Aging

Aging is the process of storing distilled spirits for an extended period, allowing the liquid to interact with wood in barrels or oak chips to create a more complex and flavorful profile. Barrel or Cask-Aging Barrel or cask-aging involves storing the distilled spirits in a wooden barrel, often made of oak, to impart flavors such…

Alcohol

You know what this is, right? Alcohol is a colorless, volatile liquid that is produced by the fermentation of sugars or grains. It is commonly used in beverages, such as beer, wine, and spirits. Distillation Distillation is the process of separating the components of a liquid mixture by heating and cooling. In home distilling, it…

Backset

“Backset” is a term used in home distilling to refer to the leftover mash from a previous distillation. When starting a new batch of alcohol, some distillers will use a small amount of this leftover mash in the new recipe. Why use backset? The primary purpose of using backset is to control the pH level…

Carbon Filter

To ensure that your final product is pure and free of impurities, a carbon filter is a must-have tool. But what exactly is a carbon filter and how does it work? This glossary will provide you with all the necessary information you need to know about carbon filters in home distilling. Carbon Filter A carbon…

Fermentation

Fermentation is an essential process in home distilling. It involves the breakdown of sugars into alcohol and other organic compounds by yeast, resulting in the flavorful alcoholic drinks that we all love. To kick-start your home distilling journey, we’ve compiled a comprehensive glossary of the most essential fermentation terms you need to know. How does…

Flavour Essence

If you’re interested in home distilling, it’s essential to understand the concept of flavour essence. Here’s a comprehensive glossary that covers all the basic information you need to know. Flavour Essence In home distilling, flavour essence refers to concentrated flavours that are added to the distilled alcohol to enhance its taste. Flavour essences are widely…

Flavour Profile

Home distilling allows people to produce their own personalized alcohol. Flavour profile refers to the unique characteristics of the distilled product in terms of taste, aroma, and texture. Disambiguation: see flavour essence for pre-made bottled flavour profiles. Here is a comprehensive glossary for the term “flavour profile” in home distilling: Yeast Selection The type of…

Heads

Heads refers to the initial portion of the distillation run that typically contains high levels of low boiling alcohols and other impurities. Below is a comprehensive glossary for the term “heads” in home distilling: Definition Heads are the first-produced alcohol that comes out of a distillation run. It contains higher levels of impurities that can…

Hydrometer

If you are new to home distilling, you may encounter the term “hydrometer” often. A hydrometer is a device used to measure the density of a liquid, which is an essential component in determining the alcohol level in a fermenting mash. Here’s a comprehensive glossary of terms related to hydrometers and home distilling: What is…