Chill filtered.
Sounds grand right? But what exactly does it mean?
Chill filtered means the whisky is chilled to near 0°C and then filtered through a very fine filter. Beer is cold filtered in the exact same way (not surprising, since they are cousins) and the purpose is to clarify the beer. It’s meant to make it look clearer and cleaner, removing haziness.
The reason why it’s use a lot in beer is because it shortens the production time. If you don’t chill filter, you have to wait until the particles settle. By chill filtering, you don’t have to wait.
It comes at a cost though, it removes a lot of the stuff that add flavor and body to both beer and whisky, which is why many people don’t like chill filtering.
Is there a difference? Chemically yes, but can your palate detect it? Perhaps… just an excuse to sample more whisky!
Reference
Chill Filtering
I just read about how Bruichladdich, an Islay whiskey distillery, is producing five thousand bottles of the “world’s strongest whisky” by distilling it four times to 92% alcohol, 184 proof. Whiskey is typically distilled two times but Bruichladdich is planning on doubling that to replicate a drink described in a 1965 travel book, The Western Isles of Scotland.
According to Spittoon.biz has the following to say about the book:
A book dated 1695 details a journey in the Hebrides and refers to a quadruple distilled whisky known as usquebaugh-baul pronounced something like ‘woo-sh-ka-voll’ and which does not appear to have any current meaning known to Gaelic speakers.
The only tasting note available, and perhaps the oldest whisky tasting note of all, states: “… the first taste affects all the members of the body: two spoonfuls of this last liquor is a sufficient dose; and if any man should exceed this, it would presently stop his breath, and endanger his life”. The writer went on to say “Two spoonfuls of this last liquor is a sufficient dose; if any man should exceed this, it would presently stop his breath, and endanger his life”.
92%, huh? That’s some potent stuff… I would prefer not to stop my breath or endanger my life.
General
Bruichladdich, Islay