What You Need to Know
Master distiller is a title often used for a distilling expert or a key leader or owner at modern distilleries. The title doesn't have a fixed definition and can mean different things at different companies. Although the craft of distilling has existed for centuries throughout history, the term "master distiller" only dates back as far as the 1800s when it was first used to acknowledge the distilling expertise and knowledge a person gained after practicing and perfecting the craft of distilling for many years. In more recent usage, the term can have a much broader meaning and is sometimes used for owners and company leaders who run their companies but do not actively create the distilling recipes and processes used at their distilleries.
Steps
- 1.
Scotch whisky (Scotland): Double/triple distillation in copper pot stills
- 2.
Bourbon (United States): Continuous column distillation with sour mash
- 3.
Tequila (Mexico): Precise cut points to separate heads/hearts/tails
The Science
Primary Reaction
Ethanol fermentation