In distillation, what is the purpose of heating the mash?

Heating the mash during distillation serves the crucial purpose of separating alcohol from water and other components. When the mash is heated, it causes the alcohol, which has a lower boiling point than water, to vaporize. This vaporization process allows for the separation of alcohol from the non-volatile components in the mash, enabling the collection of alcohol vapor that can then be condensed back into liquid form. The effective management of temperature during this process is essential, as it influences the efficiency of alcohol extraction and the purity of the final product.

In contrast, while extracting flavors from the grains is an important aspect of the initial brewing or mashing process, it is not the primary goal during the distillation phase. Deactivating yeast is typically addressed in other stages of production and is not relevant to the initial purpose of distillation. Enhancing color is primarily related to the maturation process of spirits rather than the distillation itself. Thus, the focus on separating alcohol through heating is the key function of this stage in the distillation process.