During quarantine did you learn to make bread? How about sourdough?
Whether you became an expert baker or not, I want to talk to you for a second about sourdough bread. The key to a great sourdough is in the ‘starter’. This starter is made up of a complex mix of bacteria and is created from a long fermentation of the dough. This started regularly has flour added to it to continue to ‘feed’ the yeast and keep it alive.
Whiskies that use sour mash are similar! Using sour mash to make whisk(e)y involves using the leftovers from an older batch of mash to start the fermentation of a new batch of mash.
There are a number of advantages to using this Sour Mash technique:
- It helps ensure flavour continuity batch to batch so every bottle you purchase tastes the same
- It helps to create a healthier, more efficient fermentation
- It helps to correct the pH level of the mash, making it a happier level of acidity for the yeast to thrive in (and by thrive I mean eat all those delicious sugars and poop out alcohol/CO2)
So these advantages are fine and all but I’m sure you still have some questions. Below is a quick Q&A of things related to Sour Mash!
Why isn’t Sour Mash whisk(e)y sour?
Sour Mash is a bit of a misnomer as it doesn’t refer to the flavour of the whisk(e)y. Rather, it refers to a fermentation technique.
So what if a distillery doesn’t use the sour mash process? What is their mash called then?
Well, it can just be called a ‘mash’ or alternatively a ‘sweet mash’. Shocking, right?
Is Jack Daniel’s the only one that makes Sour Mash whiskey?
No! In fact, the majority of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey distilleries use the sour mash technique — they just don’t advertise it.
Are there other names for used/old mash?
Yes! Some of my favourites are: Spent Mash, Spent Beer, Backset, Stillage, Draff, Slop and my all time favourite, Wet Cake.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
What bourbon are you currently drinking? Is it made from sour mash?
Have a story to tell about whisk(e)y in the form of a Haiku? Tag me in it and use the hashtag #whiskyhaiku
