This a great "Booze 101." In every category there are many styles, techniques, and rules (both official and unofficial), but understanding starts with the basics. Still, I couldn't help but think of the countless exceptions-to-the-rule that are popping up as craft and home distillers get creative.
Love the videos! I plan to do some similar videos about the flavors in bourbon and what they really are. Like what chemical tastes like banana and cherry. Etc. but I’m no chemist so don’t know what I’m talking about 😃.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! You don't have to be a chemist to know what you're talking about when it comes to tasting bourbon! Keep in mind, each flavor compound can be perceived differently depending on concentration and the other flavor compounds in bourbon. For example, isoamyl acetate tends to taste like banana at the concentrations found in spirits, however to some, it tastes more like pear and others might just perceive it as generally fruity. Sensory science is so cool!
@@RobynSmithPhD Good point. So question: On Jack Daniels i always get a banana note, yet some people get a Medicinal cherry. Would that be the same chemical, or we are just sensitive to two different chemicals?
@@HOUSEBOURBON That's a great question! My guess is that you're probably sensing different chemical compounds... it's hard to pinpoint exactly what's responsible for the banana and medicinal cherry notes, but I think there's a strong possibility that you're picking up isoamyl acetate (in combination with other flavor compounds). Those that get the medicinal cherry note may be picking up ethyl hexanoate (most commonly associated with apple, however can also be associated with aniseed, red fruits, and cherry-like fruitiness) in combination with some phenols (typically smoky, but also can be medicinal). Benzaldehyde can also have some cherry-like notes (as well as notes of almond).
This is great! Would love to see a video of your favorite brands/bottles in each category - it's hard to decipher which spirit brands are actually higher quality and which are just marketing.
I always try to avoid picking favorites because I feel like I'm trying to pick a favorite child (haha). Plus, my preferences are not going to be the same as someone else's. BUT I totally agree that there's so much marketing noise out there that it makes it very hard to find really great brands... so I think talking about my favorite brands would actually be a really helpful video. Thank you for the suggestion and the push to create that video! I'll get working on it! Keep an eye out!
I think it's so interesting how temperature can change the perception of a spirit! It can change the spirit's viscosity, can alter the perception of certain congeners, and can impact the activation of heat receptors that are triggered by ethanol.
