5
Votes
Marek Dvorak's picture

Scotch whisky - water

Water. In addition to making up the most of our body composition, it plays a huge role in whiskey production. Although water does not have such an influence on the taste of whiskey itself, its importance can be found in several applications. Water is used not only for the production itself, but also for the processes around it. The water is used to cool or heat the distillation process. Some even argue that the result affects the amount of water available at distillery. More water is able to cool the still pots more quickly so it affects the process of converting starch into sugar and subsequent alcohol. So where do distilleries get water from? Some from the mountain streams, others from the rivers. Those on Isle of Islay from local lakes, loches. Ardbeg distillery uses water from lake Uigeadail, about 5 kilometers away. Kilbride dam provides water for Laphroaig. Unused water then flows cleaned directly into the sea and returns to the process. Water can also be used to "drip" whiskey when consumed. It has its chemical justification, but simply, whiskey can taste better :) We went to the sources of water, to visit, taste and document. The advantage of taking pictures at 6 am is complete privacy and silence at the lake. I don't count ducks. The downside is that the temperature is far below zero, and the fact that the sun rises only at 7, you freeze before you can take pictures.

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