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. Gin was originally crafted for medical reasons - specifically to deal with...
in any country; generic liqueur
marc
Kidney and bladder problems
pyrolysis

2. Which of the terms below is NOT one of the five classifications of post-distilled tequila?
maturation profile
Gold (Gold is not recognized as a classification; Gold is Joven Abocado classification.)
Rum
Aguamiel

3. Distillation of Rum from 'beer' will form new congeners as a result of...
50/50
pyrolysis
decomposed plant matter
caramelized wood sugars in the barrel

4. Which of the following is NOT a brandy?
Evaporation and condensation
Kidney and bladder problems
Grapes/Fruits
Pineau de Charentes

5. Slower-working yeast cultures cause more esters to develop in fermentation - thus creating...
1. Made in USA 2. minimum 51% corn 3. maximum 160 Proof distillation 3. maximum 125 Proof in barrel 4. Aged in charred - new American white oak barrel 5. Water only additive
Fuller-tasting rums
Impurities in the alcohol after distillation
Prior to fermentation

6. Cordial is derived from the Latin word 'cordialis' meaning...
Heart
Crisp and Clean - Medium - Creamy
Barley
Rum

7. The harvested stem of the agave is called a cabeza or...
Pina
Distilled and bottled in Mexico
Distllation---distillation is a heat extraction method.
1. Made in USA 2. minimum 51% corn 3. maximum 160 Proof distillation 3. maximum 125 Proof in barrel 4. Aged in charred - new American white oak barrel 5. Water only additive

8. If a Rum is produced in the Agricole tradition - it must...
varietal-specific brandies
50/50
Be made from raw sugar cane - not molasses
Distilled and bottled in Mexico

9. Dunder - in rum - is most similar to what New World whiskey makers refer to as __________________.
6 months in barrel; 1 year in larger casks
Tahona
Pina
Backset - also called Sour Mash Method.

10. In Rum production - a finished product may be the result of...
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
Gold (Gold is not recognized as a classification; Gold is Joven Abocado classification.)
Grapes/Fruits
Pina

11. Common heat distillation cannot exceed...
191.2 proof
Cold Compounding and Compounding Essence
mixture of cooked grains and water before adding yeast
36% alcohol72 proof

12. Vodka in its 'original' form comes in three flavor presentation styles - that are...
Crisp and Clean - Medium - Creamy
The Caribbean Islands
London Dry gin
More full-bodied

13. A Tennessee whiskey is different from a bourbon whiskey because it is...
charcoal mellowed
45% alcohol by volume
Heart
Industriel

14. Distillation is the process of separating alcohol from a fermented liquid by a series of...
warmer
Grapes/Fruits
Evaporation and condensation
173F

15. Spain produces and consumes large quantities of gin. What is the most prevalent gin style in Spain?
Up to 15% wine base - but 12.5% of the 15% must be of the same fruit listed on the label.
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
London Dry gin
permit added caramel coloring

16. Agave is derived from the Greek word for...
Grapes/Fruits
permit added caramel coloring
Noble
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

17. The minimum aging time in barrel for Extra Anejo tequila is...
3 years
Cold Compounding and Compounding Essence
Full-bodied and pungent
Hydrolysis

18. Tequila is a word of Nahuatl derivation which means...
Pulque
Place of work
loral and fruity
Backset - also called Sour Mash Method.

19. Which of the following is NOT a proprietary liqueur?
varietal-specific brandies
Succulent
3 years
Curacao

20. The congener acetaldehyde in vodka would most likely produce aroma/flavor characteristics of...
Distilled and bottled in Mexico
to drink
Pina
Coffee or wine

21. Congeners are...
Two and one-half percent (2.5%)
Distiller's beer
Impurities in the alcohol after distillation
one year minimum

22. The extracted and cooked sap of the harvested agave is called...
Curacao
pyrolysis
Aguamiel
45% alcohol by volume

23. Bourbon whiskey produced at one distillery - during one distilling season - aged a minimum of four years and bottled at 100 proof - is called...
to drink
Bottled in Bond
Fuller-tasting rums
ugar cane juice and/or molasses

24. The minimum sugar content allowed in liqueurs is...
Flavor extraction method & base spirit selection
Charcoal
Two and one-half percent (2.5%)
Hydrolysis

25. The alcohol range for most Gin in the U.S. is...
80--94
Mixto (will be labeled as 'Tequila')
exported in bulk and bottled outside the country
t least one year

26. Brandy made by the Solera Process...
Distiller's beer
Noble
warmer
requires topping barrels from other barrels in a series (similar to Sherry Solera Process).

