Evaluating Terroir of Rye Whiskey in Michigan – Genotype x Environment
- Research Date
- 2022
- Authors
- Brook Wilke
- Priorities
- Best Practices
- Crop Categories
- Grain, Rye
What factors influence the flavor and quality of rye whiskey, particularly focusing on the contributions from rye grain? Our research over the past several years has identified that many factors are involved, including 1) variety, 2) weather (rainfall, temperature), 3) location (as influenced by climate, weather, soil, management, history and fertility), 4) management, particularly crop inputs such as fertilizer, fungicides and growth regulators, 5) storage and post-harvest management, and 6) processing, including fermentation, yeast, distillation and aging interactions. New sensory data generated from this project add critical components to the story, but also have revealed some challenges in distinctly connecting aged rye whiskey sensory characteristics to varieties and other quality characteristics measured in the laboratory.