In the case of Scotch whisky, there’s a nice divide amongst single-malt drinkers, and that nice divide is peat.
I’ve been within the whisky biz a very long time, and usually I’ve discovered that on the subject of peat in whisky, like Marmite, you both adore it or hate it. No matter whether or not or not you’re a peated whisky fan nonetheless, it must be mentioned that peat has performed a key position within the manufacturing of whisky over the centuries.
Centuries in the past, peat blocks had been burned as gasoline to offer a warmth supply for the pot stills. Because the years ticked by nonetheless, we discovered various sources of gasoline and so peat was now not wanted, not in that capability no less than. As a substitute, it’s used to assist flavour the whisky and provides it its distinctive, smoky, earthiness.
Right here’s a fast have a look at the hyperlink between peat and whisky and why, for a lot of, it’s the right mixture.
What’s Peat?
Peat is an natural floor layer of soil that’s made up of decomposed plant matter and different natural supplies. There’s much more biology concerned, however principally, peat is an accumulation of decayed plant matter, vegetation, and different natural supplies which were closely compressed. Consider it like a compost heap that has been tens of millions of years within the making.
Peat is present in bogs, marshes, mires, moors, and different related areas of the UK often known as ‘Peatlands’.
As a result of it burned so properly, employees from the distilleries would make the journey out into the countryside and reduce away slabs of peat and convey it again to the distilleries, the place it could then be used to warmth the stills.
Peat in Whisky Manufacturing
As talked about, peat was initially simply used as a gasoline supply as a result of it burned so properly. Because the centuries handed by nonetheless, various gasoline sources had been found. Peat was nonetheless, utilized in a distinct capability, specifically the malting of the grains.
Malting is a course of which promotes germination of the barley. This is a vital step as a result of it helps to facilitate chemical reactions happening inside every grain, changing the vitality inside to organize it for fermentation, which is when it kinds ethanol (alcohol).
Right here, the barley can be unfold evenly on the ground of the malthouse, which might then be heated through a kiln beneath. The warmth promoted the germination. To warmth the kiln, slabs of peat had been used. Initially, the target was purely to offer warmth, it was found, nonetheless, that the smoke produced from the peat was absorbed by the malted grains of barley, the place it imparted a wealthy and smoky, barely earthy flavour that was current within the whisky.
What Does Peat Style Like?
These days, peated whisky is extremely standard, and has turn out to be considerably of a trademark of whisky produced on Islay. Fashionable examples of peated whisky embrace manufacturers comparable to: Ardbeg, Bowmore, Laphroaig, Talisker, and Lagavulin, to call only a few.
