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Why does rye bite your ass off? Are grain neutral spirits really neutral? What happens when you add botanicals to grain spirits? Or a flavour? Or stick them in a barrel? Join Irishman Philip Duff for a rollicking mega-tasting ride through the history, flavours, laws and practises of grain based spirits, from genever in the Low Countries to English gin to whiskey, liqueurs and the most international spirit around, vodka.
8. Going Against The Grain
What?
Corn (Maize)
– Mexico, 7-10,000 years ago
9. Going Against The Grain
What?
Corn (Maize)
– Mexico, 7-10,000 years ago
– Colombus brought to Europe
10. Going Against The Grain
What?
Corn (Maize)
– Mexico, 7-10,000 years ago
– Colombus brought to Europe
- Most widely cultivated grain
11. Going Against The Grain
What?
Corn (Maize)
– Mexico, 7-10,000 years ago
– Colombus brought to Europe
- Most widely cultivated grain
- US Subsidies: Feed, HFCS, Ethanol
12. Going Against The Grain
What?
Corn (Maize)
– Mexico, 7-10,000 years ago
– Colombus brought to Europe
- Most widely cultivated grain
- US Subsidies: Feed, HFCS, Ethanol
- American Whiskey!
13. Going Against The Grain
What?
Corn (Maize)
– Mexico, 7-10,000 years ago
– Colombus brought to Europe
- Most widely cultivated grain
- US Subsidies: Feed, HFCS, Ethanol
- American Whiskey!
- Nixtamalization!
15. Going Against The Grain
What?
Wheat
– Near east, 12-14,000 yrs ago
– Diploid: Einkorn
16. Going Against The Grain
What?
Wheat
– Near east, 12-14,000 yrs ago
– Diploid: Einkorn
- Tetraploid: Emmer (Italian; Farro)
17. Going Against The Grain
What?
Wheat
– Near east, 12-14,000 yrs ago
– Diploid: Einkorn
- Tetraploid: Emmer (Italian; Farro)
Durum (Pastas, 1 Un-hulled Wheat)
st
18. Going Against The Grain
What?
Wheat
– Near east, 12-14,000 yrs ago
– Diploid: Einkorn
- Tetraploid: Emmer (Italian; Farro)
Durum (Pastas, 1 Un-hulled Wheat)
st
- Hexaploid: Modern Bread Wheats
19. Going Against The Grain
What?
Wheat
– Near east, 12-14,000 yrs ago
– Diploid: Einkorn
- Tetraploid: Emmer (Italian; Farro)
Durum (Pastas, 1 Un-hulled Wheat)
st
- Hexaploid: Modern Bread Wheats
- Winter Wheat: Less/No Pesticides
37. Going Against The Grain
How?
Distilling
Step 1: Ferment Beer - Cereal
Yeast
Water
Optional: Flavourings
900AD: Hops
38. Going Against The Grain
How?
Distilling
Step 1: Ferment Beer
Step 2: Distill Beer (To Concentrate The Alcohol)
Cook It or Freeze It
Remove The Flaws
Enjoy!
40. Going Against The Grain
How?
Distilling
What Affects Flavour? Type Grain(s) & How Malted
Type yeast & Length Ferment
Duration & Alc.% Distillation
Type & Extent Filtering
Time (if any) & Type Barrel(s)
42. Going Against The Grain
When?
589, St. Colombanus,
Ireland
“serve about the ale which is
bruised from the juice of
wheat and barley”
43. Going Against The Grain
When?
1169, The Normans,
Ireland
Vintners!
Aqua vite (water of the vine)
vs
Aqua Vitae (water of life)
=uisce beatha (idem)
44. Going Against The Grain
When?
1269, Der Naturen Bloeme,
Holland
“He who has cramps
Cook juniper in wine
It's good against the pain"
45. Going Against The Grain
When?
1494,
Scotland
“Eight bolls of malt to
Friar John Cor
wherewith to make
aqua vitae"
46. Going Against The Grain
When?
1495, The Sloane Manuscripts
Holland
“Making Burned Wine”
Lees-distilled wine
With Botanicals
47. Going Against The Grain
When?
1556, Ireland
Act of Parliament:
“The consumption of graine in
making of aqua vitae, and that
it is not Profitable to be daily
drunk and used is now universally
through the realm of Ireland”
48. Going Against The Grain
When?
1582, A Guide To Distilling,
Holland (& Europe)
[distilled grain spirit]...
“in aroma and taste is
Almost the same as brandy-wine”
and is
“not only named brandywine but also
drunk and paid for as brandywine”
50. Going Against The Grain
When?
1689 - 1751
England
The Gin Craze
&
The Gin-Ocracy
51. Going Against The Grain
When?
1689 - 1751
England
The Gin Craze
&
The Gin-Ocracy
52. Going Against The Grain
When?
1689 - 1751
England
The Gin Craze
&
The Gin-Ocracy
53. Going Against The Grain
When?
1689 - 1751
England
The Gin Craze
&
The Gin-Ocracy
54. Going Against The Grain
When?
1750
Ireland
Dr. Johnson, Lexicographer
Whiskey is:
“Particularly distinguished for it's
pleasant and mild spirit...
It is a compounded, distilled spirit,
being drawn on aromatiks”.
55. Going Against The Grain
When?
1779 - 1823
Ireland
Shallow-Still Output
&
The Rectifiers
56. Going Against The Grain
When?
1830
Ireland
Aenaes Coffey Invents
The Continual Still
(1848:
Corn Laws Repealed)