Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 801 views

    Craft of Whiskey Distilling

    Uploaded by

    hilmi_atok
    The document provides information about craft whiskey distilling including definitions of key terms, the distillation process, and recipes and methods for producing whiskey at smaller artisan distilleries. It aims to describe the process of distilling one barrel of 120-proof malt whiskey using craft methods and ingredients.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Craft of Whiskey Distilling

    Uploaded by

    hilmi_atok
    801 views13 pages
    The document provides information about craft whiskey distilling including definitions of key terms, the distillation process, and recipes and methods for producing whiskey at smaller artisan distilleries. It aims to describe the process of distilling one barrel of 120-proof malt whiskey using craft methods and ingredients.

    Original Description:

    Craft of Whiskey Distilling

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document provides information about craft whiskey distilling including definitions of key terms, the distillation process, and recipes and methods for producing whiskey at smaller artisan distilleries. It aims to describe the process of distilling one barrel of 120-proof malt whiskey using craft methods and ingredients.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    801 views13 pages

    Craft of Whiskey Distilling

    Uploaded by

    hilmi_atok
    The document provides information about craft whiskey distilling including definitions of key terms, the distillation process, and recipes and methods for producing whiskey at smaller artisan distilleries. It aims to describe the process of distilling one barrel of 120-proof malt whiskey using craft methods and ingredients.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 13
    At a glance
    Powered by AI
    The manual discusses the craft of whiskey distilling, including distillation principles, types of stills, and the distilling process.

    The purpose of the manual is to describe the process of making excellent quality malt whiskey through artisan distillation methods for a craft whiskey distiller.

    Some of the key terms defined in the glossary include wash, mash, proof, heads, tails, reflux, and spirit still.

    Craft of Whiskey Distilling

    Craft of Whiskey Distilling


    Published by The American Distilling Institute (ADI) The American Distilling Institute is the collective voice of a new generation of artisan distillers. We are dedicated to disseminating essential information regarding the art and science of distilling.

    Bill Owens All rights reserved 2009 ISBN 978-0-9824055-1-2 For permission to reproduce any part of this book please correspond directly with White Mule Press Box 577 Hayward, CA 94543 Visit the American Distilling Institute website at www.distilling.com

    AMERICAN DISTILLING INSTITUTE | VII

    VIII | CRAFT OF WHISKEY DISTILLING

    AMERICAN DISTILLING INSTITUTE | IX

    Preface
    The new generation of artisan whiskey distillers, whenever possible, use local ingredients to reect the region of the country where they are located. They also look to nearby microbrewers as a source of inspiration and sometimes wash. Brewing and distilling go hand in hand because the mash-tun can produce wort for brewing or wash for distilling. To distill whiskey you rst have to make beer. Beer is a technical term for whiskey wash, regardless of the type of raw ingredients used. The microbrewer uses a mash-tun to produce a sweet barley water called wort. The same mash-tun can also be used to make wash for whiskey distillation. The difference is that distillers wash is un-hopped, contains no solids and most importantly, it will ferment in less then a week. The new generation of craft whiskey distillers, like Scottish distillers, will use a mashton to produce all malt whiskies. They will use numerous beer recipes to produce a new generation of barley, rye and wheat whiskies. These whiskies will have avor and character not found in commercial corn whiskies. I also think that well soon see a new generation of whiskies infused with wood (apple, cedar, birch) and spices. Craft distillers dont need a column still with two dozens of plates to make whiskey. Visit any small whiskey distillery and you will see that most have a still without column and plates. And, if they do have a column still, it will be used to make stripping runs with plates open. Then they make heads and tails cuts on the second spirits run using one plate. Every distillery works differently. The key is to make head tail cuts that save congeners (avors) that dene the style of whiskey you are distilling. Special thanks to Ian Smiley, who wrote the heart of the book, Distillation Principles. Also thanks to contributing writers Alan Dikty, George Ferris, Eric Watson, Zac Triement, Bill Smith, and Attorney Robin J. Bowen. Artwork is by Catherine Ryan and layout is by Uri Korn. To learn more about craft distilling, join the American Distilling Institute (ADI) at distilling.com. Member support helps educate the public about craft distilling. Bill Owens, President American Distilling Institute

    X | CRAFT OF WHISKEY DISTILLING

    AMERICAN DISTILLING INSTITUTE | XI

    The purpose of this manual a barrel a week

    Introduction
    This manual is intended for the craft whiskey distiller who aims to make excellentquality malt whiskey through artisan distillation methods. This manual describes, at the craft level, the process of making whiskey. It gives detailed instructions on how to distill one barrel (53 gallons) of 120-proof malt whiskey. The reader learns about the principles of distillation, types of stills, and the process of distillation. The manual also goes into detail about how-to make head and tails cutsthe elusive operation that a distiller needs to learn in order to create a world class whiskey. Most important is the chapter on mashing and creating a barley wash for fermentation. The all-grain recipes in the manual are adapted from the mashing (brewing) process used by commercial malt whiskey distilleries. Finally, the wash will be distilled using the double-distillation method employed by most of the renowned malt-whiskey producers. The quantities in this manual are stated in Standard American Weights and Measures, and temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit.

