There are two basic methods of distilling alcohol. The first and oldest method is freeze distilling. This method involves taking a fermented alcoholic drink and partially freezing it, the water content will crystallise before the alcohol content. Once a slush has formed you can pour off a strengthened drink and discard the ice. This method of distilling was in use from the early middle ages and is still used in drinks such as "Applejack" and "Ice Beers". Despite the fact you don't need any specialist equipment freeze distilling is still illegal and is not "safer" than heated distilling. Freeze distilling can concentrate poisonous compounds such as fusel alcohols which heated distilling removes.
The more common form of distilling comes from heat separation, this is the method used to make whiskeys, vodka, gin, rum, schnapps, and almost all other spirits that are available. Distilling is done by creating a wash, which is basically a fermented brew that is about 15-20% ABV. This wash is then heated to separate out the alcohol, no new alcohol is produced by this process it is merely separated. The separated alcohol is mostly ethanol and could be anything over 90% ABV. Distilling by heat removes most of the impurities, including methanol which can cause blindness, so it is the method of choice. Using proper equipment it is completely safe and produces a clean pure alcohol.
Whiskey is the most popular distilled spirit and its production is carefully licensed. It's a drink made from fermented grains which is then heat distilled to concentrate the alcohol. It's current form originates from the monastic distilleries of Ireland and Scotland somewhere between 1,100 and 1,300 AD. Irish whiskeys were made from grain as fruit to make wine was in short supply, Scottish whiskey was made with malted barley, while American whiskeys use grains such as rye and corn. The process of oak ageing whiskey probably happened initially by mistake, a forgotten barrel that when opened tasted smoother and therefore was adopted as a conditioning method. Oak barrel conditioning gives whiskey not only much of its flavour but also it's distinctive colour.
It is possible to make home made whiskey and it can be a very smooth and tasty drink. I'll be making some whiskey and showing you how to do it in a later post. Remember that distilling whiskey is illegal, you can however ferment a whiskey of around half strength (25% ABV) legally in the UK (You will have to check local law if you are in another country). This is the method I will be using although I will also point out where you could distil it, in case your country permits this or you are a reckless lawbreaker. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment