Exploring Whisky Through Science (Episode 812: March 29, 2020)

There’s still a lot left to discover about whisky, even though the “water of life” has been around for centuries. Scientists are still unlocking the mysteries of whisky, and we’ll meet a couple of them on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. Seth DeBolt is the director of the Beam Institute at the University of Kentucky, and is leading a project to decode the DNA sequences that make up the genome of Quercus Alba, the American White Oak tree that many of the world’s whisky makers depend on. We’ll also talk with Stuart Williams of the University of Louisville’s engineering school about his development of a new technique for “fingerprinting” Bourbons – and it’s one you can replicate at home (though it may not be appropriate for your kid’s science fair project)! We’ll also have the latest details on the COVID-19 pandemic and how it’s affecting the whisky industry, along with a look at why pot stills may make great whisky, but lousy hand sanitizer.

Links: University of Kentucky Beam Institute | WhiskeyWebs.org | Distilled Spirits Council | Scotch Whisky Association | The Spirits Business | Kentucky Distillers Association | Tomatin | Whisky: The Virtual Show | Whisky Magazine Awards | Lux Row Distillers | Douglas Laing & Co. | Scotch Whisky Industry Review | Ars Technica  | Ardbeg | Elijah Craig | Bunnahabhain | High Coast | Catoctin Creek