Bourbon Month: Barley Science

"Natural selection drives emergent genetic homogeneity in a century-scale experiment with barley"

- What?

This is science. This is important...to whiskey.

The future of barley for whiskey production is being safeguarded by a century-long experiment that has identified key genes enabling the crop’s adaptability to changing climates.

researchers have pinpointed the genes behind the remarkable adaptability of barley, a key ingredient in beer and whiskey.

This research, as noted in a UC Riverside study, highlights how natural selection has shaped barley’s genetic diversity, with discoveries about flowering times and environmental resilience.

These findings help develop barley varieties better suited for warmer climates, ensuring a stable supply for whiskey production even under extreme weather conditions(Phys.org).

Deep dive, scientific report here. Drink before reading, it all makes sense after a 65% dram.

Cheers!

g??