Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Treatment and handling of your distillate.

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Truckinbutch
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by Truckinbutch »

kiwi Bruce wrote:Never did an oak pre-soak in sherry, I just added two shots of sherry per gallon of white dog single malt before I did any aging at all. I like the mellowness sherry brings to the dance. Kiwi
I like that innovative thought and hint . :thumbup:
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by FirstRunnings »

I have been wanting to do this since i was reading about the TerrePURE patent.
I was going to try my ultrasonic cleaner but the microwave seemed interesting at 2,450 MHz.
My ultrasonic cleaner is some where between 20-80 kHz ( i think its 40 kHz) but its been used for cleaning brass shell cases and other parts so it was a no go.
Although the cleaner is closer to the TeraPURE patent.
Anyway
40% ABV Corn concoction , JD Chips, 2 runs at 3.5 minutes in a 700 watt Microwave.
So far so good. Did it in my shop with a a big red extinguisher at my side and a hose.
Beautiful color and a lot of the harsh flavors are gone.
Its interesting watching the alcohol condense on the walls of the jar.
No issues with the metal cap.
But I could smell the alchol when I opened the door.
Next step.
Rum with home made toasted white oak dowels.
May try and immerse a jar in the cleaner and let it go for a couple of hours or days.
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by FullySilenced »

@FirstRunnings i usually leave my cap off when i heat it up in the microwave... it lets more of the lighter aromatics evaporate off if they are present... i put the lid on after heat up in most cases...

happy stillin

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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by papapro »

using microwave is danger, could lead to explosion ...
My method is different everyone has still use your still.

Dilute your product to 40 45 ABV pour it to the still add 10 - 20 grams per liter of your favorite chips
JD or plane oak. 20 grams gives dark color for lighter you can use 15 or so.

Bring your still to equilibrium VERY slowly, draw some of remaining heads,

let cool till next morning drain your stuff you will be amazed the color you get.

this is safe and tasty.

Let me know how you like it,

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distilling is like sex the slower the better and everyone is happy
fermenting is opposit to sex the faster the better
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by Tomb »

... and 45 ABV boiled in a still is not "danger"?
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by FullySilenced »

@papapro ...Regarding the Microwave.... I suggest you read about the first say 20 pages of the thread...
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by pfshine »

papapro wrote:using microwave is danger, could lead to explosion ...
My method is different everyone has still use your still.

Dilute your product to 40 45 ABV pour it to the still add 10 - 20 grams per liter of your favorite chips
JD or plane oak. 20 grams gives dark color for lighter you can use 15 or so.

Bring your still to equilibrium VERY slowly, draw some of remaining heads,

let cool till next morning drain your stuff you will be amazed the color you get.

this is safe and tasty.

Let me know how you like it,

Papapro

Congratulations you are not the first to do this. Do a little reading.
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by papapro »

Tomb wrote:... and 45 ABV boiled in a still is not "danger"?
[align=][/align]

No I have done at 65ABV
Yes I am a Novice with 40+ years of doing this hobby
distilling is like sex the slower the better and everyone is happy
fermenting is opposit to sex the faster the better
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by hellbilly007 »

There has yet to be any documented explosions using a microwave. Now if your Spidey senses say don't do it, don't do it. Only operate where you are comfortable.

I tried this for the first time 2 days ago using FullySilenced's butterscotch recipe, except proofed it at 80. It turned better than expected.
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by papapro »

FullySilenced wrote:@papapro ...Regarding the Microwave.... I suggest you read about the first say 20 pages of the thread...
I Might be a novice in this forum buy I have made my runs some 45 years ago....
sometime ago I looked at some info and found this site with an excellent info so I thought I might learn some more.

I just read a lot and still think my way, might be Ok way but I still remove the rest remaining heads they will be there
unless you use SPP.
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distilling is like sex the slower the better and everyone is happy
fermenting is opposit to sex the faster the better
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by FullySilenced »

@papapro there is a lot of info here to sift through... enjoy yourself as you sift through it...

happy stillin,

FS
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by Hillbilly Popstar »

papapro wrote:
Tomb wrote:... and 45 ABV boiled in a still is not "danger"?
[align=][/align]

No I have done at 65ABV
If there's one thing on this forum that is top priority, it's the safety rules.
Running 65 abv in your boiler goes against the safety rules enforced by the people who run this place.
Word to the wise, if you want to stick around here long don't advocate doing such things.

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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by FullySilenced »

He wasn't advocating it he just said he had done it ... let's give him a break...

Have fun and HAPPY STILLIN,

FS
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by Hillbilly Popstar »

Fair enough.

I wasn't trying to call him out. Just offering a warning. What I said is nice compared to the bashing some around here will offer him.

