What is the base typically used to make Spiced Rum?
Typically made from golden rum that has been sweetened and infused with spices (e.g., vanilla, cinnamon, clove).
How are flavored vodkas traditionally flavored?
Using honey, fruits, and spices added using maceration.
Bison grass is one of the best known aromatic herbs used to flavor vodka.
What is the only botanical that is legally required to be present in Gin?
Juniper
What are some examples of aniseed flavored spirits and where do they come from?
- Pastis and absinthe from France
- Ouzo from Greece
- Raki from Turkey
All are unaged
What process is traditionally used in spirits service and results in an opaque, cloudy suspension?
Louching
What is one of the most well known aniseed drinks in which a producer must use liquorice in addition to aniseed, fennel and star anise?
Pastis
It is normally yellow, green, or green-brown; this drink must be sweetened.
What spirit was banned for decades in the late nineteenth century?
Absinthe
It is banned for decades in the late 19th/early 20th centuries. Bottled at high ABV but traditionally diluted with water before drinking (≈ wine strength).
What are bitters?
A neutral spirits flavored with bitter and aromatic botanicals; often balanced with sugar. Styles include aperitif, digestif, and cocktail bitters.
Describe liqueurs.
They are flavored spirits that have been sweetened. Artificial colors are used as they are often vivid colors. They have a lower ABV compared to other spirits.
When using natural flavors to create spiced rums, why is the process of maceration used?
Because redistillation would damage the aged rum and remove color.
What are the commonly used botanicals found in gin?
- coriander seeds
- citrus peel
- angelica root
- orris root
In the EU, gins must be made from what?
Neutral spirits
Once flavored, where are most gins stored?
Inert vessels
There is a trend to mature gins in oak giving them a pale yellow color and some flavor from the barrel.
What are the three ways to add botanical flavors to neutral spirits using redistillation?
- Neutral spirits are diluted and added to pot still with the botanicals to macerate.
- Botanicals are put in a basket in a tube that connects to the still to the condenser. This creates a much lighter style of gin.
- Distill some of the botanicals individually to create a much more pure flavor.
What chemical is extracted from a few plants to give aniseed flavored spirits their distinct flavor and where is this chemical found?
Anethole
It is found in aniseed, fennel and star anise.
How does absinthe production differ from pastis?
- Absinthe is not sweetened, it is sweetened by the consumer to taste.
- It should be made using wormwood which has a floral aroma and bitter taste.
What are the three categories of bitters?
- Aperitif
- Digestif
- Cocktail
Aperitif - these are brightly colored and balanced sweetness with bitterness.
Digestif - They have a pronounced bitter taste and intense flavor, they are an aid to digestion.
Cocktail - high strength, highly concentrated and intense, intended to be used in cocktails.
What is the difference between the EU and the USA with regards to the term distilled gin on a label?
In the EU, it means that flavors may have been added after redistillation, and in the USA, all flavors must come from redistillation.
What style of gin can only get its flavors by redistillation with no sugar added?
London Dry Gin or Dry Gin
What does “Old Tom” gin indicate on a label?
It usually indicates that sugar has been added.
What was the first brand of cream liqueur?
Baileys
Launched in 1974.
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Tasting and Evaluating Spirits35
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Factors Affecting the Style and Quality of Spirits35
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The Spirits Industry15
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Fruit Spirits26
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Whisky/Whiskey30
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Sugar Cane Spirits37
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Tequila and Mezcal38
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Vodka18
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Techniques for Flavoring and Coloring Spirits13
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Flavored Spirits21
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Aromatised Wines13
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An Introduction to a Spirits Bar41
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Mixing with Spirits36
