UK’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (UK CAFE) is installing a new 30-foot column still at the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits to expand learning opportunities for students.
The institute was founded in 2019 to further students’ education and understanding of the spirits industry. It offers a multitude of research opportunities for these students.
A still heats alcohol to a boil during the distillation process, then cools it down to compress the vapor produced according to Barrel Craft Spirits, a Louisville-based whiskey and rum blending company. This process purifies and concentrates the alcohol, creating a product that has a higher alcohol proof than non-distilled alcohol.
The still will be the “centerpiece of research and education for the spirits industry’s next generation of distillers,” according to an article published by UK on the UK CAFE website.
Seth DeBolt, director of the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, said there are many research projects students can currently get involved in to “make a difference in their career and their line of practices.”
Some experiments mentioned by DeBolt aim to understand and use steam recapture, energy efficiency, water efficiency and sustainability goals.
According to their website, the Beam Institute’s mission is to “lead the global advancement of the American whiskey industry through workforce education, scientific discovery, environmental sustainability, community and social responsibility.”
Joseph & Joseph Architects and Marilla Construction are installing the still. It was manufactured by Vendome Copper and Brass Works, a manufacturer of distillation equipment since 1903 based in Louisville.
Source: kykernel.com
Photo Credit: University of Kentucky
Categories: Kentucky, Education