Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

[FullySilenced]

With HD being the largest distilling forum on the internet, i felt it was only appropriate to share this idea and method with some of the true professionals that participate at HD on a daily basis.

I was watching a tv special on making whiskey when this came to me. They age the kegs in an open warehouse 3 or 4 stories tall. They rotate the kegs from from the top to the bottom on a set basis.
During the heat of the day the metal roof elevates the temperature up to a max of 150 degree's f at the roof level and then it drops back to normal temperature during the night only to repeat again the next day.

I was trying to equate something like that for us at a hobby level and came up with this.

I took a bag of Jack Daniels BBQ smoking chips and when I opened it got a great aroma of JD whiskey from the chipped barrel staves. This was my basis.

**(since this original trial, experiments with split oaks and various domino's and spirals and other wood types have been tested... oak, apple, cherry and a few exotic woods)

I started with sweet feed single run at 75 abv. I used a 8 fluid ounce cup and filled it level to the lip with JD chips which I then put in a 1.3 liter jar. I filled the jar with the 75 abv SF, leaving 1.5 inches of head space and I then put the jar into a 1200 watt microwave oven and heated it for 2 minutes. The temperature of the chips and alcohol was about 150f when it was removed. I screwed the cap on the jar and tightened it securely.

**(I personally have microwaved hundreds of batches of high abv with no issues, but i make sure that there is not metal on my jars, no lids or anything that could cause issues. IF i did have an ignition i would simply place a flat dish over the top of the jar to smother it at the source.)

As the liquid cooled down it puts a vacuum on the chips and liquid, i think this is a very important part of the method. I shook the jar a few time and you will start to see a color change almost as you look at the jar. Set the jar on a counter and let it cool slowly back to room temperature.

When the jar is cool you may shake it a few times and then open it slowly, you should hear the vacuum break as the lid is turned. the chips which are no longer under a vacuum will suck up some of the high abv liquid. Repeat the microwave heating again and reinstall the lid and let the product cool. You may shake it occasionally if desired... The color will already be a golden brown.... but on the second or third heating you will see a classical reddish hue start to develop in the liquid. Taste test between heats to produce a product that is everything you want it to be taste wise. Continue this process until you have the desired color or taste profile.
**(The color change and flavor imparted to the liquid is much greater the 2nd and 3rd heat/vacuum cycles and beyond.)

Dilute some of the product to 40 abv and you will be amazed as just how close the finished rapidly aged product tastes to Jack Daniels. If you want it to be even closer add a drop of your best vanilla extract, and maybe a very small amout of glycerine. The vanilla is for the smallest of flavors found in long term oak aged products and the glycerine smooths the beverage out and gives it a wonderful mouth feel...

Regardless of whether you add the vanilla or glycerine the product has a great flavor and has the Jack Daniels finish.**(IF JD chips are used)

The same process can you used to add bourbon/whiskey oak ageing to your favorite rum.

There are numerous people experimenting with this technique, give it a try and let me know what your thoughts are and how this one could be improved.

Some people have the patience to store their product in a keg for up to 4 years and some of us just wanna have fun. Hope you enjoy this as much as I have been doing while it was in development.

I am continuing the development to include adding flavors to neutrals... peppercorns, herbs and other readily available items.

Thank you Tater and Husker for giving me permission to post and share this with the members here on HD.

FS