alcohol

Water of Life (Whiskey/Whisky)

Whiskey or Whisky is a distilled beverage produced by distillation of grains, regularly different varieties are used including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Nevertheless, the product differs widely depending on the base product used, alcoholic content, and quality. The typical unifying characteristics of the different classes and types are the fermentation of grains, distillation, and aging in wooden barrels.

(more…)

Advertisement

Pot Still

The simplest standard distillation equipment is commonly known as a pot still, consisting of a single heated chamber and a vessel. Pot stills operate on a batch distillation. Traditionally constructed from copper, pot stills are made in a range of shapes and sizes depending on the quantity and style of spirit desired. Nowadays by law, cognac, Irish and Scotch malt whiskies, and single pot still whiskey must be distilled using a pot still. (more…)

Glossary and abbreviations

ABV is the abbreviation for “Alcohol by volume”. Actually, it is the measurement of the percentage volume of alcohol by volume of the beverages (beer, liquor, wine, spirits…). Alcohol by volume (abbreviated as ABV, abv, or alc./vol.) is a standard measure, it is defined as the number of millilitres (ml) of pure ethanol present in 100 ml of solution at 20 °C (68 °F). (more…)

Distilled Beverage

The liquid resulting from the fermentation (Wash) are limited to a maximum alcohol content of about 20% ABV, as most yeasts cannot reproduce when the concentration of alcohol is above this level; as a consequence, fermentation ceases at that point. If we boil the wash, then the alcohol on it evaporates first due to its boiling point (78.3°C/172.94°F) and the water is leaving behind.
(more…)

What is Fermentation?

Is a chemical process by which glucose (sugar) is transformed in ethanol anaerobically (the absence of oxygen). This process was not identified until the 19th century by a French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur used the term fermentation to describe the changes brought about by yeasts and other microorganisms growing in the absence of air (it means, fermentation was caused by living cells!); he also recognized that alcohol and carbon dioxide are not the only products of fermentation.

(more…)

What is Alcohol?

Alcohol or, scientifically, ethanol is a colourless liquid with an intense, penetrating aroma. It has distinct properties: it is a volatile flammable liquid that is found in alcoholic beverages like wines (about 13%), beers (5%), spirits (50%) or overproof spirits (70%), etc. Although used as an industrial solvent, antiseptic and as fuel.

Ethanol occurs naturally through fermentation, in which yeast converts fructose (sugar) into alcohol, heat and carbon dioxide. This occurs automatically in ripe fruit as well as in other foodstuffs. For example ripe banana and bread.

(more…)