WSET LEVEL 1 SPIRITS LATEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) GRADED A+

WSET LEVEL 1 SPIRITS LATEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) GRADED A+ Flavor of single malt - ANSWER-Cereal, fruits, flowers, honey, fruit cake, sweet spices Why does malt whiskey taste like smoke? - ANSWER-Burning peat Blended scotch whiskies must be: - ANSWER-A blend of malt whiskeys and grain whiskeys from different distilleries Grain whiskey is distilled how? - ANSWER-Column still Number one state for bourbon production? - ANSWER-Kentucky Factors that determine Bourbon: - ANSWER-51% of grain must be corn Made using a column still Aged in new oak barrels Flavors of bourbon - ANSWER-Sweet corn, cereal, fruit, vanilla, coconut How does Tennessee whiskey differ from Bourbon? - ANSWER-Must be passed through a maple charcoal filter before it is out into oak barrels Does the charcoal add flavor to the whiskey? - ANSWER-No, but gives a smoother character How does Rye whiskey differ from Bourbon? - ANSWER-51% of grains must be rye Scent of rye whiskey - ANSWER-Lemon, spicy peppery aromas Raw material used to made rum? Majority of distillers use what raw material? - ANSWER-Sugar cane Molasses Taste of sugar cane juice rum? - ANSWER-Vegetal flavor Flavor from molasses rum? - ANSWER-Grassy flavors What flavor does fermentation bring to rum? - ANSWER-Tropical fruit aromas Rum distillation options - ANSWER-Pot stills-full of flavor Column still- light flavor intensity After distillation for rum: - ANSWER-Aged in oak-vanilla, sweet spice aroma Unaged-ensure flavor goes unchanged Styles of rum: - ANSWER-White-light flavor, grassy fruit aroma Spirits Production Process - ANSWER-Process Raw Materials Fermentation Distillation After Distillation Aim of processing raw material? - ANSWER-Create a sugary liquid so that fermentation can take place What do you add to sugary liquid? - ANSWER-Water Aim of fermentation? - ANSWER-Turn surgery liquid into alcoholic liquid Aim of distillation - ANSWER-Concentrate level of alcohol in the fermented alcoholic liquid Aim of after distillation - ANSWER-New spirit is colorless and dry. Adjust color aroma sweetness and alcoholic strength What is a brandy? - ANSWER-Any spirit made from fruit What is a grape brandy - ANSWER-Wine that has been distilled. Best known is Cognac which comes from SW France Steps to make Cognac - ANSWER-Process grapes Fermentation Distilled After Distillation Cognac must be distilled how? - ANSWER-Double distilled in a pot still Pot stills produce what kind of spirits? - ANSWER-Low strength, a lot of flavor and character How long must Cognac be aged in oak barrels? - ANSWER-At least two years What flavor does oak ageing give? - ANSWER-Vanilla and toast, after longer-fruit cake and toffee aromas Types of cognac - ANSWER-VS VSOP XO True or false: vodka can be made from any raw material - ANSWER-True-high quality made from- barley, wheat, rye, and potatoes Vodka must be distilled to a strength of at least what? - ANSWER-95 or 96% Distillation of vodka? - ANSWER-Column still After distillation-vodka is reduced to what abv? - ANSWER-40% Unaged spirits after distillation process - ANSWER-Colorless, stores in stainless steel tanks Styles of vodka - ANSWER-Neutral vodka Vodka with some character Best known examples of whisky come from where? - ANSWER-Scotland, USA, Ireland, and Canada What is whiskey generally made of? - ANSWER-Barley Corn Rye How is barley processed to make whiskey? - ANSWER-Malting- crushed and mixed with water to make sugary liquid After distillation of whiskey process - ANSWER-Aged in oak Blended and colored Diluted to 40% New oak barrel taste for whiskey? - ANSWER-Vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, and coconut Does bourbon need to be aged in new oak barrels? - ANSWER-Yes What do old oak barrels do to flavor? - ANSWER-Less flavor and color Blending a whiskey aims: - ANSWER-Consistency Complexity Color used in whiskey? - ANSWER-Caramel