level 1 award in spirits 2012 welcome to your level 1 award in spirits

Level 1 Award in Spirits

2012

Welcome to your

Level 1 AwardLevel 1 Award

in Spirits


2012

Course Outline

• introduction to spirits

• social responsibility

• spirits categories

• revision

• exam


2012

Element 1: Introduction to Spirits

• what is a spirit?

• raw materials

• distillation

• post distillation

• additions before bottling

• tasting spirits



2012

What is a Spirit?

an alcoholic liquid that has had its alcohol level increased by distillation

raw material

fermentation distillationalcoholic liquid

spirit



2012

Raw Materials

plants with a store of starch or sugar

grain• e.g. barley, maize, wheat

fruit• e.g. grapes

sugar cane• e.g. molasses

vegetable• e.g. potato, agave



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Raw Materials

starch must be converted to sugar prior to fermentation

sugar•fruits

•sugar cane

starch•grains

•vegetables

fermentationsugar + yeast

conversion

alcoholic liquid

carbon dioxide



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Distillation

alcoholic liquid

alcohol evaporates

water stays behind

vapours condense

spiritcoolheat

concentration of the alcohol



2012

Distillation

heat source

condenseralcoholic vapour rises

through the still

alcoholic liquid

spirit

alcoholic vapour condenses

pot still: batch process



2012

Distillation

spirit out

at each level the alcohol becomes more concentrated

alcoholic vapour enters the still

column still: can run continuously



2012

Distillation

typical influence of still on flavour

pot still• lower strength• more character• often needs ageing• sharper alcohol

column still• higher strength• less character• can be bottled immediately• smoother alcohol



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Post Distillation

Ageing in Oak

soften alcohol

add colour• new spirit is colourless• aged spirits are golden – brown

add flavours• smoke, vanilla, dried fruit, toffee

more concentrated with age

Note:- many spirits are unaged



2012

Post Distillation

Blending

blending creates a consistent house style using spirits of different

• regions• distilleries• styles • ages

particularly important for aged spirits



2012

Additions before Bottling

neutral water• used to reduce the alcohol

flavouring• essences, maceration or

re-distillation

colouring• caramel (others for liqueurs) • used to achieve consistency

sugar• liqueurs only



2012

WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting Spirits

Colour colourless – golden – brown – other

Aroma and Flavour Intensity

light – medium – pronounced

Aroma and Flavour Characteristics

e.g. fruity, floral, vegetable, grain, spice, herb, oak

Other alcohol – body – sweetness

Finish short – longsimple – complex



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Sample Tasting Note

Name:

8 Year Old Wood Aged Rum Price:

£24.99

Colour Golden


Pronounced

Aroma and Flavour Characteristics Ripe tropical f ruits, vanilla, sweet spice

Other Full-bodied

Finish Long and Complex



2012

four key legal areas

• legal age to purchase and consume alcohol

• blood alcohol concentrations for drivers

• sensible drinking guidelines

• restrictions covering the marketing, packaging and sale of alcohol

Element 2: Social Responsibility

Social Responsibility


2012

legal age to purchase and legal drinking age

• legal minimums are set in most countries

• limits young peoples access to alcohol

• the legal purchasing and drinking age are often different




2012

blood alcohol concentration (BAC)

• alcohol can impair the abilities of drivers and operators of dangerous machinery

• most countries have legal limits

• “designated driver” best practice




2012

sensible drinking guidelines

• women should not exceed an average of 2 units a day

• men should not exceed an average of 3 units a day

• try not to exceed four units on any one occasion

• try to have one or two alcohol free days a week

standard drinks

• W.H.O. guidelines a unit is 10-12ml of alcohol




2012



the risk of drinking to drunkenness

• an increased risk of injury and accidents• a greater risk of having unsafe sex• an increased risk of fights and arguments• risk of alcohol poisoning, coma and brain damage


2012

health risks of excess drinking

• alcohol dependence

• cirrhosis of the liver

• cardiac arrest and stroke

• stomach disorders

• increased risk of certain types of cancer

• family and job related difficulties




2012

Spirit Categories

spirits come in many categories

• Vodka• Rum• Tequila• Whisk(e)y• Gin • Cognac• Liqueurs

Spirits CategoriesElement 3: Spirits Categories


2012

Vodka

a vodka is any spirit distilled to 95-96% abv

Element 3: Spirits Categories

raw materials• grains: rye, wheat and barley• other: grapes, potato

distillation• column stills• pot stills sometimes used

cannot achieve 96% alone

after distillation• sold unaged• sometimes flavoured


2012

Vodka

marketing vodka•lifestyle•distinctive packaging•unusual raw material•unusual production method•country unknown for vodka production

serving vodka•popular cocktail ingredient



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Rum

raw material• sugar cane juice (Rhum Agricole)• molasses

distillation• pot stills and column stills

after distillation• unaged • wood aged• use of caramel (Navy Rum)

the classic region for rum is the Caribbean



2012

Rum

marketing rum•lifestyle•distinctive packaging•heritage•range of styles

serving rum•unaged: popular cocktail ingredient•aged: cocktail ingredient or sipping drink•popularly mixed with cola



