Historical whiskey involving koji enzymes

[Bolverk]

Found an interesting write up about koji used in whiskey making that I thought yall might enjoy.

https://pre-prowhiskeymen.blogspot.com/ ... y.html?m=1

Some of y'all experiments with Yellow Label really aren't too far off the mark.

Enjoy!

[Steve Broady]

I’ve been thinking about getting into culturing koji for a while now. This is the last thing I need! Too many projects, not enough time…

[Bolverk]

I’ve been thinking about getting into culturing koji for a while now. This is the last thing I need! Too many projects, not enough time…

Sorry, not sorry

[contrahead]

Interesting story. Two things crossed my mind. The Inja Shochu thread started by user: “Facter”, and Prohibition. Yeah, prohibition wasn't federal law until the 18th amendment was ratified in 1918. But the temperance movement types had been pushing for prohibition for a long time before that. A dozen U.S. States were already dry by 1855, and about 20 states by 1900. This Jokichi Takamine character from this koji enzymes story was playing against a stacked deck anyway, in 1894.

I googled “Whiskey Trust” and found some curious facts. Like the fact that the trust was run by a bunch of cartoonish 'Snidely Whiplash” type crooks and villains. I wonder what made Peoria, Illinois so attractive, back then.

After reading this next blog post, I found that the next two (which were linked) – were just as informative.
https://inthespiritofthelaw.com/2019/12 ... key-trust/

https://inthespiritofthelaw.com/2019/11 ... skey-ring/
“On the other side were the rectifiers, who took neutral spirits, added colorings and flavorings (often of questionable safety) and sold it as whiskey”.

https://inthespiritofthelaw.com/2019/01 ... n-alcohol/
“if you put nutrition labels on booze, people will think that means booze is nutritional.”

[Deplorable]

https://inthespiritofthelaw.com/2019/01 ... n-alcohol/
“if you put nutrition labels on booze, people will think that means booze is nutritional.”

It's not?

[tommysb]

Things and trends/topins here go in waves or cycles...I've definitely seen that koji whiskey article before!

I've done quite some koji experiments a couple of years back and even made some sake - steaming, inoculating small batches and feeding the ferment. It's worth looking at what Empirical Spirits in Copenhagen do, and also the Noma guide to fermentation, which talks a lot about culturing koji.

Some more info:

viewtopic.php?t=42133

[Facter]

There is a really fascinating story all about Takamine over on Japan Distilled around some of this Its in two parts and well worth the listen if you enjoy this topic (honestly their whole podcast is absolutely awesome and I highly recommend subscribing)

https://japandistilled.com/jokichi-takamine-part-1/
https://japandistilled.com/jokichi-taka ... cy-part-2/


The guys at Honkaku spirits (the Japan distilled guys) even went as far as to remake the kind of whiskey he could have made while he was in the US.

https://honkakuspirits.com/product/taka ... r-whiskey/

[Facter]

I’ve been thinking about getting into culturing koji for a while now. This is the last thing I need! Too many projects, not enough time…

Do it!

[greggn]

the trust was run by a bunch of cartoonish 'Snidely Whiplash” type crooks and villains

I get the reference and commend your attention to detail.

[quadra]

Alberta Distillers ( one of the primary sources for American rye feedstock ) and Seagrams were using aspergillus oryzae back in the 1940s