Barley grain is the main ingredient in single malt whisky and it is the starch in the grain that is turned into alcohol through the process of fermentation. The germination is halted by heating, and yeast is added to ferment the sugary mixture. Some heat fast and then distil slowly, others heat and distil fast. For scotch malt whisky, a typical 2pot distillation process is employed, as shown. Grain whiskeys are north american and use a variety of different grains in their production. Harrys incomplete guide to independent bottlers of single malt scotch whiskies a guide to the source of bottles by harald kirsch version 4. This manual is intended for the craft whiskey distiller who aims to make excellent quality malt whiskey through artisan distillation methods. Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash.
General scheme for the production of distilled spirit beverages. So thats the whole whiskymaking process, then and theres just no narrowing it down. Scotch is distilled twice and in some places, three times, although this. A professional guide for amateur and microdistillers making pure corn whiskey by ian smiley bsc. Demystifying the whisky making process the whiskypedia. But when youre building a 2000 degree fire on a hot summer day, boy, you kind of wish it would.
Thats scotch whisky 10, 12, 16 or more years before its poured into your glass. To begin at the beginning, we need to go back to the raw materials. Barley is grown on about half of scotlands arable land and was first domesticated 10,000 years ago. Use a reflux or fractionating still to make neutral tasteless. Choosing how to proof, and with what water, makes a big difference in the finished product. Scotch whisky in the making how is scotch whisky made. Selfstyled as progressive hebridean distillers, bruichladdich.
The pot still process by which malt whisky is made may be divided into four main stages. Of course different distilleries operate their stills differently. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, generally made of charred white oak. Mar 28, 2016 check out this great infographic from american bartenders school whiskey making process simplified whiskey is a spirit that is distilled from fermented grain mash. Kentucky and other parts of the american south are famous for limestone water with high concentrations of dissolved calcium, a result of the older appalachian landscape. Production process for scotch whisky scotch whisky is made from cereals which are allowed to begin germination, a process which releases enzymes that turn grain starch into sugar. Production of whisky trough the last five centuries went through many changes, but the fundamentals always managed to remain the same. Just 25 miles in length, its rocky bays and sheltered inlets house eight active distilleries. Here you can find out about interesting process of its creation, both in professional brewers and in home environment. Each type of liquor is produced by the addition of various enzymes to break down the raw material. So thats the whole whisky making process, then and theres just no narrowing it down. Regarding agricultural raw materials, the european union now requires that the nature of these raw materials be mentioned on the label, and that the vodka obtained contain at. For more than 500 years barley and water have been the basic ingredients for single malt scotch whisky.
Many things affect the final flavour and character of a whisky, from the type of grains and yeast used, to the shape of the. Regarding agricultural raw materials, the european union now requires that the nature of these raw materials be mentioned on the label, and that the vodka obtained contain at least 37. How whisky is made whisky making process johnnie walker. Different combinations of grains account for the different varieties and flavors in whiskey. Around 6372% of alcohol is contained in this process. This same grain mash is the stuff that is also used to make beer. It is a cheaper way of making gin, nevertheless not a very popular method. The exact nature of these is not fully understood, but it is believed they include some of the essential oils from the malted barley and other cereals and substances that derive. The mashing and fermentation processes are similar to those used for malt whisky. Scotch is distilled twice and in some places, three times, although this is more commonly done in ireland. Scotch whisky is distilled twice, starting with the wash still, with the alcohol vapors being ventilated externally of the still, by condensers. It is the process of heating up the liquid so that it. Generally the mash is made from malted barley, rye, wheat, and corn corn being the main ingredient, 51% or more, in bourbon whiskey.
