred wood.
Grain Spirits Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Neutral spirits distilled from a
fermented mash of grain and stored in oak containers.
White Whiskey Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Can be produced from unaged
corn whiskey, Light whiskey, slightly aged whiskey, whiskey that has been filtered after a short time in
wood to remove any traces of coloration, and grain neutral spirit.
The _________ __________ or grain bill are the four primary grains used in the production of whiskey
that will be fermented for use in a particular spirit. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Mash bill.
Barley is the most widely used grain because it has the best source of releasing specific
________________. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Enzymes.
____________ plays an essential role throughout the whiskey production process. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Water.
Why should water should be iron-free when producing whiskey? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The
presence of iron can turn a matured whiskey's golden hue into an undesirable black shade.
, In Scotland, the fermentation occurs in large, closed containers called _________________ - these
containers can typically hold up to 13,209 gallons (50,000 liters) and are either made of wood or
stainless steel. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Washbacks.
How long can the fermentation process take? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Anywhere from 40- 72
hours.
When is fermentation process complete? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅When content changes from
sweet to slightly acidic in taste, with an alcoholic content of 7-14% ABV.
True or False: The type and style of barrel used will not impact the finished spirit. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅False.
True or False: The storage conditions under which maturation takes place will have a direct impact on
the finished spirit. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅True.
Six Processes of Spirits Maturation: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅1. Extraction
2. Evaporation
3. Oxidation
4. Concentration
5. Filteration
6. Coloration
Which country has these standards for what defines Whiskey?
- Distilled spirit produced from the fermented mash of grain
- Distilled at less than 190 proof (95% alcohol by volume)
- Produced in a manner such that the distillate possesses the taste, aroma, and characteristics generally
attributed to whiskey
- Bottled at no less than 80 proof (40% alcohol by volume) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅U.S.
What geographical location has these standards for what defines Whiskey?
ANSWERS
Whiskey is a spirit produced from _______________, as they are not readily fermentable, must first be
modified in order to be converted to alcohol. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Grains.
The _________ __________ are generally believed to be the first to produce a spirit from grains. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Irish Celts.
The present day name "whiskey" is attributable to the Scottish Celtic words uisge beatha, or the Irish
Celtic term uisge baugh (pronounced whis-geh-BAW), both meaning "__________ ___________
__________" or, as some scholars believe, "lively water." - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Water of life.
Every whiskey, regardless of origin, is crafted using a __________ - step production procedure. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅5
The four primary grains or base materials used in the production of whiskey are: - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Barley, corn, rye, and wheat.
Scotch Whisky Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Must be produced in Scotland
from a mash of malted barley and other cereal grains and aged in oak casks in an approved warehouse
in Scotland for a minimum of 3 years.
Irish Whiskey Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Must be produced in Ireland from a
mash of cereals and aged in wooden casks in Ireland for no less than 3 years.
Bourbon Whiskey Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Produced from a fermented
mash of no less than 51% corn, distilled no higher than 160 proof (80% ABV), and stored at no more
than 125 proof in charred new oak containers.
Tennessee Whiskey Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Must be made with a
minimum of 51% corn and distilled at an ABV no higher than 160 proof. These whiskeys have to be
stored in charred new oak containers for at least 2 years and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV. Must be
,produced in the state of Tennessee, and produced using a charcoal filtering technique known as the
Lincoln County Process.
American Whiskey (Rye Whiskey, Wheat Whiskey, Malt Whiskey, Rye Malt Whiskey) Production
Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Produced from a fermented mash of no less than 51% rye,
wheat, malted barley, or malted rye grain respectively. These whiskeys must be distilled no higher than
160 proof (80% ABV) and must be stored at no more than 125 proof in charred new oak containers.
Corn Whiskey Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Must be produced from a
fermented mash of no less than 80% corn and at 160 proof (80% ABV). There is no requirement for corn
whiskey to be stored in oak containers, but if it is, it must be stored at no more than 125 proof in used
or uncharred wood.
Grain Spirits Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Neutral spirits distilled from a
fermented mash of grain and stored in oak containers.
White Whiskey Production Regulations: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Can be produced from unaged
corn whiskey, Light whiskey, slightly aged whiskey, whiskey that has been filtered after a short time in
wood to remove any traces of coloration, and grain neutral spirit.
The _________ __________ or grain bill are the four primary grains used in the production of whiskey
that will be fermented for use in a particular spirit. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Mash bill.
Barley is the most widely used grain because it has the best source of releasing specific
________________. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Enzymes.
____________ plays an essential role throughout the whiskey production process. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Water.
Why should water should be iron-free when producing whiskey? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The
presence of iron can turn a matured whiskey's golden hue into an undesirable black shade.
, In Scotland, the fermentation occurs in large, closed containers called _________________ - these
containers can typically hold up to 13,209 gallons (50,000 liters) and are either made of wood or
stainless steel. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Washbacks.
How long can the fermentation process take? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Anywhere from 40- 72
hours.
When is fermentation process complete? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅When content changes from
sweet to slightly acidic in taste, with an alcoholic content of 7-14% ABV.
True or False: The type and style of barrel used will not impact the finished spirit. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅False.
True or False: The storage conditions under which maturation takes place will have a direct impact on
the finished spirit. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅True.
Six Processes of Spirits Maturation: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅1. Extraction
2. Evaporation
3. Oxidation
4. Concentration
5. Filteration
6. Coloration
Which country has these standards for what defines Whiskey?
- Distilled spirit produced from the fermented mash of grain
- Distilled at less than 190 proof (95% alcohol by volume)
- Produced in a manner such that the distillate possesses the taste, aroma, and characteristics generally
attributed to whiskey
- Bottled at no less than 80 proof (40% alcohol by volume) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅U.S.
What geographical location has these standards for what defines Whiskey?