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2012

Tequila

raw material• blue agave

conversion• starchy core is cooked

distillation• low strength, characterful

spirit

after distillation• unaged or wood aged

must come from the Tequila region in Mexico



2012

Tequila

styles of Tequila

Blanco (silver)

• unaged

Joven (gold)

• unaged with caramel added

Reposado

• aged in wood for up to 1 year

Añejo

• aged for between 1 and 3 years in oak barrels



2012

marketing Tequila•lifestyle•heritage•distinctive packaging•100% agave•sought after cocktail ingredient

serving Tequila•unaged: popular cocktail ingredient•aged: cocktail ingredient or sipping drink

Tequila



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2012

Whisk(e)y

raw material• grains: barley, maize, others

conversion• malting process

distillation• pot and column stills used

after distillation• wood aged

famous regions throughout the globe



2012

Scotch Whisky

aged minimum 3 years in Scotland

Malt Whisky• malted barley only• pot stills only• peat can give a smoky flavour

Grain Whisky• malted barley, other grains• column still

Blended Whisky• blend of malt and grain whisky

Speyside

Highland

IslayGlasgow Edinburgh

England

Lowland

Campbeltown

Orkney Isles



2012

Irish Whiskey

• only four whiskey distilleries• grains: malted barley,

unmalted barley, other grains• pot and column stills• generally unpeated• typically lighter, smoother

than Scotch



2012

American Whiskey

key states Kentucky and Tennessee

Bourbon• can be made anywhere in USA• famously made in Kentucky• must contain 51% maize• new oak charred barrels

Tennessee Whiskey • can only be made in Tennessee• maplewood charcoal filter which

adds subtle smoky flavours



2012

Whisk(e)y


marketing whisk(e)y

•heritage•lifestyle•distinctive packaging•limited releases


2012

Whisk(e)y


serving whisk(e)y

•Malt Whisky: sipping drink•Blended Whisky: sipping drink, cocktails or long drink•Irish Whiskey: sipping drink, cocktails, long drink•Bourbon: sipping drink or cocktail ingredient•Tennessee: sipping drink, cocktails or long drinks.

popularly mixed with ginger ale or cola


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2012

Gin

famous link with Britain and London

raw material• 96% abv neutral spirit• botanicals: juniper, coriander

seeds, citrus peel, angelica root

flavouring• distillation in pot stills• essences

after distillation• unaged



2012

Gin

marketing gin•lifestyle•distinctive packaging•unusual botanical•sought after cocktail ingredient

serving gin•used widely in cocktails•popularly served with tonic water



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2012

Cognac

must come from the Cognac region in France

raw material• grapes

distillation• pot stills

after distillation• wood aged• length of ageing

determines style



2012

Cognac

styles of Cognac• defined by the age of the youngest

spirit in the blend

VS• 2 years old

VSOP• 4 years old

XO / Napoléon • 6 years old

• flavours become more concentrated and complex with age.



2012

Cognac

marketing Cognac•heritage•lifestyle•distinctive packaging•limited releases

serving Cognac•popular as a sipping drink•used in cocktails



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2012

Liqueurs

made throughout the worldraw material

• spirit: e.g. neutral, brandy, whisky • flavourings: dairy, herbs, fruits,

kernel/nuts• sugar

flavouring• essences, maceration or re-

distillation

after distillation• mostly unaged

• coloured



2012

Liqueurs

marketing liqueurs•distinctive packaging•distinctive colouring•cocktail ingredient•unique flavouring

serving liqueurs•widely used in cocktails•sometimes drunk on their own•very varied, ranging from simple to complex



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Revision


2012

1. Complete the answer sheet in pencil

3. Fill in the circle beneath each letter or number

2. Write in numbers and letters for each section

Take special care to fill in Paper Number correctly

4. Answer each question by filling in the ONE circle you think is the correct answer.

Do not use any other marks

Revision

level 1 award in spirits 2012 welcome to your level 1 award in spirits

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