Whisky production isn’t the same as making a cheap turbo cider or ale from a kit at home (full disclosure, I have used these kits before and produced some great-tasting ales in the process). No, whisky production is something way more. 

I like to think of whisky production as a hybrid between art and science. There is so much to consider and if just one element is slightly off, what should be an amazing tasting dram will instead turn out as mediocre at best. In this biz, mediocrity just won’t cut it. 

If you’re a regular reader of the Great Drams blogs, you’ll probably have read a couple of the pieces I’ve done in the past on the importance of cask selection in whisky. Again, I cannot emphasis just how important the cask is in whisky maturation. One of the primary reasons for this, is due to the tannins they impart. 

In whisky production, tannins play an essential role in the finished product, yet I feel we don’t speak enough about them. That’s about to change. 

As you’ve probably worked out by now, today’s blog is all about tannins in whisky and what they do. 

What are Tannins?

Brace yourselves because we’re going to get a little scientific here, so you might want to grab your lab coats. 

Without getting too complex, tannins are naturally occurring compounds which bind to a wide range of proteins and organic compounds and alter their chemical structure. They’re actually a form of polyphenol, which is a plant-based compound. As you might expect then, they are found in a variety of plant-based sources, including fruits, leaves, and wood. 

Tannins are very useful little compounds, and they certainly earn their keep. Not only can they be used in the production of leather, they also play very important roles in the booze business, particularly whisky and wine. 

How Do Tannins Work?

Now, in nature, tannins are especially interesting. They’re found in a variety of seeds and un-ripened fruits, including grapes. Their primary role isn’t to make these foods ripen quicker, or taste nicer. Quite the opposite in fact. The tannins are instead there to make the foods taste bitter and astringent so animals don’t eat them. 

If tannins are designed to make things taste bad, you’re probably wondering why whisky and wine connoisseurs speak so fondly of tannins? Well, it turns out that as they ripen, the structure of the tannins changes. This is through a process known as polymerisation. This causes them to interact with other compounds such an anthocyanins, and pectin, and effectively change their taste and appearance. 

In whisky and wine production, tannins play an important role, not only in terms of mouthfeel, but also in terms of taste, aroma, finish, and appearance. Yep, basically every element of these drinks we love so much is influenced massively by tannins. 

Tannins in Whisky

In wine production, the majority of tannins found in the wine come from the grapes used to make the wine. Whisky however, is not made from grapes, so where do the tannins come into play? Well, they come from wood instead. 

As well as occurring naturally in things like grapes, you may remember how I mentioned tannins are also found in seeds. Now, acorns are seeds, and from these seeds, mighty oak trees grow. This same oak wood is used to produce the vast majority of whisky casks and barrels. Now you can see where the tannins in whisky come from. 

One of the best things about whisky is the fact that each dram tastes so different. Whereas some from be sweet and peppery, others can be woody and creamy. While there are plenty of reasons why each whisky tastes different to the last, tannins certainly play a part. 

The older the whisky, the more time it will have spent in the cask and the more time the tannins will have had to work their magic. Different species of oak also contain different amounts of tannins. Bourbon casks for example, generally contain fewer tannins than European oak sherry casks. 

How do Tannins Influence Whisky?

So, we’ve established that tannins can effectively transform a whisky, and shape it into an exceptional dram, but how exactly do these compounds influence these drams? 

Here are just a few of the most prominent ways in which tannins can affect a whisky. 

Mouthfeel 

Tannins are most commonly associated with mouthfeel, not only in whisky, but in alcoholic drinks production in general.  

Mouthfeel is important because it helps change how the whisky feels in your mouth. it makes it so you don’t feel you’re drinking whisky flavoured water. In the mouth, the tannins bind with proteins in our own saliva. This creates a mouth-coating sensation that often makes the whisky feel a little thicker and dryer. 

Appearance 

The tannins found in the oak used to make whisky casks can also help give the whisky its fantastic colour. 

When the spirit first enters the cask, it is essentially clear and looks just like water. It takes on its colour from the tannins as they leach from the wood and into the liquid. This is typically why older whiskies matured for longer are generally a darker hazelnut brown colour, rather than a pale straw or amber. 

Of course, there are other factors that affect a whisky’s colour, including how the cask has been treated and what it stored previously. Heavily charred barrels, and casks which previously stored dark liquids such as red wine or port, can also give the whisky a deeper more intense colour. 

Flavour 

And finally, we have flavour. 

In nature, tannins are designed to make foods taste bitter, astringent, and basically inedible. Surely you wouldn’t want to put something designed to make things taste inedible into a product designed to be consumed? Well, don’t worry, because in small amounts, and when used correctly, tannins can transform a nice-tasting whisky into an outstanding one. 

Tannins add a slight bitterness to whisky, as well as an astringency which gives it a dryer sensation in the mouth. This works very well and helps balance the flavours and notes of whisky perfectly. Think of sweet and sour and you’re on the right track. 

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the amazing selection of quality drams we have available. 

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.