News

Geotargeting Whiskey

Whiskey/beer writer Lew Bryson, author of Whiskey Master Class, takes to the Daily Beast to talk geotargeting -- the increasingly common creation of whiskey brands for release in limited areas.   "Sure, there are lots of whiskies that are only for...

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The Coming Peat War

The Coming Peat War

In Scotland, there's a burgeoning environmental movement to ban the harvesting and burning of peat, one of the world's dirtiest fuels. The mining of peat is about as destructive as strip mining. Hundreds of thousands of acres have been laid...

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Rye vs. Bourbon

Rye vs. Bourbon

Researchers look at the perceptible qualities of rye and Bourbon and conclude there's no real difference. Whiskeyvolk disagree: (Researcher Jacob) Lahne’s selection of what he calls “commercial” whiskies used in the study contain just one with no corn (Bulleit Rye)...

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Do Distilleries Have Signature Aromas?

Do Distilleries Have Signature Aromas?

In the chemistry of whiskey, evidence in the search for whiskey terroir.

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Women have more precise noses

Why Women Smell Better Than Men

All joking aside, women  (in general) have more acute senses of smell than men. The reason for that, according to aroma research published in Brazil, is the number of neurons found in the brain’s olfactory bulb. Wedged down between the top...

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Adding Spice to Modern Gin: Cassia Bark

Few people know the aroma of Cassia Bark, an increasingly popular gin botanical. The cassia tree is an evergreen found in east Asia. There is a distinct overlap in the aroma profiles of the oils from cassia and cinnamon. When...

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How Much Water to Add to Whiskey

How Much Water to Add to Whiskey

It’s a long-running argument: what’s the perfect amount of water to mix with Bourbon to bring out the nose? So there we were, a group assembled to sample the new, Bulleit Barrel Strength, and figure out how much added water...

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95% of What You Taste is Really Smell

95% of What You Taste is Really Smell

At the heart of Aroma Academy's training is a set of distinct aromas that combine to create the "tasting" experience. The aromas contained in each kit stretch across the stylistic breadth of the kit's category -- whisky, gin, etc. The training...

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