How is Whiskey Made? A Deeper Dive Into Distilling.

Have you ever wanted to make your own bourbon? Don’t! The process might be relatively simple- heat a fermented liquid and keep only the boiled alcohol - but it is dangerous and illegal without a license. This video discusses how to separate one type of liquid from a slurry of others through boiling points and the intermolecular forces that influence them.
#whiskey #distilling #chemistry
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Credits:
Executive Producers:
Hilary Hudson
Producers:
Elaine Seward
Andrew Sobey
Darren Weaver
Writer/Host:
Sophia Roberts
Scientific consultants:
Leila Duman, PhD
William Parsons, OhD
Brianne Raccor, PhD
James Chickos, PhD
Sources:
Distillation
chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary...
2.2:Distillation
chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelv...
Distillation
chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary...
10.22: Distillation
chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelv...
3.S: Functional Groups (Summary)
chem.libretexts.org/Courses/G...)
8.14: Alcohols
chem.libretexts.org/Courses/U...
2.11: Intermolecular Forces and Relative Boiling Points (bp)
chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelv...)
Distillation
chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary...
Overview of Distilled Spirits
pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/...
6 - Chemical Constituents of Grapes and Wine
www.sciencedirect.com/science...

[@ACSReactions]

For a broader explanation of how whiskey is made, check out this video that the “collective we” made in 2017. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYOac6dves6SsKs

[@Bludgeoned2DEATH2]

Welcome to Reactions, Sophia!

[@JanBartnik]

In eastern Europe it's pretty much a tradition to have at least one distillery per household ;) You can easily buy those in your local DIY shop.

[@Gothic_Analogue]

This is less “can’t” and simply “not permitted to”. I *can* distil alcohol at home really easily, I’m just not supposed to.

[@Unassuming_Gay]

Unless you live anywhere else where it's permitted lol. I make rum and brandy all the time

[@Gothic_Analogue]

@@Unassuming_Gay I make mead, I don't need to distil it but it helps increase the alcohol content.

[@WingDiamond]

Yeah the BATF is gonna haz something to say Aboot Dat!

[@TinoPetersson]

How can you not love chemistry.

[@ScienceCommunicator2001]

Imagine! It's way better than chasing fantasies (like string theory)

[@TinoPetersson]

@@ScienceCommunicator2001 Well, it's a theory. Not at proven law of physics.

[@ScienceCommunicator2001]

@@TinoPetersson I don't think it should even be called a theory! That is because it hasn't been experimentally proven to be true

[@LuinTathren]

I am loving the new host! I can't wait to see more of her videos.

[@ACSReactions]

Check back later in July for another video with Sophia.

[@stylevikko]

Great to have you on the show, I learned a lot from this video. Greetings from Sweden.

[@DreamsInDigital01]

This is the perfect level of explanation I was looking for tonight. Thank you!

[@LanceMcCarthy]

Great video, looking forward to seeing more of your content.

[@carolinegaldi6779]

This is such an informative and well-made video! And the host was so good-natured and entertaining!

[@JosephDavies]

Welcome to the channel! Great first video. :D

[@Ganjabeard5000]

Cool video, Sophia is a great host!

[@jcr723]

Really like this channel. Looking forward to your videos

[@marceltardif9080]

This is the explanation I needed!

[@blue_champignon5738]

If you want a really interesting look at the effects of methanol poisoning, there's a really interesting book/documentary called the "poisoners handbook" that goes into the early years of the science of forensics in New York

[@paco8814]

Ha I grew alum crystals, played with temp, saturation and time

[@Nuke_Skywalker]

oh shit in german we call cheap alcohol "fusel", now i know why.

[@LightPhoenix7000]

Great video!

[@lucaserthalmello]

Amazing video

[@maxivides]

Welcome Sophia

[@WilliamHostman]

this ignores the alternate method of distilling... freeze distillation. for potable wines and meads, lowering the temp sufficiently causes water to freeze out. if done slowly, crystal formations remain porous... and one can remove water by slushing the wine, then pouring out & collecting the resulting concentrate. it is, physically, much safer.

[@brettito]

Check out Ice Beer.

[@WilliamHostman]

@@brettito I have - didn't care for it.

[@timchapman6702]

No it’s not. It does not remove the bad stuff.

[@WilliamHostman]

@@timchapman6702 Freeze distiliation removed all the yeast and suspended particles from my mead, leaving me with a smother, clear, (barely) flammable fluid... Each method of distilation has its uses.

[@timchapman6702]

@@WilliamHostman no doubt.

[@jeffgustafson2131]

I’m curious what happens to the heads and tails? Do these have uses? Are these discarded as waste?

[@punkdigerati]

Some people will save them all up and do a run with them. It's mainly unwanted products though, methanol and unpleasant flavors.

[@hairyfro]

What about the influence of molecular weight on boiling point? That has to have more of an effect than the London dispersion forces.

[@ACSReactions]

Molecular weight is a proxy for London dispersion forces, although the shape also has an effect. www.chem.purdue.edu/gchelp/liquids/disperse.html

[@agreatescapespalon]

just curious she said distillers discard the first few gallons of the distill to avoid methanol but i assume that's for very very large distill where as most home distillers would only discard the first few ounces right. and also methanol comes from fruit pectin so more ethanol is produced from fermentation of fruit rather than corn or sugar any one know?

[@highlander723]

So here is a question. Suppose I purchase cheap cheap vodka and then distill that. Since I already paid taxes on it can I distill that? I dont plan to drink it just for chemistry purposes

[@iamjimgroth]

I don't know where you are, but where I am (Sweden) you may not create alcohol stronger than (I think) around 15% as an individual. As a company you have to pay tax based on alcohol percentage. I recall something about different rules for non drinking alcohol. I would be surprised if rules in any part of Europe or America differ by a lot.

