Popular Science and Scotch

[orangedog]

I'm not a scientist regardless of how loosely you define the term. I loved physics when I was in high school and college, and enjoyed chemistry to a degree. Biology and I were much like olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.

Anyways... I've been pondering a fair amount about the science - chemistry and biology - behind the aging of wine, scotch, and cigars. Wine and scotch seem to be a relatively well defined world... the knowledge of cigars has been relegated to mystics and retailers (no offense).

One of these days on this board I'll start a thread dedicated to the scientific knowledge of the processes that cigars go through post-sale, but for now, I came across this piece on whisky that I thought was interesting, and figured I'd share:

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-07/tasting-scotch-whisky-note-note

 

[smokinghole]

I've often thought about tobacco related research experiments. I've been more recently distracted by beer because breweries are very nearby, but tobacco plantations are far away. The source of production is a convenient thing to have when doing long term testing I think.

 

[Mickeymorris626]

That article was fascinating! Thanks for the post. I have been tempted to enter into the fine scotch hobby but have always shied away due to the price/not knowing what to look for. This article is tempting me even more so now!

 

[orangedog]

That article was fascinating! Thanks for the post. I have been tempted to enter into the fine scotch hobby but have always shied away due to the price/not knowing what to look for. This article is tempting me even more so now!

Please fire away with questions. There are many on this board, including myself, that are willing to share what we've learned (right or wrong, ha ha!).

 

[W.B.]

Great post, fascinates me as well concerning cigars. I would add beers to the list especially Barley wine's and even some R.I.S..