    DEFINITION OF CRAFT OR ARTISAN DISTILLER


    Craft distillers produce alcoholic beverage spi rits by distillation, or by infusion through distillation or re-distillation. Maximum production for a craft or artisan distiller should not exceed 250,000 proof gallons per year. The craft or artisan distiller utilizes a pot still, with or without rectication columns, for distillation of beverage spirits. A distiller starting with neutral spirits produced by others, who redistills without substantially altering the neutral character of the spirit may not be said to be a craft or artisan distiller.

    XII | CRAFT OF WHISKEY DISTILLING

    Glossary
    abv Alcohol by Volume. Aldehyde A volatile impurity found in heads; often redistilled separating it from alcohol. Barrel (Wooden) 53 U.S. gallons, 44 Imperial gallons or 200.6 liters. Barrel (Beer) 31 gallons. Beer Stripping The process of running wash through a still (no head or tail cuts) to remove alcohol that will be re-distilled. A stripping run usually starts at 170 proof and ends at 70 proof . Beer Stripper A large pot still, without plates, used to strip wash for a second distillation. Bubble Caps Caps sit on trays over vapor tubers in the column still (sprits still). Caps provide contact between the rising vapors and descending reux crating a distillation cycle and enriching the alcohol. CFR Code Federal Regulations; U.S. Government regulations, Type of Denition for example: rye whiskey must be fermented mash of not less that 51% rye and stored in a new oak container. Charge The volume of wash to be distilled. Condensor The apparatus, often a tube in shell, in which a vapor condenses to liquids. Congeners Impurities. This minor chemical gives liquor (spirits) a distinctive character and avors. Its found in both heads and tails, Dephlegmator A chilling apparatus (condenser) at the top of the reux column. It is comprised of a bank of tubes with cold water running through them. This increases reux, and the purity of the distillate. Dextrose Basic sugar know as corn sugar. A base for distilling whiskey (moonshine). DSP Distilled Spirits Plants; a federally licensed distillery. Double Distilling A process where the distillate is distilled twice. The rst time to remove alcohol and the second distillation is make cutting the head and tail cuts. Fractional Distillation Done in column still using plates and bubble caps. The process separates spirits into different volatility. Heads Is the rst spirits off the still, contain several undesirable chemical such as aldehydes. Heads are collected and then often re-distilled as distillers try remove the avorful congeners. Mash Is produced by mixing hot water and grains. Mash-Lauder A process that mechanically mixes barley and water. Mash Tun A double jacketed tank in which hot water and grains are mixed. The tank (mash-tun) has a false bottom (a screen or slotted tubes) allowing the sweet barley water to drain. Distiller collects the barley water for fermentation. After fermentation it becomes wash that is then distilled

    AMERICAN DISTILLING INSTITUTE | XIII

    Moors Cap A still with a at top (hat) The cap catches reux, sending it back to the kettle for re-distillation. NGS Neutral Grain Spirits. (190+ Alcohol) In the USA it is produced from corn. NGS I used by distilleries around the world for blending, vodka, gin, whiskey etc. It is the workhorse of the distillation industry and used by all many distilleries producing 100s or products. pH A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, equal to 7 for neutral solutions, increasing with increasing alkalinity and decreasing with increasing acidity. The pH scale used ranges from 0 to 14. Parrot A device that looks like a parrot, the bird, with a long beak. It holds the hydrometer collects and cools alcohol running from the still. This allows the distiller to know the percent alcohol owing from the still. Proof An American term used to determine the strength of the alcohol.

    For example; 120 proof is 60% alcohol or abv. Relfux When vapors in the still are cooled they fall back into the still as liquid. The amount of the reux obtained depends on the shape of the still and the angle of the lyne arm. Reux Column A column which cycles liquids through two or more distillations. Used to make NGS. Spirit Still A still designed to do the nal distillation producing nished whiskey. Spirit Run The nal distillation that produces the nished whiskey. TTB Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau formerly BATF. It licenses and collects taxes from U.S.distilleries. Tails Alcoholic distillate containing a high percentage of fusel oil. Tote A large stainless steel tank for transporting and storage of spirits. Wash Fermented barley water.

    You might also like