For this photographer, whisky's attractive because of the patterns at the bottom of a glass it creates as it dries. For this engineer, whisky's beautiful because of the science behind it.

Phoenix-based photographer Ernie Button has been snapping pictures of residues of whisky, scotch and other liquors at the bottom of a glass. Princeton engineering professor Howard Stone explained the science behind these beautiful creations.

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Button said he became curious and fascinated with whisky as it leaves a clear and rhythmic pattern at the bottom of a glass. He contacted Howard Stone, head of the Complex Fluids Group of Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University, to satisfy his curiosity.

Stone suspected the patterns are linked to surface tension gradient, also known as the "Marangoni Effect."

The study revealed the water in whisky evaporates more quickly than the ethyl alcohol. As the water evaporates, it leaves behind the patterns which, under the lens of Button's camera, came to look like alien landscapes.

Additionally, sufricants in the whisky and polymers that stick to the glass grooves contribute to the effect.

"My group focused on gaining a better understanding of the composition of whisky, identifying the possible 'suspended material,' and doing controlled model experiments to understand possible shapes and forms of deposits during evaporation," said Stone.

Researchers weren't able to identify the whisky molecules.

Studying whisky patterns might have practical applications such as in ink printing, according to the researchers.

Tagswhisky, whisky patterns, scotch patterns, Marangoni Effect, whisky rings, science of whisky, whisky is an art, alcohol drink, alcohol