Whisky Fundamentals
What does a master blender do?
Published 22/07/2020
Master Blenders ensure that every bottle of a whisky bottling has the same taste for years and has the typical character of the distillery. But how does a master blender manage this feat and what are the special characteristics of it? contents What are the tasks of a master blender? It is the master blender that keeps an overview of the numerous whisky barrels in the warehouses. In addition to the actual blending of whiskies, a master blender is responsible for monitoring and developing the maturing whiskies.
What does a master distiller do?
Published 22/07/2020
A Master Distiller was and is a master of the field of distillation, who has acquired his skills and knowledge over many years. Personal experience down to the last detail was even more important in the past, as there were far fewer technical monitoring options for distillation than there are today. While the profession of master distiller was originally defined relatively clearly, today it is much more diverse. Originally, a master distiller was solely responsible for the consistent quality of the spirit produced.
What is a Valinch?
Published 22/07/2020
A valinch is usually used when tasting whisky directly in the warehouse. This device, which looks like a tool, is usually the only way to try the whisky straight from the barrel. But how does the Valinch work and how do you use it? A Valinch is a relatively long pipe, typically made of copper, which is used to extract small amounts of whisky from a cask . The valinch must even be quite long so that whisky can also be removed from barrels with a low level (due to the evaporation caused by the Angels’ Share).
What is a Valinch?
What is an ex-bourbon barrel?
Published 22/07/2020
Ex-bourbon barrels are whisky casks which have been previously used to mature American Bourbon. These casks are prized within the scotch whisky industry and often used until exhaustion. If you enjoy Scottish single malts, you can hardly avoid American Bourbon Whiskey. Because what many do not know: Around 95% of all Scottish single malts mature in ex-bourbon barrels sourced from the USA. We present this type of barrel with its peculiarities and reveal why Scottish distilleries swear by American barrels.
What is an ex-bourbon barrel?
What is the Angels' share?
Published 22/07/2020
The Angels’ share is the romantic term for the annual rate of whisky lost during cask maturation due to evaporation. As the liquid would evaporate into the heavens, it was dubbed the angels’ share. From a scientific point of view, however, it is the volume of the liquid that turns into gas and then leaves the barrel. The amount lost in Scotland amounts to only 1-2%, in contrast with considerably warmer climates such as India or Australia where evaporation can reach as high as 12%.
What is the Angels' share?