Jarrad Gollihue, right, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Horticulture and the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, was awarded best student enology poster
presentation at the American Society for Enology and Viticulture annual meeting on June 20 in Napa, CA. The poster, “Evaluating the Influence of White Rot Fungi on Volatiles Produced by Quercus alba Barrel Staves,” explored preliminary results in manipulation of barrel flavors using mushrooms on barrel staves for whiskey maturation. The future application of this work shows promise as a new way to create and alter possible flavors in barrels for wine and bourbon. This work was done with now graduate co-author Zac Byrd, left, and under the supervision of Dr. Seth DeBolt of the Department of Horticulture, director of the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits.