Test your basic knowledge |

Certified Specialist Of Spirits

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. The congener acetaldehyde in vodka would most likely produce aroma/flavor characteristics of...
0.5% abv
the intent is to create a neutral spirit by cooking off most odor and flavor compounds
Prior to fermentation
Coffee or wine

2. The maximum proof of distillation for bourbon whiskey is...
Hemi-cellulose component
Hydrolysis
pre-used white oak whiskey barrels
160 proof

3. Mexican law allows some finished tequilas to be...
exported in bulk and bottled outside the country
Kidney and bladder problems
50/50
Coffee or wine

4. Liqueur is derived for the latin term 'liquifacere' meaning...
Mixto (will be labeled as 'Tequila')
Dissolve or melt
Prior to fermentation
191.2 proof

5. The blue agave is reproduced commercially through asexual reproduction and will be ready for harvest in...
Heart
6--8 years
Dissolve or melt
Blackthorn Plum

6. A Gin spirit base may be distilled from...
Curacao
ugar cane juice and/or molasses
173F
Sugar cane or molasses - Grape concentrate - Root vegetables - Gin does not specify a particular spirit source.

7. For rums - U.S. recognizes only Anejo designation at a...
Succulent
one year minimum
Rum
Place of work

8. Most barrel aged rums use...
6 months in barrel; 1 year in larger casks
Cut the flower stalk
pre-used white oak whiskey barrels
Noble

9. In whiskey - 'mash' refers to...
Cold Compounding and Compounding Essence
mixture of cooked grains and water before adding yeast
Be made from raw sugar cane - not molasses
125 proof or less

10. In the U.S. - Fruit Flavored Brandy may contain...
Fewer congeners
Up to 15% wine base - but 12.5% of the 15% must be of the same fruit listed on the label.
Pina
pre-used white oak whiskey barrels

11. European Union Brandy allows ______________
permit added caramel coloring
It is matured in used barrels - It is stored in a cool - damp environment - It is generally stored in stone barrel houses - The climatic conditions are cooler than in the USA
Distiller's beer
Gold (Gold is not recognized as a classification; Gold is Joven Abocado classification.)

12. EU Brandy rules stipulate that brandy aged in oak barrels or casks...
6--8 years
80--94
the intent is to create a neutral spirit by cooking off most odor and flavor compounds
6 months in barrel; 1 year in larger casks

13. The primary flavoring agent for Sloe Gin is...
120 proof
Bottled in Bond
Blackthorn Plum
160 proof

14. Which of the following is NOT a proprietary liqueur?
Place of work
Pina
Curacao
maturation profile

15. Irish Pot Still Whiskey is made from 100% barley in malted and unmalted form and is...
Crafted from grain - Distilled at less than 190 proof - Aged in oak containers - Bottled at no less than 80 proof c.
only made in Ireland
10% a year
Tahona

16. The term 'beverage' is derived from the Latin bibere - meaning...
Evaporation and condensation
to drink
Coffee or wine
Hydrolysis

17. Blended (Vatted) Malt Scotch Whisky: a blend of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies - which have been distilled at ________________ - Do not confuse with 'Blended Scotch Whisky.'
ugar cane juice and/or molasses
water of life
more than one distillery
in any country; generic liqueur

18. If an age statement for barrel aging is stated on the label it signifies...
It is from a single barrel of whiskey - it is made from 100% corn grain - it is aged for a minimum of two years in charred barrels - no additives but caramel coloring for consistency can be used
51% agave
column/pot combination still
the age of the youngest rum in the blend

19. Which of the following is NOT a cold extraction method...
The Caribbean Islands
Distiller's beer
Flavor extraction method & base spirit selection
Distllation---distillation is a heat extraction method.

20. Non-alcoholic beverages - such as beer and wine may contain no more than_____ percent alcohol by Volume (abv).
Noble
Crafted from grain - Distilled at less than 190 proof - Aged in oak containers - Bottled at no less than 80 proof c.
Jicama
0.5% abv

21. Natural ethanol is described as resembling...
3 years
in any country; generic liqueur
a solvent with a hint of lemon
Prior to fermentation

22. If an American whiskey is labeled 'Straight' - what does that signify?
Pulque
It is from a single barrel of whiskey - it is made from 100% corn grain - it is aged for a minimum of two years in charred barrels - no additives but caramel coloring for consistency can be used
Gold (Gold is not recognized as a classification; Gold is Joven Abocado classification.)
Charcoal

23. The least costly method of producing liqueurs is...
Compounding
Jicama
50/50
Full-bodied and pungent

24. Slower-working yeast cultures cause more esters to develop in fermentation - thus creating...
t least one year
Fuller-tasting rums
Crafted from grain - Distilled at less than 190 proof - Aged in oak containers - Bottled at no less than 80 proof c.
Bottled in Bond

