Buckwheat whisky facts for kids
Buckwheat whisky is a special kind of alcoholic drink made mostly from a plant called buckwheat. It's produced in places like Brittany, France, and in the United States. There's also a similar, but weaker, drink in Japan called soba shōchū. Sometimes, a drink made from buckwheat honey is also called buckwheat whisky. But that's actually a type of distilled mead, which is a honey wine.
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What is Buckwheat?
Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a plant grown for its grain-like seeds. Even though it has "wheat" in its name, it's not related to wheat at all! It's actually a cousin to plants like sorrel and rhubarb. Buckwheat is known as a pseudocereal. This means it's used like a true cereal grain, but it's not actually a grass.
A long time ago, in 1918, over a million acres of buckwheat were grown in the United States. However, its farming became much less common in the 20th century. This happened because farmers started using nitrogen fertilizer, which helped other crops grow better.
How is Buckwheat Whisky Made?
Making buckwheat whisky is a lot like making other types of whisky. The main difference is that buckwheat is used instead of barley. Here's how it generally works:
- First, buckwheat grains are soaked in water. This helps them to sprout or germinate.
- Once tiny shoots appear, the buckwheat is dried. This drying process helps special enzymes inside the buckwheat. These enzymes change the plant's starch into sugars that can be fermented.
- Next, the dried buckwheat is ground into a fine powder. This powder is then mixed with hot water to create a sweet liquid.
- Then, Yeast is added to this sugary liquid. The yeast eats the sugars and turns them into alcohol. This process is called fermentation.
- After fermentation, the liquid is distilled. This means it's heated to separate the alcohol, creating a clear spirit.
- Finally, this clear spirit is put into oak casks. It stays there to mature and get its unique flavor and color over time.
Places That Make Buckwheat Whisky
Distillerie des Menhirs
Distillerie des Menhirs is a family-run business. It's located in the village of Plomelin in Brittany, France. In 1998, the Le Lay family started making the world's first pure buckwheat whisky. They named it Eddu Silver. "Eddu" means "buckwheat" in the local Breton language.
Eddu Silver is made using a special double distillation method. It's then aged in French oak barrels. People describe its smell as having flowers like rose and heather. It also has fruity hints of honey and marmalade, and spicy notes like nutmeg. Today, Distillerie des Menhirs makes several kinds of buckwheat whiskies, including Eddu Gold and Eddu Grey Rock.
Catskill Distilling Company
The Catskill Distilling Company is in Bethel, New York. The owner, Monte Sachs, uses water from the nearby Catskill Mountains to make his whisky. Their buckwheat whisky is made with 80% buckwheat.
Pinchgut Hollow Distillery
Heston Farm's Pinchgut Hollow Distillery is found in Fairmont, West Virginia. This distillery has a long history. It uses old family recipes that have been passed down for many years.
Corsair Distillery
Corsair Artisan Distillery opened in 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. It has a classic pot still from around 1920. This distillery makes a buckwheat whisky called Buck Yeah.
