Endogenous Enzyme Systems

[cowdery]

How's that for a catchy subject line?

The Scotch Whisky Act of 1988 says that the mash must be "converted to a fermentable substrate only by endogenous enzyme systems."

Am I correct in assuming that "endogenous enzyme systems" means only enzymes produced by the malt itself? We know some American distillers add enzymes. If I'm reading this correctly, scotch producers cannot do that.

[CrispyCritter]

As I understand it, it's true - only the enzymes from the malt are permitted. Even Scotch grain whisky contains some malt in the mashbill for that reason.