Gin, Vodka, Whisky, Rum and Cognac

 SPIRIT: a strong distilled alcoholic liquor.

 DISTILLATION: the evaporation and

subsequent condensation of a liquid, as when
water is boiled in a retort and the steam is
condensed in a cool receiver.
 Whisky or whiskey, refers to a broad category of
alcoholic beverages that are distilled from
fermented grain mash and aged in wooden casks
(generally oak).

 Different grains are used for different varieties,

including: barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye,
wheat, and maize (corn).

Scotch whiskies are generally distilled twice, though some are
distilled a third time. International laws require anything bearing
the label "Scotch" to be distilled in Scotland and matured for a
minimum of three years in oak casks


Irish whiskeys are generally distilled three times and must be
aged in wooden casks for a period of not less than three years.
Unpeated malt is almost always used


American whiskeys include both straights and blends. To be
called "straight" the whiskey must be one of the "named types"
listed in the federal regulations and aged in oak casks for at least
two years. The most common of the "named types" are;
◦ Bourbon, which must be between 51% and 79% (inclusive)
corn (maize).
◦ Rye, which must be at least 51% rye.
Pure malt is blended from malt whiskies
from different distilleries

Single malt whisky is malt whisky from

a single distillery most cases. The name
of a single malt will be that of the
distillery (The Glenlivet, Glenmorangie,
Bowmore).

Blended whiskies are normally cheaper

whiskies. A blend is usually from many
distilleries so that the blender can
produce a flavour consistent with the
brand, and the brand name (e.g. Bell's,
Chivas Regal)
http://www.bowmore.co
.uk/ArtOfDistilling.aspx
After watching this video,
explain the following
steps
•Malting
•Brewing
•Fermentation
•Distillation
•Aging
 Rum is a distilled beverage made from
sugarcane by-products such as molasses and
sugarcane juice by a process of fermentation
and distillation.
 Spanish-speaking islands traditionally produce light rums
with a fairly clean taste. Rums from Cuba, Panama the
Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are typical of this style.
 English-speaking islands are known for darker rums with a
fuller taste that retains a greater amount of the underlying
molasses flavor. Rums from Barbados, Bermuda, the
Demerara region of Guyana, Jamaica and also Panama are
typical of this style.
 French-speaking islands are best known for their
agricultural rums (rhum agricole). These rums, being
produced exclusively from sugar cane juice, retain a greater
amount of the original flavor of the sugar cane and are
generally more expensive than molasses-based rums. Rums
from Guadeloupe, Haïti, Marie-Galante and Martinique are
typical of this style.
 The Rum p
roduction
process

 After watching
the video,
explain the
differences
between the
Whisky making
process and the
Rum making
process
 Cognac is a distilled spirit (eau-de-vie) made
from fermented white grapes, and aged for at
least two years

 The spirit can only originate from the town of

Cognac, France, and its six surrounding
viticultural areas
 VS Very Special or *** (three
stars), where the youngest brandy
is stored at least three years in
cask, but on average a total of
five years in cask.
 VSOP Very Special ( or Superior)
Old Pale, or Réserve, where the
youngest brandy is stored at least
four and a half years in cask, but
the average wood age is much
older.
 XO Extra Old and Antique, where
the youngest brandy is stored at
least six years and a half in cask,
but average 20 years upwards.
 Cognac-kno
w-how/distill
ing-remy-m
artin.php

 After
watching the
video,
explain the
Cognac
distillation
process.
 A neutral grain spirit flavoured predominately by
juniper’, by EU law all gins must contain juniper.
◦ LONDON DRY GIN is so called because of the type of
distillation used, it is a dry gin and doesn’t have to be
distilled in London as the name suggests. The only
London Dry Gin to be distilled in London is Beefeater.

◦ GENEVER GIN or Dutch gin is from the Netherlands

and is very strong & heavy in juniper. The most
common brand is Bols which is in a brown stone
bottle.

◦ PLYMOUTH GIN has the gin of the same name and

must be distilled in the South West of England as it
must use the water from Dartmoor in its distillation
process.
JUNIPER BERRIES CORIANDER LIQUORICE ALMONDS

LEMON PEEL CASSIA BARK ORRIS

http://www.bombaysapphire.com/h
ome/default.aspx?locale=int#navig
ationPath=Essence%2ESpirit%2E
Distillation&commandIndex=2

After Watching this video,

explain briefly the
distillation method use and
why it is so unique.

Also list the principal

advantage and disadvantage
of this unique distillation
process.
 Vodka is typically a colorless liquid
preparation meant for consumption
containing ethanol purified by distillation
from a fermented substance such as fruit,
vegetables, or grain.
 Vodka may be distilled from any starch/sugar-rich
plant matter; most vodka today is produced from
grains such as sorghum, corn, rye, or wheat.
 Some vodka is made from potatoes, molasses,
soybeans, grapes, sugar beets. In some Central
European countries like Poland some vodka is
produced by just fermenting a solution of crystal
sugar and yeast
 The "stillmaster" is the person in charge of distilling
the vodka and directing its filtration. When done
correctly, much of the "heads" and the "tails" separated
in distillation process are discarded.
 Through numerous rounds of distillation, the taste of
the vodka is improved and its clarity is enhanced.

 the final filtered and distilled vodka may have as much

as 95-96% ethanol. As such, most vodka is diluted
with water prior to bottling.

 This level of distillation is what truly separates a rye-

based vodka (for example) from a rye whisky.
 While most vodkas are unflavoured, a wide variety
of flavoured vodkas have long been produced in
traditional vodka-drinking areas.

 Flavourings include red pepper, ginger, various

fruit flavours, vanilla, chocolate (without
sweetener), and cinnamon.