What is Distillation?
Distillation is the process of heating a liquid to produce vapor and then condensing that vapor back into a liquid. Because different elements within a liquid evaporate at different temperatures, distillation makes it possible to capture component substances within the liquid. Think of it simply as selective evaporation .
Distilled Spirits are alcoholic beverages created by coaxing both aromatic and alcohol vapors out of a fermented liquid through heat and then capturing the vapors back into liquid form. For example, water boils at 212 degrees F, and alcohol boils at a lower temperature of 173 degrees F. To separate alcohol from a fermented liquid then, a distiller will heat the liquid to at least 173 degrees F and the vapors that form will have a higher concentration of alcohol. The condensed liquid is called the distillate and is often full of pleasant aromas in addition to the alcohol.
The distillate can be either bottled immediately, put into wood casks for aging (maturation), or modified by adding macerating fruits or herbs.
In addition to sampling beautifully crafted New York spirits along your journey, you’ll also witness firsthand how spirits such as whiskey or gin are created. Each distiller tweaks the spirit-making process to create something unique and full of character, taking great pride in the creativity expressed along the various stages of production: