Technology & Spirits

America's taste in booze has been changing over the last several years, with consumers looking for more adventurous takes on classic spirits and cocktails. As we've covered, whiskey specifically has seen a huge growth in market share recently, with consumers gravitating towards the complex profiles of the aged varieties. Since producing aged liquors inherently requires extended amounts of time, availability of super-preimium aged spirits has been dwindling while their prices rise. A new piece of technology, called the SonicPrep, is making big waves in the drinks category, and a New Orleans bar has been testing it's usefulness in truncating the drawn out aging process, from years, to mere minutes. As Punch Drinks reports, New Orlean's the bar for NOLA's restaurant, Root Squared, have been experimenting with new cocktails that are "aged" in house. Now technically, since the device is not a Delorean, it does not actually age spirits. "Aging", is a series of reactions and interactions that occur within the spirit, and between the liquid and the cask, over a long period of time. The liquid molecules move in and out of the porous wood over the years, adopting its flavors, colors and smells. The SonicPrep, a device made by culinary equipment company Poly Science, is a device that uses ultrasonic sound waves to disturb liquid molecules, mimicking the aging process but at a much more rapid pace. The wand like "horn" goes into the liquid in question, where it emits ultrasonic sound waves, which, simply put, allow the "liquid to mingle with and pass through porous materials extremely effectively". In the case of Root Squared, head bartender Max Messier starts by combining Bulleit Bourbon with scraps from old Jim Beam barrels, and exposing them to the SonicPrep's waves, apparently with great results. As Punch Drinks points out, the interesting thing is what we do not know about the SonicPrep, namely, what else does it do to spirits? What do you think? Is aging a science that has already been perfected, or is the SonicPrep set to change the bar scene forever (instantly customized and aged cocktails?!). Let us know what you think via Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn, and be sure to check out Punch Drink's full article for more information. Source: Punch Drinks, Image Credit (JLGraham Photography)