Alcoholic beverages are made of different plant materials like leaves, seeds, grain, fruit and stem. Whisky is made from grains like malted barley, wheat, buckwheat, rye and corn. Rum is made from sugarcane and sugar beets. Brandy is made from grape juice.
The process followed to make these alcoholic beverages is the same, anaerobic fermentation of the raw material using yeast. During fermentation, the sugars are broken down into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. The yeast used can affect the characteristics of the alcoholic beverages like the flavour and the aroma.
Alcoholic beverages can be divided into different types: Wines, Beers and Spirits. Wine is made by fermenting fruits like grapes, peaches, plums and apples. Beers are made from fermenting grains. Spirits are made by fermenting and distilling plant material.
Whisky
It is made by fermenting the grain mash and distilling the mash. The vapour formed during the distillation process is condensed to get alcohol. The alcohol is aged in charred white oak barrels for a while. The process is called ageing.
During this process, the alcohol reacts with the wood to develop colour, aroma and taste. It is then blended and additional flavours are added. It is then packed in glass bottles. The alcoholic strength of whisky is 42% abv.
One of the whiskies is the Sterling Reserve b10. It is a blend of the finest Indian grain spirits and Scotch malts and sourced from distinct barrel origin. It has a smooth, crisp and lively finish. It offers citrus, berries, vanilla and a mouthful of rich oak palate experience. It is made from heritage ingredients and modern methods.
If the grain used to make the whisky is malted meaning germinated and toasted then it is called ‘Malt whisky’. If the whisky is unblended and the product of a single malt house then it is called ‘Single malt whisky’.
A whisky made from buckwheat is called buckwheat whisky. Corn whisky is made from a grain mash that has at least 80% corn. Bourbon whisky is made from mash that has at least 51% corn. A whisky made from a grain mash that consists of at least 51% rye grain is called rye whisky. A whisky made from a mash that contains at least 51% malted rye is called Rye Malt whisky.
Pure ethyl alcohol is bitter to taste but some people find it sweet. Ethyl alcohol is a good solvent for essential oils and fatty substances. Therefore, distilled drinks can be easily flavoured by using the flavouring agents. Some of the flavour comes from the raw material used. Some of the flavour and aroma are developed when alcohol is stored in the wooden barrels. Sometimes a fruit or herb is added while bottling.
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