Raise a Glass to the Scientists Who Just Aged Booze Two Years in Three Days

Ever tried a “young” whiskey?

It’s rough stuff; essentially moonshine. The problem is, with booze, aging takes time. And with a lot of indie distillers jumping into a hot market, that time means money — money many of these young companies don’t have. So, they sell young spirits.

There are a few quick fixes on the market, but Spanish researchers might have a better answer: Ultrasound. Thes brave chemists shot brandy through a bed of American oak chips and blasted it with ultrasound for three days — while simultaneously adjusting variables such as temperature and aeration.

Turns out, the three-day ultrasound spirit nearly replicated a two-year brandy. “These samples were better valued than starting spirits: they have clear notes of ageing in wood, such as wood notes, lower acidity, or a minor sensation alcoholic strength,” said the researchers.

As Nova Next noted, the ultrasound reacts with the oak cups, producing bubbles that “explosively collapse” and blast the wood’s tissues. Could be a while until this hits the mainstream, however. Until then … take a long sip of real time.