It is indeed possible to make alcohol out of sweet potatoes. In fact, there is a specific type of vodka called Corbin Sweet Potato Vodka that is made from sweet potatoes. The process of making alcohol from sweet potatoes involves fermenting the sugars present in the vegetable and then distilling them to create a clear, alcoholic liquid.
To start the process, the sweet potatoes need to be converted into a sugar-rich solution. This can be done by mashing or grinding the sweet potatoes and adding water to create a slurry. Enzymes are then added to help break down the complex sugars into simpler forms that can be fermented by yeast.
Yeast plays a crucial role in the fermentation process as it consumes the sugars and converts them into alcohol and carbon dioxide. However, in the case of sweet potatoes, the natural sugars present in them are not easily accessible to the yeast, making fermentation difficult. This is where the addition of enzymes becomes important.
Souza, the creator of Corbin Sweet Potato Vodka, faced the challenge of finding the right enzyme that could help the yeast break down the sugars in sweet potatoes. After much experimentation and collaboration with another company, he finally found an enzyme that worked effectively. By adding this enzyme to the sweet potato mash, the sugars were successfully converted into alcohol during fermentation.
It is worth noting that the amount of sweet potatoes required to produce alcohol can vary depending on factors such as the sugar content of the potatoes and the desired alcohol concentration. Souza mentioned that it takes only 10-to-15 pounds of sweet potatoes to make a batch of his Corbin Sweet Potato Vodka. This quantity may vary for other sweet potato alcohol production methods.
The resulting liquid from fermentation, known as the mash, is then distilled to separate the alcohol from other impurities. Distillation involves heating the mash and collecting the vapor that contains the alcohol, which is then cooled and condensed into a liquid form. This process helps to purify the alcohol and increase its potency.
The final product, sweet potato vodka, retains some of the flavors and characteristics of the sweet potatoes used in its production. It can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or used as a base for cocktails, offering a unique twist to traditional vodka options.
Making alcohol from sweet potatoes is indeed possible, as demonstrated by the creation of Corbin Sweet Potato Vodka. The process involves converting the sugars in the sweet potatoes into alcohol through fermentation and then distilling the resulting liquid to obtain a purified form of alcohol. The addition of enzymes is often necessary to aid in the breakdown of sugars during fermentation. So, if you have a surplus of sweet potatoes and a desire to experiment with alcohol production, making sweet potato vodka could be an interesting and unique endeavor.