Whisky Fundamentals
Charcoal mellowing (or the Lincoln County process)
Published 05/10/2021
Probably the most popular and best-selling American whiskey in the world is made according to the prescribed law in the classic way as bourbon. However, the fresh distillate, White Dog to the Americans and New Make to the Scots, undergoes an additional filtration step before it can mature into Jack Daniel’s in charred virgin oak casks. Who invented charcoal mellowing Alfred Eaton is generally credited with inventing the charcoal mellowing process in 1825, commonly called the Lincoln County Process “named after the county in which the original Jack Daniel’s distillery was located”.
The spirit safe
Published 03/10/2021
In almost every single Scottish whisky distillery there is a spirit safe through which every drop of new make flows. The spirit safe is an eye catching polished brass case with glass panes designed for two purposes: To allow the distillery to analyse and control the flow of the new make To keep track of the volumes of whisky made for tax purposes Prior to 1983 only one key existed to release the padlock on the side of the safe, held by the local Customs and Excise officer.
The role of copper in spirit production
Published 22/09/2021
Elemental copper has unique properties making it ideally suited for the production of whisky. The metal is both soft and malleable but extremely tough. It is also an excellent conductor of heat. For these reason the earliest illicit whisky makers made use of it very early on. Copper has a lot more to offer however as it has a significant influence on the character of the new make spirit. Copper The chemical element copper (lat.
How is slainte pronunced?
Published 15/09/2021
In both Irish and gaelic sláinte is pronounced Slahn-che and means health. Sláinte is infact a short form of Slàinte mhath (Scottish) or Slàinte mhaith (Irish) and pronounced as Slahn-che ‘va. Sláinte or Sláinte Mhath is commonly used as a drinking toast in Scotland and Ireland. As pronunciations vary from region to region it’s not uncommon to hear people say slange or slange Var when they clink their glasses. Spelling variations also abound.
Sour Mash
Published 25/08/2021
Jim Beam, Jack Daniel’s, Wild Turkey, Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve are just five of a myriad of Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey distilleries where sour mash is the production method of choice. For the consumer this is a widely recognised but little understood phrase adorning bottles. In truth it’s surprising that the phrase ever made it onto the bottle as the process refers to nothing other than the manipulation of pH to prevent bacterial growth.