O T W O H BLEND
A
s a concept, blending seems simple. It’s putting together multiple things to make one thing. The elusiveness of a good blend is having those “things'' converge to where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. There is not a cookie-cutter way of achieving your goals for blending, as they can vary depending on your project. If the goal is to create a large-volume product that is consumed worldwide, your goals and how you achieve them will vary greatly compared to a one-off project that aims to just simply create amazing whiskey. While there is not a simple formula for blending, there are formulas for success. Pay attention to your starting materials, collect as much data as you can, and use this information to scale.
WRITTEN BY MOLLY TROUPE
KNOW YOUR STARTING MATERIALS: YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE
While there is not a simple formula for blending, there are formulas for success.
W W W . ARTISANSPIRITMAG . C O M
On tours for the general public, it is easy to simplify the distillation process as to what is done in a chemistry lab. However, spirit distillations are very different from the semi-relatable lab distillations of yonder. Prior to whiskey entering a barrel, the spirit is clear but complex and not simply a mixture of alcohol and water. We also, thankfully for the history of spirits, have flavor to contend with as well. Before whiskey enters the barrel, the entry sensory notes should be documented. This allows tracking for inconsistencies or potential flaws.
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