Scotch whisky is whisky that has been distilled and matured in Scotland for at least 3 years in oak casks. Generally a scotch whisky is distilled twice. This is how its made-
1. Malting
When making scotch the first process is malting. While malting the finest quality barley is steeped in water and then spread out on malting floors to germinate. When on the malting floors it is turned often to prevent heat seeping into it. After a week or so of germination the barley which is now called the green malt is dried. While drying the germination process comes to a halt. It has to be kept in mind that the heat does not at any stage exceed 70 degree Celsius as then there would be a threat for the enzymes to get destroyed.
2. Mashing
At this stage the dried malt is ground into a coarse flour, which is mixed with hot water. The water is added in 3 stages and gets hotter at each stage, starting around 67°C and rising to almost boiling point.
It has to be kept in mind that the water used is pure Scottish water. After the water is added the mash is then stirred, helping the enzymes to activate which eventually convert the starch into sugar. Once mashing is over, the sweet sugary liquid which is released is known as wort.
3. Fermentation
The wort or the sweet sugary liquid is cooled to 20°C and pumped into washbacks. Yeast is then added and at this stage fermentation begins. The yeast feeds on the sugars, producing alcohol and small quantities of other compounds known as congeners, which contribute to the exquisite flavour of the whisky. The fermentation generally dies down after 2 days.
4. Distillation
The wash is placed in stills. Not many know but the shape of the pot still affects the character of an individual malt whisky. At this stage the still is heated below the boiling point of water and the alcohol and other compounds vaporize and pass over the neck of the still into either a condenser or a large copper coil immersed in cold running water. At this stage the vapour is condensed into a liquid. The wash is then distilled twice.
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