Types Of Raw Materials Used For Making Whisky And The XO whisky

XO whisky | Image Resource: whiskymonster.com

Whisky is a distilled alcoholic beverage and contains 42% alcohol by volume. Whisky is produced by the process of fermentation and distillation. It is then aged for some time and then bottled.

One of the premium whiskies is the XO whisky. It is made from the best Scotch malts and finest Indian grain spirits and aged in Bourbon casks. It has a uniquely balanced taste and a smooth finish.

Whisky is made from grain, water and yeast. The fermentation process is a natural process that occurs when yeast is added to sugars. It causes the decomposition of organic materials, especially simple sugars. Yeast grows in the presence of a slightly acidic medium.

Raw material required for making whisky

The raw materials used to make whiskies are of two types: the ones that are high in natural sugars and the ones that contain carbohydrates that can be converted to sugars. Enzymes promote chemical reactions and convert starch into sugars.

Natural sources of enzymes are sprouted grains. Therefore the grains are germinated before making the mash for the fermentation process. In the fermentation process, yeast breaks down the sugars into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.

Fruits like grapes, peaches and apples contain natural sugars and are used to produce brandy. Sugarcane and sugar beet also contain a high amount of natural sugars and are used to produce rum. For whisky, grains are used in production like corn, rye, wheat, buckwheat and malted barley.

The main grain produced worldwide is corn and the whisky made from corn contains at least 51% of cron in the mash. Rye is less efficient in fermentation than corn but it is used because of the flavour it provides to the final product.

The first and main grain used to make whisky is barley which is used to make it in large quantities. Wheat is also used but due to its high costs, it is used when corn is in short supply. Sometimes potatoes and starchy roots are also used in the production of whisky.

Types of whiskies

There are different types of whiskies depending on the grain used to produce them:

Straight whisky is made from malted or unmalted fermented grain mash. It is produced at an alcoholic concentration not exceeding 80% abv and is aged in new charred oak barrels for at least 2 years.

Single malt whisky is made from a mash that uses one particular malted grain. If it is not specified as single cash then it contains whisky from many casks to get the specific taste.

Buckwheat whisky is made for buckwheat. Corn whisky is made from a mash consisting of at least 80% corn and is aged in uncharred or used barrels if required.