What is the main purpose of milling in the production of spirits?

Milling is a crucial step in the production of spirits, especially in the context of grain-based spirits. The main purpose of milling is to reduce the size of the grains, which facilitates better extraction during the subsequent processes, such as mashing and fermentation. By breaking down the grains into smaller particles, milling increases the surface area exposed to the enzymes that convert starches into sugars. This maximizes the efficiency of sugar extraction, an essential step in producing alcohol.

The process of milling is important because if the grain particles are too large, it becomes difficult for the enzymes to access the starches, leading to lower yields of fermentable sugars. This ultimately impacts the overall efficiency and quality of the spirit produced. Therefore, option B accurately captures the primary goal of milling in the context of spirit production.