Right this moment, I’m going to be speaking to you a few subject that I discover fascinating. Additionally, due to what we do right here at Nice Drams, it’s a subject that’s notably apt. Sure, I’m speaking about whisky distillation. Particularly, I’m going to speak concerning the gear utilized in whisky distillation.
Distillation is mainly a course of whereby alcohol present in a fermented liquid is eliminated, concentrated, and separated. It’s mainly the ultimate step earlier than whisky is barrelled and aged for at the very least 3 years.
With out getting too technical or scientific on you, distillation happens when a liquid is heated, earlier than its vapours are cooled and condensed down into alcohol. To ensure that distillation to happen, the right gear is required. With out query, an important piece of equipment throughout this course of is a tool referred to as a ‘nonetheless’ and it’s this very gadget that we’ll be at present.
Whereas whisky stills come in several styles and sizes, the 2 commonest sorts are pot stills and column stills. Right here’s a take a look at what they’re, and the way they differ.
What Are Stills and How Do They Work?
Regardless of distillation being a posh and arduous course of, the function of a nonetheless in stated course of is definitely quite simple. Principally, it acts as a large kettle or heating vessel which heats a liquid containing low ranges of alcohol, similar to beer or cider.
Usually, there are two various kinds of nonetheless used within the distillation course of, and these are:
Although they serve the identical perform, they do characteristic completely different designs and subsequently, they are going to produce completely different tasting drams. I’ll be how they differ from each other subsequent. Earlier than that, although, let’s get again to at present’s primary chemistry lesson.
As soon as heated contained in the nonetheless, alcoholic compounds within the liquid will evaporate at a a lot decrease temperature than water and are transformed into gasoline. This separates them from the alcohol-free compounds.
Subsequent is the place the enjoyable actually begins. As these vapours stand up by means of the nonetheless, the gases quiet down and are transformed again right into a liquid. This liquid, nevertheless, is now a lot increased in alcohol. It’s primarily now an alcoholic spirit and varieties the premise of our beloved whisky.
There are extra steps concerned, however it’s this liquid which finally turns into whisky after being barrelled and aged for at the very least 3 years.
