Pupp Journal Sommer 2013 - Grandhotel Pupp

A Thousand Tastes of Whisky
Maturation of whisky
All Scotch whisky has to mature in casks for at least three years,
however distilleries usually let it mature for a longer time. The optimal
maturing time is different depending on different sorts of
whisky and different areas. It usually ranges from eight up to twenty-one
years and only exceptionally longer. If the maturation process
is longer than twenty-five years, the beverage takes over too
much favour from the wood of the casks and the quality of whisky,
with some exceptions, does not increase any more. Older whiskies
are a sort of speciality, e.g. sixty-year-old whisky was bottled on the
occasion of Queen Elizabeth´s birthday. Some other whiskies were
intentionally bottled as appropriately expensive rarities. If the maturation
time is longer, you have to take into consideration that two
or even more per cent of the content of the cask evaporate every
year. The evaporated amount is called the angel share. It is counted
that millions of gallons evaporate in this way every year and that is
why all Scots are properly proud of the quality of their deliciously
smelling air which is said to ve saturated with evaporated whisky.
Unlike wine, whisky ages only in casks, not in bottles. As soon as
whisky is bottled, the maturation process stops.
There are two systems of storing the casks. They are either stored
in two or three layers in low stone buildings. The advantage is that
there is the same microclimate everywhere. This way of storing is
used first of all in Scotland. Or they are stored is special storehouses
with tin shelves where they can be kept in twenty or even more
layers. The other way is used especially in the U.S.A.
So that the taste may not change, a traditional production process
is strictly followed. E.g. Macallan whisky ages exclusively in the
casks after sherry oloroso. Other sorts mature after sherry fino,
amontillado, manzanilla, amoroso, Jerez, Valdespino, palo cortado,
Pedro Ximenez etc. Whisky Glenmorangie ages almost exclusively
in casks after bourbon. Some distilleries use only casks which have
already been used once (refill, second fill).
Casks are divided into two groups according to how often they
have been used. Those which are used for the first time are called
first fill casks or fresh casks while those used repeatedly are called
second fill casks or refill casks and a three times is enough rule is
obeyed. After they have been used more times, they are used for
aging of grain whisky or mixed whisky. However, they find a very
practical utilization even after the last use – shavings from the casks
are used for smoking world-famous Scottish salmons or they are
changed into stylish flower boxes.
Today the labels are often provided with the number of the cask in
which whisky aged or matured and also with the number of bottles
which were drawn from the cask. Names which are used most frequently
are whisky hog, sherry butt, bourbon barrel, Madeira cask,
oloroso cask, fresh sherry hogshead, port pipe, brandy cask, wine
barrel, rum puncheon, American white oak and others, such as
amontillado, claret, fresh rum Demerara, cognac, Malaga, sherry
amoroso, fino sherry, sherry Jerez, Valdespino sherry, sherry refill,
sherry palo cortado etc.
We have been talking about aging which leads us to the term doublewood
or double matured. It means that whisky ages in one sort
of cask (e.g. after bourbon) for a considerable part of the aging time
and then in other casks (e.g. after sherry) for a time ranging from
half a year up to three years. Recently some distilleries have been
trying experiments with barrels after wine, rum etc.
From the Big Book about Whisky by Vladimír Kulhánek,
Dokořán (2007). To be continued.
Sklenku své oblíbené whisky si v Grandhotelu Pupp nejlépe
vychutnáte v impozantním lobby baru Club Malá Dvorana
denně od 12 do 23 hod.
Vybrat si můžete také z nabídky kubánských doutníků.
Ein Glas Ihres Lieblingswhiskys können Sie im Grandhotel Pupp
am besten in dem imposanten Lobby Bar Club Malá Dvorana
täglich von 12 bis 23 Uhr genießen.
Sie können auch aus dem Angebot an kubanischen Zigarren wählen.
You can relish a glass of your favourite whisky best in the imposing
lobby bar Club Malá Dvorana in the Grandhotel Pupp
from 12 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.
You can also choose from the offer of Cuban cigars.
www.pupp.cz
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