Peat PPM: The Most Misunderstood Number in Whisky?
Peat, phenols, laboratory measurements and why a whisky labelled 100 ppm isn’t necessarily twice as smoky as one labelled 50 ppm.
The Water Paradox: Why Diluting Whisky Changes More Than Its Strength
Ethanol, aroma molecules, cloudy whisky and the chemistry behind adding a few drops of water. “Add a few drops of
Fermentation: Where Whisky Gets More Than Just Alcohol
Fermentation with yeast is responsible for creating many of the compounds giving whisky its fruity or floral aromas… let’s dive down the washbacks.
The Copper Paradox: Why Whisky Needs Copper, But Not Too Much
Sulphur, still shapes, worm tubs and the chemistry behind one of whisky’s most misunderstood ingredients, despite being massively used for stills: copper.
When Does a Cognac Stop Ageing?
Cognac age is more complex than whisky’s. Harvest year, distillation, 1st of April, oak, glass demijohns… So when does a cognac stop ageing?
Boisé, Sugar and Caramel: What’s Really in Your Cognac?
Cognac is made from grapes, distilled twice and matured in French oak. But some additives are allowed: boisé, sugar and caramel. Let’s explain.
Rancio: The Most Overused Word in Old Cognac?
Walnuts, mushrooms, old leather and the chemistry behind one of Cognac’s most mysterious characteristic: rancio, maybe the most overused word.
What Your Cognac Label Tells You. And What It Doesn’t.
Like with whisky, the label on a bottle of cognac tells you a few things. Let’s decode what you cognac label tells you and what it doesn’t.
Single Malt Is a Blend. And Single Cask Isn’t Quite What You Think Either.
A Single Malt is usually a blend… of different casks, but from the same distillery. And a single cask… can be from several distilleries. What?!
What Does ‘Refill Cask’ Actually Mean?
We see sometimes on some whisky labels “matured in a refill cask”. But what does “refill cask” actually mean? And what it doesn’t?
The Hidden Distillery: The Language of Undisclosed Whisky
Independent bottlers are usually associated with transparency. But sometimes the label doesn’t divulge the hidden distillery, it’s to stay undisclosed.
They Don’t Make Whisky Like They Used To. Literally.
‘They Don’t Make Whisky Like They Used To.’ That’s right. But it’s because of a lot of things. Production. Materials. Methods. And many other things