image: Derby Day means it's time to recognize the chemical process of distillation, which makes bourbon possible. Water and ethanol have different boiling points, so they can be separated by carefully heating the whiskey's mash. Each distillery carefully protects their still design, and the strongest flavors require aging. But might some innovative makers find a way to hack the process? : https://youtu.be/cR7Bt9Ei_zI. view more
Credit: The American Chemical Society
WASHINGTON, May 2, 2017 -- Derby Day is around the corner, and with it comes big hats, horses with funny names, and bourbon. The latest episode of Reactions celebrates the chemical process of distillation that makes bourbon and other whiskey varieties possible. Since water and ethanol, along with tasty flavors, have different boiling points, they can be separated by carefully heating the mash that starts off every whiskey. Each distillery carefully protects their still design, engineered to create their signature liquor. The strongest flavors take aging, but might some innovative whiskey makers find a way to hack maturation time? There's a barrel-full of chemistry in this video about whiskey: https://youtu.be/cR7Bt9Ei_zI.
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