Just as natural wines are a direct representation of their land, organic spirits pay similar tributes. For example, botanicals featured in ENGINE include organic sage from Langhe, lemon from Sicily, licorice from Calabria, and juniper from Tuscany. The wheat they distill is sourced from Piedmont, and their water is sourced from the Alps.
So when the label says “Made in Italy,” it really is.
“No bullshit,” says Dalla Mora.
Go against the grain
For the majority of organic distillers, it all starts with the grain. Regardless of whether a company is located in the United States, Ireland, or Italy, grain grown without the aid of pesticides is an absolute must for certification, despite the use of some synthetic materials. Permissibleas long as they do not contribute to crop, soil or water pollution.
In general, organic grain production relies on biological pest control rather than the mass use of chemical pesticides. Once harvested, the traditionally grown grain and flour are fumigated, not only during storage but also during transportation. Organic grains present a lower risk of contamination than mycotoxins — secondary metabolites produced by fungi, which resist technological processes such as distillation, and can have serious adverse health effects.
“For many years, spirits have been mass-produced with an emphasis on yield rather than flavor,” she says. says Neil Conway, president of the brewery at Waterford whiskey. “Our job now is to educate the consumer to understand how farmland, organic farming, biodynamic farming, and the use of old heirloom varieties can greatly improve quality. The consumer can see for himself how Enhanced flavors are present in our organic spirits that come from different ways of growing the barley.”
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