WSET Level 2 Practice Question · Episode 63
Show Answer & Explanation (try the quiz first)
Practice Question
Which of the following still types is used in 'Continuous Distillation' to produce large volumes of spirits with very high alcohol levels (approx. 96%) and a 'Neutral' flavor profile?
- A. Pot Still
- B. Column Still (or Coffey Still)
- C. Solar Still
- D. Discards all red skins before winemaking and ferments only the clear juice.
Answer & Explanation
Answer: B. Column Still (or Coffey Still) Explanation: Distillation is the alchemy of concentrating pure alcohol by using the difference in boiling points between alcohol (78°C) and water (100°C). The Pot Still leaves the identity of the base ingredients (malt, grapes, etc.) intact, creating full-bodied, flavorful spirits (Single Malt, Cognac). Conversely, the Column Still distills continuously to remove almost all impurities, making it ideal for creating high-purity neutral spirits used for Vodka or as a base for Gin.
Expert Exam Tip
[Trap]: Do not assume that Column Stills always produce 'lower quality' spirits compared to Pot Stills. This is not about quality, but about style—choosing between 'Neutral' (Vodka) and 'Flavorful' (Whisky). [Tip]: In the exam, link 'Highly rectified/Neutral' with Column stills and 'Traditional/Batch/Flavorful' with Pot stills.