Whisky IN SPAAAAACE: Zero-G Scotch is matured aboard the ISS

A Scottish whisky distillery has sent its malt where no whisky has been before – into orbit above the Earth. Ardbeg head distiller Dr Bill Lumsden in his lab Ardbeg head distiller Dr Bill Lumsden in his lab The unmatured malt rocketed to the International Space Station on a Russian Progress cargoship in October last year …

[Anonymous Coward]

Interesting, but....

I can see this becoming the future's equivalent of today's "organic" food snobbery:

"Well, of course, Torquille will only eat zero-G matured tofu. It's just so much better for him than that filthy stuff contaminated with all kinds of gravitational impurities!"

[NomNomNom]

Re: Interesting, but....

filthy planet dwellers living amongst viruses and pests, dirt and mud. on the planet surface water regularly precipitates out of the atmosphere dumping dirty drops of water all over you. Filthy place. Dangerous too - earthquakes, floods, lightning, gravity. And the Idiots make movies imagining we would want to conquer their planet or "communicate" with them. As if we want anything to do with planet surfaces or their inhabitants. lmao.

[Anonymous Coward]

I LIKE IT

I HOPE TO SOMEDAY DRINK SOME NIGHT TRAIN EXPRESS FERMENTED IN ZERO G

[Bill Neal]

Re: I LIKE IT

Where did this screaming troll come from? Did I take a wrong turn and end up at 4chan?

[LinkOfHyrule]

Re: I LIKE IT

"Where did this screaming troll come from? Did I take a wrong turn and end up at 4chan?"

Go easy on him mate, his comments always make me smile.* Even if he were a troll, you cant knock some free smilage can you!

*Yeah I know say's a lot about me, don't need to point that out I am well aware that I'm bloody weird. Not quite as weird as zero-g whiskey drinkers though.

[LinkOfHyrule]

Re: I LIKE IT

Aww I hope do too Big Dumb Guy!

ps

You're my favourite comentard! This dude speaks sense.

[Mike Flugennock]

re: "organic" food

"I can see this becoming the future's equivalent of today's "organic" food snobbery..."

...or, as my grandparents used to call it: "food".

[Gideon 1]

Thought it was 1 April again...

[Anonymous Coward]

...is it not? sorry, too much whisky!

[Crisp]

Finally! Some serious scientific research.

It's nice to see scientific research that can potentially improve the quality of life for everyone.

[Voland's right hand]

Re: Finally! Some serious scientific research.

No. Serious marketing.

In order for alcoholic drinks to mature correctly the liquid needs to have at least some minimal circulation in the cask. That naturally happens when gravity is at play. A good wine cellar has almost constant temperature so convection does not really play. Other factors however like density microchanges from evaporation of alcohol near the cask top, interaction of booze with the cask walls, etc play a similar role. These are _SLOW_ and this is why wine, whiskey, brandy and rakia are supposed to mature slowly.

That is also how you fake it and accelerate maturity. Freshly activate the wood by "burning" it in a microwave (it actually turns to charcoal at the edges), stick it into the maturation vessel, warm it up and provide stirring (standard lab teflon magnetic stirrers do nicely). Voila - here is your "mature" brandy in a week. Been there, done that.

Coming back to zero-G. None of that works in zero-G. There is no convection and a density change does not cause a flow in the liquid. Any change in the liquid will be limited to the brownian motion. So the Whiskey will either fail to mature or will taste like shit.

This is marketing, not science.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Finally! Some serious scientific research.

The requirement for the liquid to be able to circulate during the maturation process is precisely why some Norwegian aquavits spend part of their time on board ships, travelling to Australia and back before being bottled. No movement, no maturation.

[My Alter Ego]

I think what we'll find out is that whiskey mysteriously evaporates in a zero-g environment.

[Graham Bartlett]

Beat me to it. You're sending alcohol into space with a bunch of sex-deprived Russians, and you expect it to survive two years untouched? Riiiight...

[I think so I am?]

That's why they didn't use Vodka

[Anonymous Coward]

"That's why they didn't use Vodka"

Are you suggesting they will still get a yellow-ish coloured liquid back.

[Mike Flugennock]

Whiskey evaporating in zero-g

"I think what we'll find out is that whiskey mysteriously evaporates in a zero-g environment."

Actually, iirc, the Russian crews have already proven that hypothesis with vodka.

But, seriously, folks... also iirc, the Russian do get a vodka ration, to be saved for occasions like New Year's Eve and such. But, still... no equivalent ration of Jack Daniels for the American crew members, some sake for the guys from NASDA, or cognac/schnapps/grappa/sherry for the ESA guys?

[auburnman]

Housshton, We havvve porbelem <hic>

The cargo shhip not have the whiksy... whiky... booze on board. Honesht. Better send another one.

