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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: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 01 2015, @08:57AM
the Earth will be a fine place for wealthy socialites to sip spaceage whisky. Any scientific research that could have been done instead might have benefited the lower class vermin in some way. Best not to do any.
(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.
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by Flyingmoose on Saturday August 01 2015, @11:07AM
If they wanna do something important, they should send an EMdrive and prove once and for all it works...
(Score: 4, Insightful) by bradley13 on Saturday August 01 2015, @12:05PM
Bringing the angels' share closer to the angels?
Everyone is somebody else's weirdo.
(Score: 2) by bugamn on Sunday August 02 2015, @03:17AM
They are just giving the spirits a taste of heaven.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Gaaark on Saturday August 01 2015, @01:48PM
Now that they've said this, the Russian astronauts will all be rushing to get to the ISS!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 4, Interesting) by looorg on Saturday August 01 2015, @02:33PM
So one day there might be actual moonshine for sale! Yiha!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 01 2015, @03:35PM
Isn't that the opposite what they should be aiming for?
Asians and alcohol don't seem to mix!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 01 2015, @11:55PM
The paper will be called "Investigation of the propagation of Baudoinia compniacensis in a microgravity environment."