What is the initial process of barley to make whiskey called?

The initial process of converting barley into whiskey is known as malting. During malting, barley grains are soaked in water to initiate germination. This process activates enzymes in the barley that convert starches into fermentable sugars, which are essential for the production of alcohol later in the whiskey-making process.

After germination, the barley is dried, typically in a kiln, to stop the process and prevent the grains from sprouting further. This creates malted barley, the foundational ingredient for many types of whiskey. Understanding malting is crucial since this step lays the groundwork for the subsequent stages of production, such as mashing and fermentation, where those sugars will eventually be converted into alcohol.