20 years of aging in 6 days

[dstaines]

Here's an interesting news story from my neck of the woods, though it actually broke at the ADI Craft Distillers Conference in Louisville KY yesterday.

Bryan Davis is the Master Distiller and owner of Lost Spirits Distillery and self-published author of "How To Make Whiskey." On April 1 he revealed the Model 1 prototype of his new aging "reactor". He claims that his reactor and proprietary process can simulate the flavor profile of 20-year-old barrel aged spirits in less than a week, and backs up his claim with gas-chromatograph evidence in a white paper available on his website.

How it works is not published, but it uses charred oak blocks instead of barrels. Grandly speaking, the system is supposed to accelerate the natural decomposition of the charred wood that normally takes place over a very long time, and uses some unspecified forms of energy to force esterification of wood derived compounds. Interestingly, Mr. Davis describes the process as not currently capable of simulating any shorter or longer terms of aging.

Five reactors are contracted to be beta-tested by unnamed craft distillers. When they become commercially available, the systems will be rented to distilleries. Rentees will have some scope of electronic control over the process, and will be able to access the inside of the machine to add and remove spirits as well as charge the reactor with oak blocks. Lost Spirits will retain ownership of the reactors, as well as maintain complete secrecy concerning its actual mechanisms.

Now I'm not saying I buy it. I think in particular that the fact it can't simulate anything younger than 20 years may be telling - most spirits that old taste far far too overly oaked to the average palate. That's not to say that there aren't exceptional counter examples, nor aficionados who really appreciate extra-aged spirits. But I can tell you from my personal experience that it is very possible to over-oak a whiskey in six days, and all I had was a glass quart jar and a kitchen counter top. I have a lot of respect for Mr Davis, and consider him a mentor, even if he doesn't remember me. I will be following whatever news I can find on this new process with interest as he moved toward bringing it to market.

Drinkwire.com article about the announcement
http://drinkwire.liquor.com/post/lost-s ... s-industry" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Link to the "Model 1 White Paper" by Bryan Davis
http://www.lostspirits.net/#!science-/c1kb3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow