Hearts
Hearts is a distilling term that refers to the middle, highest-quality portion of alcohol collected during the distillation process. Think of it as the "sweet spot" in distilling - not the first liquid that comes out (which can be harsh or even dangerous), and not the last portion (which is too weak), but the perfect middle section. When someone mentions "hearts" in a spirits production resume, they're talking about their experience in selecting and collecting this prime portion of the distilled spirit, which is crucial for making quality products like whiskey, vodka, or gin.
Examples in Resumes
Managed collection of Hearts during whiskey production, maintaining consistent quality standards
Trained junior distillers in proper Hearts selection and cut timing
Improved spirit quality by optimizing Hearts collection procedures
Typical job title: "Distillers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Distillers
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you determine the optimal hearts cut points for a new spirit recipe?
Expected Answer: A senior distiller should explain how they use smell, taste, and temperature monitoring to determine the best time to start and stop collecting hearts, mentioning how different ingredients affect these decisions.
Q: How would you train someone to identify hearts in different spirit types?
Expected Answer: Should describe their teaching method for helping others recognize the characteristics of hearts vs heads and tails, including safety procedures and quality control measures.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What are the key indicators that you've reached the hearts portion during distillation?
Expected Answer: Should be able to describe the sensory changes that indicate transition from heads to hearts, including smell, appearance, and temperature ranges.
Q: How do you maintain consistency in hearts collection across different batches?
Expected Answer: Should explain their process for documenting cut points, temperature monitoring, and quality control procedures to ensure batch-to-batch consistency.
Junior Level Questions
Q: Can you explain what hearts are in distillation?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic understanding that hearts are the desirable middle portion of the distillation run, coming after heads and before tails.
Q: What safety procedures do you follow when collecting hearts?
Expected Answer: Should know basic safety protocols for working around alcohol vapor, proper ventilation requirements, and protective equipment needed.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of distillation process
- Ability to identify hearts under supervision
- Knowledge of basic safety procedures
- Understanding of cleaning and sanitation
Mid (2-5 years)
- Independent hearts collection
- Quality control procedures
- Recipe following and documentation
- Equipment maintenance and troubleshooting
Senior (5+ years)
- Recipe development
- Training and supervision
- Process optimization
- Quality assurance management
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic safety procedures
- Inability to explain the difference between heads, hearts, and tails
- Lack of experience with quality control measures
- No understanding of proper documentation practices
Related Terms
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