No need to apogilise Houshton, you my besht mate you are.

[Tankboy]

This Just In

NASA reports that early attempts to make "Moon Shine" on the ISS were successful, they are continuing research into other spirits with the help of scientists from Scotland.

[Anonymous Coward]

Of course we must have Scotch Whiskey in space....

Of course we must have Scotch Whiskey in space - it is a critical component of warp drives!

[Michael H.F. Wilkinson]

Re: Of course we must have Scotch Whiskey in space....

contradiction in terms:

Scotch Whiskey

Scotch whisky now, is another matter. It reminds of an man "kindly" asked to leave the premises of a Scottish "watering hole" after asking for a Bourbon.

He does still have his own teeth, as I recall

[Mr Anadin]

Re: Of course we must have Scotch Whiskey in space....

but this isn't Whisky either!!!1111111oneoneoneeleven

to be whisky is MUST have been matured for at least 3 years, not 2!

[Richard Wharram]

Control group

Is the control group also subjected to several Gs to simulate the launch? I could imagine this would affect the maturation process in itself.

If it isn't then it's not a proper control and the results can't be meaningfully interpreted.

It's almost as if they were doing it for a laugh instead of as a serious piece of science...

[DF118]

Re: Control group

AFAIK the malt and wood particles are kept isolated from each other until they are in orbit.

[Jaap stoel]

"Who knows where it will lead?”

To the pub of course!

[Anonymous Coward]

have you been drinking?

[Zmodem]

they lie

nothing wrong with potatoes, they start to grow anywhere its damp and dark

[Vladimir Plouzhnikov]

So

They won't get a chance to taste the Ardberg there on the ISS? It's a real peaty...

[ravenviz]

Brings a new meaning to being pISSed!

That is all.

[Yag]

I'm looking forward...

... the new Ardbeg's "Supernova 2015" vintage, with real bits of supernovae :)

[Evil Auditor]

"during their two years on the ISS"

Are they expecting anything back? I bet the angels might take an uncommonly large share up in orbit...

[Patrick O'Reilly]

Aged not Distilled

The Whisky will be space AGED, not space DISTILLED.

[Swarthy]

Re: Aged not Distilled

Yeah.. I was hoping for a bit about vacuum stills when I opened this article. Or at least a mention in the comments.

[Stoneshop]

Re: Aged not Distilled

Even though this particular batch will be *AGED* in space, there's nothing stopping whisky connoi^Waffici^Wsnobs looking forward to the first batch *DISTILLED* in space.

Except for the fact that distillation is dependent on gravity, but such physical trivia isn't going to stop the connoi^Waffici^Wsnobs.

[Yag]

Whisky connoi^Waffici^Wsnobs?

Hey! I ressemble this remark!

[Graham Dawson]

Re: Aged not Distilled

Current distillation methods rely on gravity, yes, but I'm sure a little human ingenuity and perhaps a centrifuge will sort something out. Orrr... something like an Archimedes screw jammed in the neck of an old pot still..

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Aged not Distilled

Centrifuge? You are a genius. Now there's a better use for that Iranian missile and centrifuge tech

[Sir Cosmo Bonsor]

Pedantry alert

I feel honour-bound top point out that neither in space nor here on earth, does "Islay" come even close to rhyming with "away".

[Roger Greenwood]

Re: Pedantry alert

I would also point out that until it has been in a barrel for 3 years it is not even whisky.

ps why do they call it single malt when I only drink them in trebles?

[Annihilator]

Re: Pedantry alert

Further pedantry says that the 3 years has to occur while in Scotland before it's whisky.

Though it could be whiskey, which pretty much has the "anything goes" rule :-)

[Graham Dawson]

Re: UltraPedantry alert

3 years in Scotland if you want to call it Scotch Whisky. There are a number of non-scottish single malts that have every right to all themselves whisky, rather than whiskey, because they're matured for the right amount of time in the right sort of barrels, just not in Scotland. I just bought one fromÖland. just the other day. Bit pricy but i think it's worth it just for the uniqueness. Quite tasty too, though a little young...

Mackmyra is also quite good, and there's Penderyn from Wales, and that new English whisky that's currently raising its profile selling a "story" of various stages of its whisky's development. It shows great potential.

As yu may have guessed I have a thing about unusual whisky. :)

[Yag]

As yu may have guessed I have a thing about unusual whisky

You can go and check some japanese whisky, some of them are surprising...

They're usually more fruity than peaty however. For example, the Nikka Yoishi (at least the "basic" 10yo version) have some nice pear aromas.

[DF118]

Re: Pedantry alert

Many old-time whisky drinkers here in Scotland do in fact pronounce it that way. I'm not saying they're right or wrong, just that there's definitely a precedent.