Aug 21, 2016 water water is another of the most important ingredients in the making process of whisky. The distillation balance for the second distillation in the chart below shows the emerging quantity of new make spirit. Its rather simple in design because only a moderate level of purity is required. Malt whisky is made from malted barley only, while grain whisky is made from malted barley together with unmalted barley and other cereals. Scotch whisky the water of life the making of malt whisky. One of the largest factors impacting the process and final product is the mash bill cereal grains selected to produce fermentable extract for the. A free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. Pdf production of grain whisky and ethanol from wheat, maize. Islay is one of many small islands off scotlands west coast but it certainly stands out from the crowd. Jack daniel manufacturing process jimmy bedford youtube.
Water quality is critical to the flavor of the finished whiskey. Various grains which may be malted are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Master distiller mike miyamoto continually finetunes all parts of the whiskymaking process to. This manual describes, at the craft level, the process of making whiskey. In the traditional making of irish whiskey, no smoke makes contact with the grain and that is why irish whiskey does not have the peaty smell and taste associated with many scotch whiskies. Malt whisky which is made by the pot still process and grain whisky which is made by the patent still or coffey still process. Production process for scotch whisky whiskyinvestdirect.
A professional guide for amateur and microdistillers making pure corn whiskey. This works due to the fact that the vapor will contain more alcohol than the liquid it is boil off, because of the different physical properties of water and ethanol. The process of whiskymaking is an art which has gradually evolved through centuries. The malt whisky production process is intermittent with the still being recharged. Water water is another of the most important ingredients in the making process of whisky. There is the same fermentation stage where sugar is turned into alcohol but then, instead of drinking the brew, it is subjected to a very rigorous purification process. Not only the geometrical shape of a pot still but especially the distillation process affects the taste of the new make spirit. One of the key parts in the whisky making process, distillation is where the alcohol created during fermentation is removed from the wash to form a concentrated liquid that goes on to be matured into whisky.
Master distiller mike miyamoto continually finetunes all parts of the whisky making process to subtly improve the taste of his whisky over. Traditionally, whiskey is made in one type, a pot still. The recipe provided shows the process of making a corn whiskey, which is a type of grain whiskey. It is perhaps only fair then that industrious islay has long been crowned scotlands whisky island. The video shows jimmy bedford as the master distiller. Apr 12, 2014 the video shows jimmy bedford as the master distiller. From the shape of the still to the type of grain and yeast used each stage of the process helps in shaping the final flavour and character of the whisky. This is the stage in the whisky making process that alcohol is produced, through the addition of yeast to the wort.
Beside their rugged beauty, the scottish highlands are characterised by the vast grain fields, especially during harvest season. The malted grain used for scotch whisky is often dried directly by the smoke from turf or peat fires. The starch in the nonmalted cereals is released by precooking and converted into. Kelly will history legend says that irish monks brought whisky production to scotland in the 4th or 5th. Jun 24, 2016 proofing is a little more complicated than simple dilution. Mar 22, 2018 the whiskey making process is generally broken into the following operations. Ppt whisky production powerpoint presentation free to. Water encourages the barley to germinate during the malting process, and is added at the mashing stage to extract the sugars and make the wort. The whiskey is ready to be shipped to liquor stores, bars, and restaurants.
The first part of the film takes you through the production. There are other styles of gin, but these arent regulated. Check out this great infographic from american bartenders school whiskey making process simplified whiskey is a spirit that is distilled from fermented grain mash. The making of malt whisky the origins of malt whisky distilling in scotland are lost in the mists of antiquity. Malt whisky is made from malted barley only, while grain whisky is made from malted barley together with unmalted. An ancient process thats been refined over centuries, and one in which so many factors can. Many things affect the final flavour and character of a whisky, from the type of grains and yeast used, to the shape of the still, to the cask and length of time the liquid is matured in it. Scotch whisky is made from cereals which are allowed to begin germination, a process which releases enzymes that turn grain starch into sugar. Nestled into the north east tip of the island, it overlooks the sound. The application of science to the manufacture of whisky. Scotch whisky making process whiskey still company. Gin and vodka production on the other hand requires a more sophisticated type of still called a fractionating still because a very high level of purity is desired.
