SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the for-relaxing-times-in-spaaaaace dept.
Japanese whisky will be sent into space next month to test how time in a zero-gravity environment affects its flavour, one of the country's biggest drinks makers said Friday.
Samples of whisky produced by Suntory will be stored in the Japanese laboratory facility of the International Space Station for at least a year, with some flasks staying longer.
Researchers for the company believe that storing the beverage in an environment with only slight temperature changes and limited liquid movement could lead to a mellower flavour. [...] Once they are returned to Earth, blenders will assess their flavours while researchers subject the liquids to scientific analysis, the company said. "For the moment, we're not thinking about applying the study results to commercial products," a Suntory spokeswoman told AFP.
(Score: 4, Informative) by lentilla on Saturday August 01 2015, @09:39AM
storing the beverage in an environment with only slight temperature changes and limited liquid movement
Well, that environment certainly isn't the International Space Station. The half that's in the sun roasts and the half that's in shadow freezes. As for "limited liquid movement" - well, perhaps they are right... except for the whole ride on a rocket ship to get there!
If they really wanted stability, sticking it in a vat in a bunker would be smarter. I think beverage manufacturers already have a name for that - they call it a "cellar".
we're not thinking about applying the study results to commercial products
Oh, yes you are! What you mean is "we haven't worked out how to market it yet" and "we don't have a deal to do this in commercial quantity". Yet.
Can't fault them for giving it a go. Heck, if I had a good excuse to send stuff into space and back (and somebody else was footing the bill), I probably would too.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by mmcmonster on Saturday August 01 2015, @02:14PM
Would I pay a little extra to drink a single malt matured in space? Absolutely. And I hate whiskey.
The auction on those flasks is going to be something remarkable. Either that, or they're going to be reserved for special donations to the ultra-elite.