ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Pure pot still whiskey

Hey kiddo, have you ever heard of whiskey before? It's a yummy drink made from grains like barley, wheat, or corn. But did you know that there's a special kind of whiskey called pure pot still whiskey?

Basically, when people make whiskey, they can use different methods to make it taste unique. Pure pot still whiskey is made in a specific way that only uses a certain type of grain: malted barley. This grain is soaked in water and then spread out to dry in a special way that gives it a special flavor.

Then, the malted barley is ground up and mixed with hot water to create a mash. This mash is left to ferment for a few days, which means that yeast is added to it and it starts to change into alcohol. During this process, the liquid gets thicker and bubbly, and it smells kind of like bread.

After the mash is done fermenting, it's placed into a special still. A still is like a giant pot with a long neck that's used to separate the alcohol from the other stuff in the mash. The still heats up the mash, which causes the alcohol to evaporate and then condense back into a liquid. This liquid is the pure pot still whiskey!

Finally, the pure pot still whiskey is aged in barrels for a few years to give it even more flavor. This whiskey has a unique taste that's kind of spicy and sweet, and it's really popular in Ireland. People love to drink it straight or mixed into a yummy cocktail. But remember, kiddo, you have to be 21 years old or older to drink whiskey!