Quality control although the making of good whiskey is still more of an art than an exact science, there are certain basic precautions that all whiskeymakers take to ensure quality. Fermentation as part of whisky making process flaviar. The starch in the nonmalted cereals is released by precooking and converted into fermentable sugars. Technology now aids production, but traditionally there are five stages to the process malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation and maturation. Other watersheds, such as those in new england and the pacific northwest, have much softer water with fewer dissolved minerals. Store bought whiskey can be incredibly tasty, especially if it comes from a local brewhouse or highquality distillery. Vodka, containing 96% alcohol, is then diluted to between 35 and 50% by the addition of spring water.
Speyside arran mull islay skye jura d o u t e r h e b r i d e s south uist north uist lewis orkney berwickupontweed colds tream. Dutch genever or jenver made using a process similar to whisky, with malted grain, and aged in barrels. Scotch whisky, after it has been distilled, contains not only ethyl alcohol and water but certain secondary constituents. The economics of the production process place considerable onus on firms to. However, i wonder how many of you actually know how scotch whisky is made.
The fermentation result basically beer is distilled to produce a. Oct 29, 2015 this method is also known as coldcompounded. The water used must be taken from an appropriate natural source. The difference in taste between the whisky coming from various distilleries is partly due to the quality of water used. If you want to make vodkas and gins then a packed column will. Scotch grain whisky is usually made from 1020% malted barley and then other unmalted cereals such as maize or wheat. The making of scotch whisky is an ancient craft that has been developed and refined over time from a cottage industry into a precision process. The quality of the whisky depends on the quality and purity of the water.
The adherence to detail that comes with making our whiskey starts with crafting our own charcoal for mellowing. In the context of the production of scotch whisky grain. The process of making american whiskey the barrel is the main ingredient and gives all the color and up to 80% of the flavor. The whiskey making process is generally broken into the following operations.
From the shape of the still to the type of grain and yeast used each stage of the process helps in shaping the final flavour and character of the. Whisky is a strictly regulated spirit worldwide with many. Emission data are available only for the fermentation and aging steps of whisky production. Jan 16, 20 how scotch whisky is made is a film taking you through the production process for scotch malt whisky, grain whisky and blended whisky. A professional guide for amateur and microdistillers.
Various grains which may be malted are used for different varieties, including. Most of you know already that scotch is whiskey coming straight from scotland, the only one who can be named like this, and which needs to be aged 3 years minimum in oak barrels on scottish territory. It gives detailed instructions on how to distill one barrel 53 gallons of 120proof malt whiskey. American distilling institute xi introduction this manual is intended for the craft whiskey distiller who aims to make excellentquality malt whiskey through artisan distillation methods. An ancient process thats been refined over centuries, and one in which so many factors can come to influence the flavour of the final product. In addition not only do they malt their own barley which is a fairly unique trait they bottle their whisky too. The principals for the distillation of whisky have changed little over the last 200 years. How scotch whisky is made is a film taking you through the production process for scotch malt whisky, grain whisky and blended whisky. Scotch and irish whiskeys are typically malt whiskeys, which use malted barley instead of grain. Fermentation is a metabolic process that converts sugar into alcohol with help. The second distillation is done in a spirit still, which is smaller than the first one. However, preparing your own whisky at home will allow you to control exactly what goes into it and.
These alcoholic liquors can be produced from various raw materials, but all have a similar process to obtain a high alcohol by volume, or abv. From the mash tun, the wort is moved into the washback, where fermentation takes place. Distillation as a part of whisky making process flaviar. Just three basic ingredients are needed water, barley and yeast. How whiskey is made making, history, used, parts, product. All alcoholic beverages are made by fermenting a sugar solution a. Today, technology plays a crucial role in simplifying the process. How to make whiskey step by step distillation how to. The yeast that is added converts the sugars from the wort into alcohol and works perfectly at 34c, above this the yeast is killed off. The whisky making process free download as pdf file.