TOKYODiscerning drinkers may soon be able to branch out after Japanese researchers say they have invented a way of producing an alcoholic drink made from wood.

日本研究人员称他们发明了一种用树木酿酒的方法，目光敏锐的酒徒可能在不久后就可以大饱口福。

The researchers at Japan's Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute say the bark-based beverages have woody qualities similar to alcohol which is aged in wood barrels. They hope to have their "wood alcohol" on shelves within three years.

日本森林综合研究所的研究人员称这种用树皮酿造的酒和被储存在木桶中的陈年酒有着相似的木香口感。他们希望三年内能够上架销售他们发明的“木酿酒”。

The method involves pulverising wood into a creamy paste and then adding yeast and an enzyme to start the fermentation process.

这种酿造方法就是先将木头研磨成奶油糊状物，然后加入酵母和酶开始发酵过程。

By avoiding using heat, researchers say they are able to preserve the specific flavour of each tree's wood.

期间避免加热，研究人员说这样可以保留每种树木独特的味道。

So far, they have produced tipples from cedar, birch and cherry.

截至目前，他们已经成功用雪松木、桦木和樱桃木酿造出了美酒。

Four kilograms of cedar wood gave them 3.8 liters of liquid, with an alcohol content of around 15 percent, similar to that of Japan's much-loved sake.

4公斤的雪松木可以酿出3.8升酒，酒精浓度大概有15%，和日本深受喜爱的清酒差不多。

Researchers experimented with both brewed and distilled versions of the new beverage, but "we think distilled alcohol appears better", researcher Kengo Magara told AFP.

研究人员Kengo告诉AFP说，他们尝试了两种不同版本的酒——酿造和蒸馏，但是他们认为蒸馏制成的酒口感更好。

Wood fermentation is already used to produce biofuel but the product contains toxins and is flavourless, making it far from a suitable cocktail component.

木材的发酵已经运用在生物燃料的制作中，但是产物含有毒素而且什么味道也没有，远不能用它来制成酒。

"But our method can make it drinkable, and with a wood flavour, because it does not require high heat or sulphuric acid to decompose the wood," Magara said.

Magara说：“但是我们的酿造方法能让发酵出的酒可以饮用，而且还带有木香，因为发酵过程不需用到高温加热也不会用到硫酸来分解木料。”

The institute has a broad mandate for scientific study related to Japan's extensive woods and forests, but Magara acknowledged "wood alcohol" might not be the most obvious application for their research resources.

日本森林综合研究所对本国森林相关的科学研究有着广泛的管辖范围，但是Magara也表示“木酿酒”可能不是他们众多研究资源中应用效果最为明显的。

"We thought it would be interesting to think that alcohol could be made from something around here like trees," Magara said. "It's a dream-inspired project."

“我们觉得用这周围的原料来制作酒会很有趣，比如说用树木，”Magara说。“梦想促成了这个项目。”

The government institute aims to commercialise the venture with a private-sector partner and to have the lumber liquor on shelves within three years.

这个政府研究所目标是找到一个私营合作伙伴来将这个项目商业化，在三年内将木酿酒上市销售。

"Japan has plenty of trees across the nation and we hope people can enjoy wood alcohols that are specialised from each region," Magara said.

“日本国土的森林覆盖率很高，我们希望人们可以享用来自不同地区的木酿酒，”Magara说。