WSET Level 2 Spirits - Chapters 1 – 4
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
What is the aim of processing the raw material? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅To create a
sugary liquid
What happens during alcoholic fermentation? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Yeast eats
sugars to create alcohol, congeners and carbon dioxide
What system is used in the USA to express alcohol content? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Proof. Two degrees proof equals 1% abv
What is the aim of distillation? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅To select and concentrate parts
of the alcoholic liquid (alcohol and congeners) and leave others behind
What is the aim of post-distillation operations? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅To ensure that
when a spirit is put on sale it has the correct colour, aroma, sweetness and alcoholic strength
What is the most important alcohol in a spirit? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Ethanol
What type of aromas are created by esters? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Fruity aromas
What is the appearance of a newly made spirit? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Water-white
and colourless
Ethanol boils at a lower temperature than pure water. True or False? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅TRUE
What is the name of the section of the still between the pot and the head? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Swan neck
, What is the typical heat source for a pot still? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Steam
What is the purpose of a condenser in a pot still? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Converts the
vapours back to a liquid
In pot still distillation, what happens in the first distillation? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Distil alcoholic liquid into low wines, discard watery waste
In pot still distillation, what is the typical abv of the low wines? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅25-30%
In pot still distillation, what happens in the second distillation? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Distil low wines with heads and tails of previous batch, separate heads,
hearts and tails, discard watery waste
What happens to the heads and tails at the end of the second distillation? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅They are collected and used for the next distillation
What is the name for the portion of the second distillation that will be kept and sold? -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Heart
Column stills can run continuously. True or false? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅TRUE
In a column still, where are the hearts typically taken from? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A
plate just below the top of the still
What is the highest abv that can be reached in a column still? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅96%
What intensity would you expect in a spirit taken off the still at 75%? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Pronounced
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
What is the aim of processing the raw material? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅To create a
sugary liquid
What happens during alcoholic fermentation? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Yeast eats
sugars to create alcohol, congeners and carbon dioxide
What system is used in the USA to express alcohol content? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Proof. Two degrees proof equals 1% abv
What is the aim of distillation? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅To select and concentrate parts
of the alcoholic liquid (alcohol and congeners) and leave others behind
What is the aim of post-distillation operations? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅To ensure that
when a spirit is put on sale it has the correct colour, aroma, sweetness and alcoholic strength
What is the most important alcohol in a spirit? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Ethanol
What type of aromas are created by esters? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Fruity aromas
What is the appearance of a newly made spirit? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Water-white
and colourless
Ethanol boils at a lower temperature than pure water. True or False? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅TRUE
What is the name of the section of the still between the pot and the head? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Swan neck
, What is the typical heat source for a pot still? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Steam
What is the purpose of a condenser in a pot still? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Converts the
vapours back to a liquid
In pot still distillation, what happens in the first distillation? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Distil alcoholic liquid into low wines, discard watery waste
In pot still distillation, what is the typical abv of the low wines? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅25-30%
In pot still distillation, what happens in the second distillation? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Distil low wines with heads and tails of previous batch, separate heads,
hearts and tails, discard watery waste
What happens to the heads and tails at the end of the second distillation? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅They are collected and used for the next distillation
What is the name for the portion of the second distillation that will be kept and sold? -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Heart
Column stills can run continuously. True or false? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅TRUE
In a column still, where are the hearts typically taken from? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A
plate just below the top of the still
What is the highest abv that can be reached in a column still? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅96%
What intensity would you expect in a spirit taken off the still at 75%? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Pronounced