27. The initial distillation to separate alcohol vapors from water yields...

28. In whiskey - 'mash' refers to...
Curacao--a bitter orange liqueur derived from oranges from the Curacao island of the Caribbean. Now a generic liqueur
mixture of cooked grains and water before adding yeast
Rum
to drink

29. Anejo tequila must be aged in wooden barrels no larger than 600 liters for...
Barley
Distilled and bottled in Mexico
t least one year
Curacao--a bitter orange liqueur derived from oranges from the Curacao island of the Caribbean. Now a generic liqueur

30. Barrel aged Rum may lose up to _________ a year of product to evaporation in the hotter producing areas.
Aguamiel
10% a year
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
Heart

31. The first New World spirit category to be developed commercially is...
6--8 years
more than one distillery
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
Rum

32. The origin of Rum is generally considered to be...
The Caribbean Islands
36% alcohol72 proof
marc
Pina

33. What are the five requirements for Bourbon Whiskey?
1. Made in USA 2. minimum 51% corn 3. maximum 160 Proof distillation 3. maximum 125 Proof in barrel 4. Aged in charred - new American white oak barrel 5. Water only additive
exported in bulk and bottled outside the country
Pina
173F

34. Most barrel aged rums use...
t least one year
50/50
pre-used white oak whiskey barrels
125 proof or less

35. Peat - which gives Scotch Whisky a distinctive smoky aroma and flavor is...
Tahona
decomposed plant matter
173F
Pina

36. Agave is one of the six primary areas of tequila flavor. Of the following five - which is NOT a primary source of flavor?...
Pina
Jicama
more than one distillery
charcoal mellowed

37. If an American whiskey is labeled 'Straight' - what does that signify?
Two and one-half percent (2.5%)
Charcoal
ugar cane juice and/or molasses
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

38. A Gin spirit base may be distilled from...
decomposed plant matter
Sugar cane or molasses - Grape concentrate - Root vegetables - Gin does not specify a particular spirit source.
Grains
Fuller-tasting rums

39. If labeled as '100% Agave' the tequila must be...
Brouillis
t least one year
Industriel
Distilled and bottled in Mexico

40. The 'New World' styles of whiskey showcase the impact of...
maturation profile
Pineau de Charentes
Jicama
pyrolysis

41. The global definition for whiskey is...
mixture of cooked grains and water before adding yeast
Crafted from grain - Distilled at less than 190 proof - Aged in oak containers - Bottled at no less than 80 proof c.
6 months in barrel; 1 year in larger casks
10% a year

42. Irish Pot Still Whiskey is made from 100% barley in malted and unmalted form and is...
160 proof
only made in Ireland
Water
Aguamiel

43. Genever/Hollands style Gins are not limited to being fermented and distilled in either...
Pulque
Full-bodied and pungent
Jicama
Holland or Belgium

44. The most prevalent form of Rum production is...
Rum
Industriel
36% alcohol72 proof
mixture of cooked grains and water before adding yeast

45. In the U.S. - Brandy must achieve a minimum bottling of 80 proof (40% abv). In Europe - the minimum strength at bottling is...
Heart
more than one distillery
decomposed plant matter
36% alcohol72 proof

46. Sambuca liqueur can be made...
6 months in barrel; 1 year in larger casks
in any country; generic liqueur
Aguamiel
Cold Compounding and Compounding Essence

47. In general terms - Plymouth Gin will be _________________________than London Dry Gin.
Bottled in Bond
Fewer congeners
Backset - also called Sour Mash Method.
More full-bodied

48. The term 'beverage' is derived from the Latin bibere - meaning...
Backset - also called Sour Mash Method.
Jicama
exported in bulk and bottled outside the country
to drink

49. The most commonly used process of neutralizing vodka after distillation utilizes...
Full-bodied and pungent
Pina
Hemi-cellulose component
Charcoal

50. Blended (Vatted) Malt Scotch Whisky: a blend of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies - which have been distilled at ________________ - Do not confuse with 'Blended Scotch Whisky.'
The Triangle Trade
one year minimum
more than one distillery
Hydrolysis