The Science of Scotch

Get the scientific low-down on that religiously-revered drink
Where the Magic Happens: Kettles at the Ardmore Distillery Photo by Ardmore and Laphroaig

While most scotch whiskey terminology veers towards the religious, the so-called “water of life” has been subjected to more scientific scrutiny than one might expect. But it's still a work in progress. Earlier this week at the New York Academy of Sciences, Simon Brooking, Master Ambassador for Ardmore and Laphroaig distilleries, appeared in his traditional clan tartan to walk a crowd through the chemistry behind the whiskey.

The Spread: Overtones of banana? Photo by Stuart Fox
As Brookings noted between Scottish toasts and more than a few drinks, the distinctive flavors and textures of scotch whiskies result from three chemical reactions. The initial smoking of the grain with peat fires creates the smoky and sea salt taste distinctive of certain scotches by infusing the barley with large carbon rings called phenols. Those are released from the burning peat; then differently shaped copper kettles determine the texture of the whiskey by regulating how much of the whiskey reacts with the copper during distillation. Finally, the aging in oak barrels gives the whiskey a chance to oxidize, creating chemicals like iso-amyl acetate, or banana flavor.

According to Robert Hicks, Master Blender at the Ardmore distillery, scientific analysis of scotch has uncovered over 800 chemical compounds that affect the flavor of the whiskey. While some of those chemicals exist in only small quantities (the iodine flavor chemical makes up only 5 parts per billion in Laphroaig), their impact on the taste can be immense. However, despite all the technology available to distillers, most still test their scotch the old fashioned way. “There’s a lot of analysis that’s done at the lab,” said Brookings, “but for us down in the distillery, we still like to do it by taste.”

6 Comments

Comments

Scottishhaze
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Not all Scottish Whisky is made with the smoking peat. It's these different techniques that give it it's individuality. Islay malts tend to use the peat hence why they have a smokey flavour.

Scottish Whisky is also not spelt with an 'e'! It's the only country allowed to do so...perhaps you should research a little more...

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ctr
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Scottishhaze is a bitter alkie

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matt@photostax.net
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Hey Scottishhaze,

Who cares how he spelled the word Whisk(e)y he taught me something new. Can you honestly say you knew that Whisk(e)y had over 800 known chemicals including a compound like iso-amyl acetate that gives whisk(e)y a banana flavor!!!?

Don't worry about his research, seems largely acceptable. I would be more worried about your spelling and inability to identify them whilst posting your comment.

Your comment:

"Scottish Whisky is also not spelt with an 'e'! It's the only country allowed to do so...perhaps you should research a little more.."

Webster Defines SPELT as:
a split piece of wood, Old High German spaltan to split — more at split

Date:
before 12th century: an ancient wheat
(Triticum spelta syn. T. aestivum spelta) with spikelets containing two light red grains; also : the grain of spelt

Question:
Perhaps you should have gone to school more...?

BTW: Misspellings are underlined in RED when you type. "FOCUS NEO"

(Please try and pay attention to detail when criticizing others. It makes you look like a blank.)

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GenericUsername
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Hey, matt@photos,

Perhaps you should do a little more research yourself before you assume that someone else is incorrect?

"Spelt" is an accepted British form of "spell", as verified by no less than Merriam-Webster, who define it thusly:
'chiefly British past and past participle of spell'

You might have noticed that Scottishhaze used the UK spelling of "flavour", which should have given you a clue, but perhaps you thought that was incorrect, as well.

Now, if I were going to be as pedantic as you, I would point out that he did use "it's" improperly, when writing "it's individuality". One could point out, as well, that "try and pay attention" is not grammatically correct, as it should be "try to pay attention". But no need to worry about that; I'd never stoop so low.

It's a valid point, the spelling of "whisk(e)y" when referring to the Scottish variety, especially in an article posted on a science website. I don't understand why you must take what he said personally.

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WhiskyLover
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The simple, easily researched fact is that Scotland has the legal monopoly in most countries of the world on the production and sale of spirits labeled as "Scotch," but none at all on the more generic term "whisky."

For example, one of my personal favorites is "Maker's Mark" brand "Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky." Made in Loretto, Kentucky, USA

No "E."

- WL

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matt@photostax.net
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OK,

Now it's really getting absurd. A person correcting a person correcting a person $is WRONG>(They asks where...)

Firstly:
My name was matt@photostax.net not matt@photos...
TALK ABOUT DOING RESEARCH...You don't even address me correctly! (That was as simple as clicking the link on my NAME.)

Secondly:
I didn't take the original post by scottishhaze personally, I in fact was supporting the original article and thought his comments were needless.

Thirdly:
You spoke almost completely about me and not about the article. Get off my jock and benefit something, someone or somehow

BTW: MY claims have proof. You say Webster defines "spelt" ...funny because I used Merriam-Webster and cited them as well.
However when I search the online database using FireFox your definition is nowhere to be seen...HUH!? WOW

P.S Did you know that iso-amyl acetate gives whisk(e)y a banana flavor!!!?

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