What is the purpose of washing in whiskey production?

The purpose of washing in whiskey production is to extract sugars from the malt. This process, often referred to as mashing in the context of beer and whiskey production, involves soaking the milled malted grains in hot water. The heat activates enzymes within the malt that convert starches into fermentable sugars. This sugar-rich liquid, known as wort, is crucial for fermentation, as yeast will later consume these sugars to produce alcohol.

Washing is a critical step that influences the overall flavor and alcohol content of the final spirit, as the types of malt used and the efficiency of sugar extraction can significantly affect the profile of the whiskey. The focus on extracting sugars differentiates this process from others in whiskey production that may involve barrel preparation, flavoring, or filtering, which serve different purposes in the overall whiskey-making process.