What is malting in whiskey?
The barley used to make the whisky is “malted” by soaking the grain in water for two to three days and allowing it to germinate. This process releases enzymes, which convert unfermentable starch (which is insoluble in water and not available for fermentation by yeast) to fermentable sugars.
What is Floor malting?
In floor malting, steeped barley is laid in piles on tiled or concrete floors and allowed to build up some heat and begin growth. The malt is turned manually with wooden shovels to reduce heat build up and aerate the grain. This method is very labor intensive and time consuming.
Which Scotch distilleries malt their own barley?
Most of the distilleries purchase their malted barley. A few of them malt their own barley for part of their production: Bowmore, The Balvenie, Laphroaig, Kilchoman, Highland Park among others. Springbank, however, is the only distillery in Scotland to do 100% of their own malting.
What is the whiskey base?
The base is a mash of malted barley, dried in kilns fired with a little peat (although less than what is used for some peated Scotch whiskies), and is distilled using the pot still method.
How do you drink whiskey?
Neat whisky is usually a two-ounce serving at room temperature in a lowball glass. Many aficionados will add a few drops of water which enhances the aromas and softens the finish. Drinking whisky “on the rocks” means with ice, of course, and frozen water is having its day.
How is barley turned into whiskey?
Whisky Making
- Malting. Best quality barley is first steeped in water and then spread out on malting floors to germinate.
- Mashing. The dried malt is ground into a coarse flour or grist, which is mixed with hot water in the mash tun.
- Fermentation.
- Pot Stills.
- Distillation.
- Spirit Safe.
Why is barley malted for whiskey?
The granddaddy of grains in whiskey is malted barley. Malting is a process done to the barley to make it sprout and in turn produce enzymes which convert the long-chain carbohydrates into simpler sugars which can be fermented by the yeast in alcohol.
What is a good mixer for whiskey?
What Should I Mix With Whiskey?
- Ginger ale or ginger beer.
- Soda water.
- Coca cola.
- Lemon juice or lemonade.
- Sweet vermouth.
- Coffee.
- Grapefruit juice.
What is the best mixer for whiskey?
Here are six of the best mixers for whiskey:
- Ginger. Ginger is the perfect sidekick for whiskey, as its complexity of flavor ranges from sweet to hot, medicinal and earthy, depending on its context and concentration.
- Sweet Vermouth.
- Soda Water.
- Coca Cola.
- Lemon.
- Amaro.