25. Armagnac may be the result of a single distillation in a...
Cut the flower stalk
Backset - also called Sour Mash Method.
column/pot combination still
6 months in barrel; 1 year in larger casks

26. Rum may be made from...
0.5% abv
ugar cane juice and/or molasses
10% a year
Full-bodied and pungent

27. The great majority of tequilas consumed outside of Mexico are termed...

28. Two of the four sources of flavor for all liqueurs are...
Flavor extraction method & base spirit selection
in any country; generic liqueur
Kidney and bladder problems
Place of work

29. The non-distilled beverage alcohol crafted from agave is called...
exported in bulk and bottled outside the country
Pulque
Dissolve or melt
the intent is to create a neutral spirit by cooking off most odor and flavor compounds

30. Which of the terms below is NOT one of the five classifications of post-distilled tequila?
Gold (Gold is not recognized as a classification; Gold is Joven Abocado classification.)
loral and fruity
120 proof
Brouillis

31. Rums from French Guyana or Haiti would be most likely to fall into the predominant style of...
permit added caramel coloring
Fuller-tasting rums
It is from a single barrel of whiskey - it is made from 100% corn grain - it is aged for a minimum of two years in charred barrels - no additives but caramel coloring for consistency can be used
Full-bodied and pungent

32. In England - Gin distillers tend to favor a heavier mixture of __________
6--8 years
125 proof or less
Barley
80--94

33. The process step in which the inulin is converted to fermentable sugars is called...
Pina
to drink
Hydrolysis
51% agave

34. Vodka in its 'original' form comes in three flavor presentation styles - that are...
pre-used white oak whiskey barrels
Crisp and Clean - Medium - Creamy
charcoal mellowed
2 years minimum

35. The minimum aging time in barrel for Extra Anejo tequila is...
3 years
Curacao
50/50
Crafted from grain - Distilled at less than 190 proof - Aged in oak containers - Bottled at no less than 80 proof c.

36. Spain produces and consumes large quantities of gin. What is the most prevalent gin style in Spain?
decomposed plant matter
Distilled and bottled in Mexico
London Dry gin
Cut the flower stalk

37. The most commonly used process of neutralizing vodka after distillation utilizes...
warmer
2 years minimum
Tahona
Charcoal

38. Scotch whisky requires a longer maturation than its bourbon cousin because...
Charcoal
0.5% abv
Heart
It is matured in used barrels - It is stored in a cool - damp environment - It is generally stored in stone barrel houses - The climatic conditions are cooler than in the USA

39. Prior to harvesting an agave plant for tequila a necessary step is to...
120 proof
Cut the flower stalk
Place of work
2 years minimum

40. 'Compound Gin' may be created in which two methods...
Backset - also called Sour Mash Method.
Hydrolysis
Cold Compounding and Compounding Essence
mixture of cooked grains and water before adding yeast

41. The two distinct families of Brandy are...
Grapes/Fruits
A blend of pot still and column still distillation - a blend of sugar cane and molasses base - a blend of aged and un-aged rums
Distilled and bottled in Mexico
Curacao--a bitter orange liqueur derived from oranges from the Curacao island of the Caribbean. Now a generic liqueur

42. Distillation is the process of separating alcohol from a fermented liquid by a series of...
more than one distillery
Backset - also called Sour Mash Method.
Evaporation and condensation
mixture of cooked grains and water before adding yeast

43. Genever/Hollands style Gins are not limited to being fermented and distilled in either...
Cut the flower stalk
3 years
Holland or Belgium
Dissolve or melt

44. A Tennessee whiskey is different from a bourbon whiskey because it is...
charcoal mellowed
Rum
London Dry gin
Barley

45. Common heat distillation cannot exceed...
Pineau de Charentes
Place of work
Compounding
191.2 proof

46. The strength of distillation was originally 'proved pure' by burning gunpowder with spirit to achieve an even blue flame at what alcohol to water ratio?
51% agave
Cut the flower stalk
50/50
a solvent with a hint of lemon

47. Every whiskey is crafted with the same five sources of flavor: grain recipe - fermentation process - distillation process - maturation process and...
Water
to drink
Crafted from grain - Distilled at less than 190 proof - Aged in oak containers - Bottled at no less than 80 proof c.
Bottled in Bond

48. In the U.S. - Brandy must achieve a minimum bottling of 80 proof (40% abv). In Europe - the minimum strength at bottling is...
Be made from raw sugar cane - not molasses
36% alcohol72 proof
to drink
Crafted from grain - Distilled at less than 190 proof - Aged in oak containers - Bottled at no less than 80 proof c.

49. The most prevalent form of Rum production is...
Curacao
Industriel
to drink
Cold Compounding and Compounding Essence

50. Gin was originally crafted for medical reasons - specifically to deal with...
Charcoal
Kidney and bladder problems
Backset - also called Sour Mash Method.
125 proof or less