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how to make homemade whiskey? (Recipe and ingredients)

would you like to know how to make whiskey? Whiskey is a drink that enjoys a very good reputation and is synonymous with strength and quality, and it is a liquor that not all palates can appreciate, so enjoying it is sublime and special.

Whisky has history and with it has managed to cross borders, reaching a position in countries such as Ireland and Scotland where its production plays a fundamental role. Here we will tell you how to make whisky.

how to make Whisky?

Many times we have enjoyed a good evening in the company of a delicious drink of whiskey, but little do we know about its production. So surely the question of how to make whiskey has arisen, because whiskey is made following a certain style.

To make whiskey it is necessary to know that this liquor is prepared with cereals such as barley, wheat, rye and corn. It also goes through a fermentation, distillation and aging process that results in a unique and special liquid with organoleptic complexity.

+9 Simple steps to make whiskey

Surely at some time enjoying a good whiskey you have thought about how to make whiskey, because in order to make whiskey we must comply with the main phases.

These manage to give as a result a delicate, sublime liquor that is impregnated with the wood achieving the flavor and color so particular and that make whiskey the water of life, here we will tell you how to prepare the whiskey.

1.- Water

There would not be the water of life without water, and it is one of the main ingredients when making whiskey. Water is responsible for encouraging the barley to germinate during the malting process and is added at the mash stage to extract the sugars and make the wort.

This is why distilleries are often opened in places where there is a pure source such as a mountain stream or creek, which allows for a quality spirit as the water used in the process must be potable and free of contaminants, with high levels of minerals and organic matter.

2.- Barley

In order to make whiskey it is necessary to have cereals, since these are the ones that provide the starch that turns into alcohol.

Scotch whisky can be made from wheat, oats, rye or corn but to be a pure malt Scotch whisky the grain must be exclusively barley.

Barley is graded on a scale of 1-9 for quality and consistency, and only the top three grades are suitable for malting which is an important stage in whisky making.

3.- Yeast

You may ask yourself, is it necessary to use yeast to make whisky? Well, yeast is the final ingredient needed to make malt whisky, as it is responsible for converting sugar into alcohol.

Yeast generates carbon dioxide and other compounds called congeners, which include higher alcohols that contribute to the final flavor of malt whisky. But this requires the right conditions, i.e. warm, moist and high in sugar.

4.- Malting

The main step in turning barley into whisky is malting, because it takes weeks or months for the barley itself to begin to germinate. So immersing the barley in water three times, with air breaks in between, allows the grain to begin germinating in a matter of days.

After the soaking is done, the barley is poured into large drums where cool, humidified air is blown in to control the temperature.

After five days the barley germinates, breaking down the cell walls within the grain and producing enzymes that will convert the starch into soluble sugars.

But in order to prevent complete germination and preserve the sugars, the barley must be heated and dried.

5.- Milling

The malted barley must be dried to a moisture level of about 5% before milling begins, or the mill where milling will take place may become clogged. Here the mill takes the dried malt and with its giant rollers grinds the barley into a coarse flour known as grist.

The grist is made up of husks, grits and fine flour, but if the flour is too fine it could get stuck in the mash tun, and if it is too coarse the liquor will drain too quickly preventing the extraction of sugar.

6.- Maceration

The milling obtained is introduced into the maceration vat to which hot water is added, which allows the sugars to be dissolved, but the temperature must be very carefully controlled because if the water is too hot the enzymes will be killed.

This process results in the must, which is drained through the perforated floor of the maceration vat and then cooled to a temperature of between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius.

7.- Fermentation

Once the must is obtained, it is taken to the stainless steel or pinewood vats for fermentation, and this is when the yeast is added, which is responsible for starting the fermentation process, as it converts the mixture into alcohol and carbon dioxide.

But whiskey does not undergo a single fermentation, and it is when a secondary fermentation with bacteria begins in the fermentation vat, producing complex chemicals that affect the degree of acidity of the product, even influencing the character of the final liquor.

8.- Distillation

how to make whiskey? well, this question has a logical answer, distillers must use a copper still, which is a process known as batch distillation.

The wash is heated in a still and when it reaches 78 degrees Celsius the alcohol boils and the vapor rises to a condenser, resulting in a liquid known as low wines, with an alcohol content of 23%.

The contents are then distilled again, known within the whisky process as a second distillation, and it is here that a liquid of around 70% alcohol content is produced.

9.- Aging

To become whiskey, the liquid obtained after the aforementioned stages, the liquor remains in oak barrels for at least three years.

This makes us wonder why oak barrels are used, because oak has cellulose and hemicellulose that caramelize the liquid, adding sweetness and color to it, which also gives it complexity thanks to oxidation, eliminates the hardness and increases the fruity quality of the whiskey.

what are the components of whisky?

Whisky is an alcoholic beverage that contains no proteins, no carbohydrates and no fats or sugars, so it provides 247 calories to the body. Among the components of whiskey we can find:

  • Contains vitamins A, B1, B3, B6, B12, C, D, E
  • Contains minerals such as iron, phosphorus, selenium, potassium, iodide, zinc
  • It has a low level of sodium
  • It is rich in water
  • It has antioxidants
  • Provides energy
  • Contributes to good circulation

how do you drink whiskey?

Whisky has a variety of flavors, so we can find from those soft with fruity notes, or with caramel, honey and ripe fruit flavor, to more intense smoky flavors and great character for the most demanding palates.

Whatever the option, whiskey can be served on the rocks, with water, with soft drinks or even with tea, which will give it a special and different flavor without altering the base.

  1. On the rocks: If you love whiskey on the rocks, you should place ice cubes in an old fashioned style glass and add the whiskey, this way you can fully appreciate and enjoy the essence of whiskey.
  2. With water: If you prefer to soften the whiskey but without losing its character, the ideal is to add fresh water, this will allow you to enjoy a special drink, usually served in an old fashioned style glass with ice.
  3. With sodas or juices: Juices or sodas give the whiskey versatility, which will make you enjoy much more of a very peculiar drink, usually served in tall glasses with plenty of ice.
  4. With Ginger Ale: If you are looking for a bolder flavor, the combination of whiskey with Ginger Ale is your option, and it will highlight the aromas of whiskey giving it a new flavor without losing its natural essence.

Whisky is a very pleasant drink, which, thanks to its taste and aroma, attracts thousands of admirers over the years. So alone or accompanied is a perfect ally when it comes to enjoy unique and special moments.

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