What are the sugar sources in whiskey?

Whiskey is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. The sugar sources in whiskey come from the grains that are used to make the mash, such as corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley. These grains are converted into sugar by the process of malting, which involves steeping the grains in water and allowing them to germinate. The germinated grains are then kilned, which stops the germination process and dries the grains. The dried grains are then milled and mashed with hot water to convert the starches into sugar. The resulting sweet liquid, known as wort, is then fermented with yeast to produce alcohol. The alcohol is then distilled to produce whiskey.

The type of whiskey produced depends on the grains used in the mash. For example, bourbon whiskey is made from a mash that is at least 51% corn, while rye whiskey is made from a mash that is at least 51% rye. The flavor of the whiskey is also influenced by the type of barrels used for aging. Whiskey barrels are typically made from oak, and the type of oak and the length of aging can both affect the flavor of the whiskey.