WSET Level 2 Spirits Exam Questions And Answers Verified 100% Correct

WSET Level 2 Spirits Exam Questions And Answers Verified 100% Correct What are the most important grains for whisky production? - ANSWER Barley, corn, wheat, rye What needs to happen in grains to create sugar? - ANSWER Convert the starch What are the two techniques to convert starch into sugar? - ANSWER Malting and cooking Which is the grain that undergoes malting? - ANSWER Barley What happens during malting? - ANSWER Grains of barley are placed in a warm, damp room. As the grains grow the plant releases enzymes. Growth is stopped by heating the grains. What do the enzymes created by malting do? - ANSWER Convert starch into sugar What is the name of the sweet liquid created after malting? - ANSWER Wort Where can be Bourbon be made? - ANSWER Anywhere in the USA, majority produced in Kentucky What does the term 'mash bill' refer to? - ANSWER The combination of grains used in a whisky What is the main grain used for Bourbon production? - ANSWER Corn - minimum 51% What are the flavours associated with Corn grains? - ANSWER Sweetcorn What type of still is typically used for Bourbon? - ANSWER Column still - but the newly made spirit is distilled to a low strength What is important about the barrels used for Bourbon maturation? - ANSWER New charred oak. This will add vanilla, coconut and sweet spice flavours What does the term 'single barrel' mean on a bottle of Bourbon? - ANSWER A Bourbon made from just one barrel that the distiller considers to be exceptional What does the term 'small batch' indicate on a bottle of Bourbon? - ANSWER A higher quality product made from a small number of selected casks What does the term 'straight' indicate on a bottle of Bourbon? - ANSWER The whiskey has been matured for at least two years in new oak barrels and that no colour or flavour has been added Where can Tennessee Whiskey be made? - ANSWER Tennessee What is the additional process required for Tennessee Whiskey? - ANSWER The Lincoln County Process - the newly made spirit is filtered through charcoal before it is aged What does the term 'sour mash' indicate on a bottle of Tennessee Whiskey? - ANSWER The acidic residue at the base of the column still from previous distillation has been added back to the fermenter What is the main grain used for Rye Whiskey production? - ANSWER Rye - minimum 51% What are the flavours associated with Rye grains? - ANSWER Spicy, lemon-zest, rye bread What is typically blended in Canadian Whisky? - ANSWER Small amounts of pronounced whisky (flavouring whisky) made from Rye are blended with light-flavoured, high strength whisky made from corn What is important for the production of Single Malt Scotch Whisky? - ANSWER Must be the product of one distillery, made using malted barley, distilled in a pot still, matured in oak for three years What is peat? - ANSWER Partly decayed vegetation What part of the distillation process is peat used in? - ANSWER As the fuel to heat the grains at the end of malting What effect does the shape and height of the still have on the whisky produced? - ANSWER Short stills produce spirits with more pronounced aromas, tall stills produce a lighter style Where do the majority of oak barrels used in Scotland come from? - ANSWER USA - ex-bourbon What is 'wood finishing' in Single Malt Scotch Whisky production? - ANSWER The whisky is moved into a different barrel for a short amount of time at the end of maturation. The barrels have previously contained a wine or spirit (e.g. Port or Sherry) which will add flavour and sometimes colour to the whisky What is important for the production of Blended Scotch Whisky? - ANSWER It is a blend of malt whisky and grain whisky from different distilleries. The grain whisky is distilled to a high strength in a column still What are the five whisky regions of Scotland? - ANSWER Islay, Highland, Campbeltown, Speyside, Lowland What does the age indication on a bottle of Scotch Whisky indicate? - ANSWER The youngest whisky used in the blend What does the term 'natural colour' mean on a bottle of Whisky? - ANSWER The distiller has not used caramel to enhance the colour What does the term 'cask strength' mean on a Whisky? - ANSWER The whisky has been bottled undiluted What is a feature of some Irish Whiskey? - ANSWER Use of unmalted barley. Adds spice, fruit and oily aromas What type of whiskies are made in Japan? - ANSWER Grain whiskies in column stills and malt whiskies in pot stills for both malt and blended whisky What is the raw material for rum? - ANSWER Sugar cane What are the two main sugar cane products used for rum? - ANSWER Sugar cane juice and molasses What are the aromas associated with rums made from sugar cane juice? - ANSWER Vegetal, grassy and fruity aromas What must happen to molasses before it can be used for rum production? - ANSWER It must be diluted with water What is the term used to describe Jamaican rums with exaggerated fruity aromas? - ANSWER High-ester What does the term 'light mark' mean in rum production? - ANSWER Rum that is distilled to relatively high strength (over 90% abv). They are made in column stills and have light intensity What does the term 'heavy mark' mean in rum production? - ANSWER Rum that is distilled to a relatively low strength. They are normally made in pot stills, although there is a wide variety of stills used.