[@punkdigerati]

@@iamjimgroth in the USA it's illegal to do any distillation without a license, even freeze distillation.

[@iamjimgroth]

@@punkdigerati At least you can get a license!

[@punkdigerati]

@@iamjimgroth it's only for distilleries, not personal use, takes months and lots of money.

[@iamjimgroth]

@@punkdigerati oh, same as here then. :(

[@zackg76]

fire video

[@Anolis9]

Im a chemist and whisk(e)y lover. This made sense. My wife is a whisk(e)y lover. Wife while watching video: OOOOooogeadail~~~

[@miriamrosemary9110]

Love the new host :)

[@Oberon4278]

"Structurally it is very similar to ethanol, but it's a poison." Is there a reason you didn't mention that ethanol is also a poison? 😅

[@waynejr6521]

In prison we made wine from aspartame sweetner packs and distilled it into liquor.

[@Oberon4278]

@@waynejr6521 lol no you didn't, aspartame isn't fermentable

[@waynejr6521]

@@Oberon4278 I promise you it is. About 400-500 packs on around 2 gallons of fruit juice produces about 16oz of liquor,I just can't find ANYTHING on the subject to learn how dangerous drinking liquor distilled from aspartame is, and I am very curious to know.

[@Oberon4278]

@@waynejr6521 So, you were adding aspartame to fruit juice? Cause if that's the case, it was the fruit juice that was fermenting, not the aspartame. Aspartame is definitely, absolutely, 100% not fermentable. That's the entire point of aspartame: it's a sweetener that is not bioavailable.

[@shaytprevost]

So why even use corn, wheat, rye, or barley. You could just use a tree to make ethanol and cut your cost dramatically.

[@Noneblue39]

Distillation is the core of chemical engineering

[@carlstanland5333]

Well, you can if you want to…

[@kookookookookookookoo]

Forgot the legal reason why you cannot distill alcohol at home. However, get a fuel distillation permit.

[@br1qbat]

I'll stick to drinking it.

[@waynejr6521]

in prison we made wine from aspartame and distilled it into liquor because we couldn't buy real sugar. Is that dangerous on a scientific level?

[@octapc]

You can legally make your own alcohol in Australia at home. The title of this video should have mentioned where it's illegal. And why explain how alcohol is made with a irrelevant title?

[@peterritchie5593]

make some poitin fun

[@unvergebeneid]

"Nonessential components" you know, like literal poison.

[@sidhuumoosewalagodforme9897]

Where is my favorite host samantha , not seen her very long ❤❤❤❤❤

[@ACSReactions]

Sam hasn't hosted a Reactions video for a while, she's been busy with her podcast, Tiny Matters 👉 www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/tiny-matters.html 👈

[@sidhuumoosewalagodforme9897]

@@ACSReactions will she return after her work 😔 I'm missing her ! All the best for her podcast 🥰

[@r6u356une56ney]

I'm pretty certain you are allowed to. You just aren't allowed to SELL it to anyone.

[@iamjimgroth]

Different rules in different places.

[@punkdigerati]

Not in the US.

[@mikek6298]

It is a federal crime for any US citizen to distill ethanol without a license for any reason. This has been the case since prohibition.

[@BRUXXUS]

Hi, Sophia! You're fun!

[@facklere]

The short answer not mentioned in the video: Because the government wants their tax revenue.

[@winstonsmith478]

Thanks, that's the first thing that came to mind when I saw the video title and if THAT isn't mentioned in the video, it isn't worth my time.

[@facklere]

The video is interesting and goes fairly in depth about the chemistry behind fermentation and distilling while touching lightly on some safety considerations, but I think they do a cursory job of answering the title question.

[@seanc6128]

Taxes, the answer is taxes

[@Mobay18]

It is certainly not dangerous to make alcohol at home. The law is just another flaw of the handholding US system. Like Americans need warnings of choking hazards on plastic bags. Many other countrys distill their Liquor at home without any issues. Calling it dangerous is just misinformation.

[@zednott]

short answer because if you where allowed to make it at home the government couldn't tax you on it. al capone didnt get in trouble for making liquor he got in trouble for tax evasion. and you dont have to throw out the heads. the work great for cleaning things, a fuel additive, and for a anti freeze for things like window washing fluid in your car. the problem with drinking it is that it cant be processed by your body. but it will bind to ethanol and can be processed like that. in very small amounts. still very dangerous.

[@Darkknight-yw3hf]

You actually CAN distill at home and the GOVERNMENT CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT until they find out!

[@Krakkel]

This methanol bs is old old ancient stuff, please do som research

[@jogandsp]

Can't believe you made a 14 minute video when a one sentence answer would have sufficed. "Alcohol vapors are flammable and the product could be contaminated with methanol"

[@Oberon4278]

I am going to be very disappointed it this video repeats the methanol myth. Aaaaand there we go, repeating the methanol myth. So disappointed.

[@danielanthony1054]

what did you expect it's the US, they literally invented it. still going around after 100 years

[@ricardasist]

I find the body language of this host is a little bit too sassy, feels like it takes away from the content of the video and directs that attention to the host

[@DropBear69]

I enjoyed this video, however there were a few clearly incorrect snippets of information provided which indicates the writers/producers didn't do all the research they should have. For example, the methanol issue is a non-issue. Beer brewers ferment the same "mash" as distillers, and yet all the fermented beer is bottled, including all the methanol and other "non-desirable" alcohols. Distillers remove methanol and other alcohols, not because they have to, but because they can, and beer brewers can't. Distillers remove the methanol (and others) because it makes the end product more refined. Sugar-based fermentations (think rum) produce virtually zero methanol.