New! AB Dram Barley is the first non-glycosidic nitrile (non-GN) malt barley to be bred in Canada

Glycosidic nitrile can be produced by germinating barley seeds during the whisky malting process. This is an issue because it is a precursor to ethyl carbamate, a carcinogen. Ethyl carbamate levels in alcoholic beverages is regulated and therefore this is an important issue for whisky maltsters. AB Dram, however, has been bred to not produce any glycosidic nitrile during the malting process, eliminating this concern.

Strengths of AB Dram

● Grain yield similar to the malt check CDC Copeland.
● Maturity 1.3 days less than CDC Copeland, with heading date similar to the checks.
● Slightly shorter than the malting checks, with lodging scores less than AC Metcalfe
and CDC Copeland, and in 2015 equal to AAC Synergy.
● Percent plumps are greater than the checks, and percent thins are less than the
checks.
● Resistant to the surface-borne smuts, and moderately resistant to the spot-form of
net blotch. Intermediate resistance to scald and FHB with DON levels similar or
lower than the best of the checks, AC Metcalfe.
● Good malting traits with fine extract greater than or equal to checks, percent plump
greater than AC Metcalfe and CDC Copeland and equal to AAC Synergy, peeling less
than checks, malt P&B less than checks, friability greater than or equal to checks,
viscosity equal to checks, and FAN equal to checks. Kolbach Index is less than
checks, which is desirable for some end-uses.
● Identified as a non-glycoside nitrile (Non-GN) producing line. GN can produce a
carcinogenic compound during fermentation, which can increase during distillation
to undesirable levels.