WSET LEVEL 1 SPIRITS LATEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+

WSET LEVEL 1 SPIRITS LATEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM

200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS

WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS)

|ALREADY GRADED A+

How does fermentation happen - ANSWER- Yeast eats sugar to

create the alcohol and carbon dioxide gas. After fermentation the

alcoholic liquid is typically around 10?v. Fermentation also

creates extra flavours, in particular fruity flavours are created by

yeast

What is the aim of distillation - ANSWER- To concentrate the

level of alcohol in the fermented alcoholic liquid

What happens during distillation? - ANSWER- An alcoholic

liquid is boiled and turned into vapor. The vapors are then

collected and condensed into a new liquid which is more

alcoholic than the original one.

Outline the process of distillation - ANSWER- 1. Distillation

starts with a fermented alcoholic liquid

2. the liquid is heated and brought to boil

3. in order to separate the alcohol from the rest of the liquid a

distiller can take advantage of the fact that pure ethanol (the

most common alcohol in alcoholic beverages) boils at a lower

temp than pure water. As a result when an alcoholic liquid boils,

the vapors that are created contain a higher proportion of alcohol

than the boiling liquid.

4. The hot vapors created by boiling the alcoholic liquid are

collected and condensed back to a liquid that has a higher

alcoholic strength than the original liquid.

If a spirit has a low distillation strength, does it have high or low

flavor intensity - ANSWER- High flavour intensity

If a spirit has a high distillation strength does it have high or low

flavor intensity - ANSWER- Low flavor intensity

What is the definition of a neutral spirit? - ANSWER- A spirit

that is distilled to 95-96?v with virtually no flavour left

What often happens to spirits after distillation? - ANSWERAdjustment of the color, aromas, sweetness and alcoholic

strength as required for the style of spirit being made

Identify the 2 aims of blending and what each aim intends to

achieve - ANSWER- Overall a blender has 2 aims:

1. Consistency. Most consumers expect their spirit to be

consistent from one bottle to the net.

2. Complexity. Some individual barrels can be extraordinarily

complex, the easiest way of creating complexity and depth is by

blending spirits with different characteristics.

Why would a blender choose to use caramel coloring? -

ANSWER- The color of oak ages spirits can vary considerably

from one barrel to another this is a problem for blenders who are

striving for consistency. Therefore, when they blend the contents

of the barrels together to make up their batches they sometimes

use very small amounts of a coloring material called caramel to

ensure that each batch has the correct color.

In a column still, which plate has the highest abv - ANSWERthe top plate

Which distillation process can produce a neutral spirit -

ANSWER- a column still

in a pot still what is the name of the part that holds the liquid

that is going to be distilled - ANSWER- Pot

T/F column stills cannot be used to produce a neutral spirit -

ANSWER- False

What strength and aroma intensity does a newly made spirit

produced via pot distillation have - ANSWER- low strength and

a pronounced (high) intensity

What is Cognac - ANSWER- a grape brandy is a wine that has

been distilled. Cognac is a well known grape brandy that must

be made from grapes grown in a specific part of south west

France north of the town of Bordeaux. The grapes grown in the

Cognac area give the spirit fruity and floral aromas

What are the 4 steps to Cognac production - ANSWER- 1.

Processing the grapes (raw material)

2. Fermentation

3. Distillation- must be double distilled in a pot still.

4. Post distillation- the law states that after distillation the newly

made spirit must be aged in oak barrels for at least 2 years

before it can be called Cognac. This gives the flavors of vanilla

and toast. Extra complexity is achieved by blending spirits of

different ages.

What flavor does oak aging give Cognac - ANSWER- Vanilla

and toast

T/F Nearly all Cognacs are blends - ANSWER- True