A Craft Distiller on an Apocalypse Mission
My alembic copper pot stills, nestled over open flames, often seem like a throwback to a bygone era. Their stove boxes are designed to be packed with wood, and our distillers are trained to manage temperature and transitions in...
Cutting Edge Processes for Extracting Flavors
Flavor, the ultimate frontier; everything we do comes down to flavor. Flavor extraction is an important part of making a spirit and makes up a large part of the drinking experience. So, what’s new in the world of flavor?...
Book Review: Modern Caribbean Rum
In 2007, Matt Pietrek began what he describes as his “spirited journey,” which started with the creation of a home bar and then evolved to writing about distilling, cocktails, spirit regulations, and the history of spirits through his website...
Distilling Research Grant Report: Eliminating Ethyl Carbamate Using Distillation Operations
Authors: Brad J. Berron (James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, The University of Kentucky), Jon Brown (Castle & Key Distillery), Jason Gambrell (Castle & Key Distillery), Travis Cantrell (Bardstown Bourbon Company), Meghan Mattingly (Bardstown Bourbon Company), Sarah A....
Leafy Lemon
Lemon, like vanilla and salt, is an ingredient so ubiquitous in food and drinks that it is sometimes more apparent in its absence, manifested as something lacking, because it is such a good harmonizer of disparate ingredients and adds...
“The One Thing I Didn’t Build Myself Was the Still”
It was nearly six months to the day since he had pushed his burning body across the floor to the fire extinguisher, and Peter Martorelli was about to begin distilling again. With his hand on the switch to his...
Tales from a Ghost Blender
One day last winter, I visited a local craft distillery to collect samples of barrel drippings for use in my blending lab. The distiller, taking a much-needed break from his work, followed me around from barrel to barrel as...
It’s Time to Take Ethyl Carbamate Seriously Again
Ethyl carbamate (EC), also known as urethane, is a compound found in fermented foods and beverages. It’s an ester of carbamic acid. It’s also a known carcinogen (cue ominous-sounding music), making it an important compound to know and understand...
