Bourbon Pursuit

235 - Bourbon Chemistry with Dr. Tom Collins

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Are you ready to geek out? Like super bourbon geek out? Dr. Tom Collins has dedicated part of his career to the details of different spirits and wine. His studies looking at the chemical composition of bourbon as well as the chemical influence from barrels is what intrigued us. We examine, at a scientific level, what char levels create different compounds and reactions, how entry proof affects these compounds, and how bourbon and rye are different in their molecular makeup. Like I said, get ready to geek out!

Show Notes:

  • New EU Tariffs: https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2020-01-04/trump-wine-tariffs and https://qz.com/1779258/a-us-wine-tariff-on-the-eu-isnt-great-for-california/
  • Scotland ankle monitoring: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/5128975/scottish-criminals-alcohol-ankle-tags/
  • This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about turning your hobby into a career.
  • What is viticulture and enology?
  • How did you choose this profession?
  • Tell us about your research.
  • What compounds are you looking for from toasted barrels?
  • Are there times where a toasted barrel provides a certain flavor profile in the lab, but not in the real world?
  • Is it hard to get consistency from the barrel?
  • What was the outcome of your research?
  • How do you get a buttery taste out of a barrel?
  • Can you tell different whiskies apart chemically?
  • What are the different compounds in rye vs. bourbon?
  • Do bourbons have more differentiation compounds than ryes?
  • How does each compound contribute to the bourbon?
  • What kind of budget did you get to buy the bottles for research?
  • Where do the fruity notes come from in bourbon?
  • What are your thoughts on barrel entry proof?
  • Do you think you could look at dusty bourbons from the 60's or 70's and see differences compared today?
  • What's a big takeaway from your research?
  • What happens when a whiskey is aged in a wine cask?

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