[Annihilator]

@DF118

"Precedent" isn't "oh I know someone who says it so it's ok". It's pronounced Isle-La because that's the name of the island. I know people who pronounce Culzean as Cull-Zeen, doesn't set a precedent.

[DF118]

Re: @DF118

I didn't say "I know a person", I said "plenty old-time whisky drinkers". Twenty odd years in and out of the bar trade all over Scotland serving whisky to old geezers who were drinking whisky long before it became a marketer's wet-dream megabusiness with dozens of brands popping up every year I think gives me enough empirical evidence to state that there may indeed be such a precedent. I also stated I did not believe them to be either right or wrong, so please don't be such a dick about it.

[The Original Cactus]

Am I the only one reminded of Tintin - Explorers on the Moon?

Icon = Captain Haddock

[Matthew BLB]

Up, up and...

It's pronounced 'Eye-La' not 'Iss-Lay'

[Annihilator]

Up up and Islay?

Pun would work if Islay rhymed with "away", but given it's pronounced "aisle-lah" (like the name Isla, as in Isla Fisher) it doesn't really work. Unless you're on TV in American where I often hear it pronounced wrongly.

3/10 - must try harder.

[Jelliphiish]

istr

there was a sitcom in which some long term spacers used some fruit flies they happenned to have as a component for another experiment and fermented them to make alcohol.. hijinks ensued etc..

always wondered how viable that would be..

[Stoneshop]

The first step

towards something almost entirely, but not quite unlike a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster (thanks, dvz)

[Charles 9]

Few things to recall.

I would have to think, even if left up there for three years or so, the end result will not be anything resembling Scotch whisky. I acknowledge it is just an experiment and as a result is probably looking at one specific factor against other things, but we must also recognize that the raw whiskey is not being sent up in a charred oak barrel (which could affect the loss to Angels' Share). And it probably will not be subjected to variable temperatures (which is important in barrel aging to force the aging whiskey through the wood to leach out the tannins and other flavour compounds).

[All names Taken]

Re: Few things to recall.

And, as far as the isles and Islay go, all that Jeyes Fluid splashing about gives rise to a remarkable aftertaste too - and yon fresh sea breezes.

Yes, I see now.

A pure, sterile environment might give rise to a pure (poor? poorer? poorest?) sterile single malt that is probably cheaper to ship across the sea to gaelic cousins?

[sisk]

How long before someone decides to do an experiment on the effects alcohol has on the human body in zero G? This is serious stuff. We need to know.

[Charles 9]

If they wanted to do THAT, they could do that much more easily by packing a few bottles of booze (type and quality depending on the nature of the experiment) along with the astronauts. As it stands, though, I imagine attentiveness is generally called for and narcotics like alcohol are generally frowned upon: even on an experimental basis.

[Andy Livingstone]

Plod awaits first DIC

For our renegade transatlantic cousins "Smokey waits for first DUI."

[Michael H.F. Wilkinson]

If the whisky does get back to earth

we must really salute the astronauts' and cosmonauts' restraint.

[Martin Huizing]

"We are all tremendously excited by this experiment: who knows where it will lead?”

To the first asteroid collision caused by a drunk driver

To the first head in the space toilet (no need to hold the hair up)

To the first alcohol induced pregnancy in space

To the first 'mooning' of the Earth through a view port

To the first 'Whoa! Space Chunks' comments in space

To the first... ah, you get it... ;)

Cheers to you guys up in space. You deserve a drink and if you have to make it 'in the name of science', then be it so!

[jayess]

mmmm.. whisky

is it too early?

[Tom Maddox]

Re: mmmm.. whisky

Hell, it's 6:00 AM somewhere.

[All names Taken]

Hick in hyperspace

Yi sheesh 'at wee shpot doon 'air?

It dishz zeh besht fish shupperz in eh' hil wurld

[ney]

*make note: start bootleging space whiskey

oops.

was I thinking out loud? sry.

yes, it's gonna be "made" in the same sink I bootleg into the other stuff too, but Smuchy won't pee in it this time. how about that, it's a once in a lifetime offer.

do we have a deal?

[John Brown (no body)]

Hmmm?

What's the specific gravity of this whisky?

[Anonymous Coward]

The ISS Cannabis experiment

Full experiment must include cannabis seeds, a few bic lighters and a self cleaning high tech pipe

Putting on the Tin Foil Hat, an argument can be made they are already doing it.

Other wise where did all of these strains come from?

Space OG, SpaceQueen, Orbit OG, Alien OG Kush, Nasa OG, Moon OG Kush, Moon Rock OG, Blue moon, Russian Rocket Fuel, skywalker OG, Apollo 13BX, Big Bang, Eclipse, Nebula, Rockstar, skydog, sputnik, Stargazer, Venus OG, Mars OG

/sarc

[David Moore]

DRRUUUUUNNKKK INNNNNNNN SPAAAAAAAACCCCE