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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by papapro »

Tomb wrote:... and 45 ABV boiled in a still is not "danger"?
Hi tomb
Just read Home distillation handbook By Ola Norrman (Pseudonym) you can google it for pdf
on page 63 there is quote below
DISTILLATION 63
Redistillation
As a rule only one distillation is required. If one wishes to distil
twice usually one distils once quickly, dilutes the resultant distillate
with water to 50% and redistils. The second time slowly and
accurately (78°C).

papapro
Yes I am a Novice with 40+ years of doing this hobby
distilling is like sex the slower the better and everyone is happy
fermenting is opposit to sex the faster the better
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by pfshine »

I smell troll.
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by MDH »

Just had an idea.

If someone could make a mixture of citric or malic acid with ethanol and microwave it repeatedly, how much could sourness be reduced through esterification? Might be a good way to measure the rate of esterification we're getting from conventional kitchen microwave ovens.

Would be very grateful to whoever gives this a try.
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by BoomTown »

Just curious this end. Has anyone tried simply heating up the oak stick in the Mike, and dropping it into a quart jar and then sealing it? Am wondering if by nuking the wood to like 200 degrees, wouldn't that drive out any H2O, and as the stick chills in the booze, it might suck in the alcohol, and expel the heated water from the cells.?

Any thoughts about that?

Just tried that. It doesn't work. The oak stick catches fire before it heats up. Maybe I should have tried it at a lower microwave setting?


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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by rgreen2002 »

BoomTown...you are the Apollo 1 of the Nuclear Stick Program! Glad to see you're still safe.

How did you heat the stick? Just put it in dry? Maybe soak it first or even put the stick in the microwave with some water and heat it up as the Nuke Stick 2 project. This is interesting and I will be following along with your experiments.
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by der wo »

BoomTown wrote:Just curious this end. Has anyone tried simply heating up the oak stick in the Mike, and dropping it into a quart jar and then sealing it? Am wondering if by nuking the wood to like 200 degrees, wouldn't that drive out any H2O, and as the stick chills in the booze, it might suck in the alcohol, and expel the heated water from the cells.?

Any thoughts about that?

Just tried that. It doesn't work. The oak stick catches fire before it heats up. Maybe I should have tried it at a lower microwave setting?
I once tried to toast oak sticks in a microwave. The wood gets very dark inside but not outside, the opposite of toasting with a flame. And the microwave still stinks after months...
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by Bushman »

I have not tried that Boom but most of my toasting is done on my BBQ. I have added chips to my Ultra Sonic cleaner with whiskey and it does seem to draw it out a bit faster.
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by BoomTown »

der wo wrote:
BoomTown wrote:Just curious this end. Has anyone tried simply heating up the oak stick in the Mike, and dropping it into a quart jar and then sealing it? Am wondering if by nuking the wood to like 200 degrees, wouldn't that drive out any H2O, and as the stick chills in the booze, it might suck in the alcohol, and expel the heated water from the cells.?

Any thoughts about that?

Just tried that. It doesn't work. The oak stick catches fire before it heats up. Maybe I should have tried it at a lower microwave setting?
I once tried to toast oak sticks in a microwave. The wood gets very dark inside but not outside, the opposite of toasting with a flame. And the microwave still stinks after months...
Hmm, I like that about presoaking the oak sticks - thought, will soak a couple of sticks, and give this a shot. So how long did you microwave the sticks you used, and at what settings? Do you remember?
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by der wo »

My sticks were not soaked.
But here my info: I used the highest setting. It's a small microwave. I opened it a few times to check the sticks. It happens fast. Soon you hear it cooking inside the wood and you see caramel coming out the end grains. Probably that is the right point to stop it. Then soon it would start smoking and the core of the stick is charred. You will get a burned taste. I think the problem of microwave toasting is, that much of the smoke remains in the stick. I will not do it again.
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by NZChris »

papapro wrote:
Tomb wrote:... and 45 ABV boiled in a still is not "danger"?
Hi tomb
Just read Home distillation handbook By Ola Norrman (Pseudonym) you can google it for pdf
on page 63 there is quote below
DISTILLATION 63
Redistillation
As a rule only one distillation is required. If one wishes to distil
twice usually one distils once quickly, dilutes the resultant distillate
with water to 50% and redistils. The second time slowly and
accurately (78°C).

papapro
The author promotes the use of Turbo yeasts and essences, so that would identify him as an inexperienced distiller, at best.
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by BoomTown »

OK, I soaked 4 sticks in water for most of a day, then zapped um for 3 minutes on high in our new (for distillery use only) microwave. Smells like we had a forest fire here, but the sticks didn't catch fire. I see that they did darken quite a bit, and some sizzle dripped out on the rotating table inside the Mike.

Dropped a stick in a quart jar and added 750 ml of our Misty Morning whiskey (at 90p) and set it inside the Mike for 3 minutes. Temp peaked at 160F, and so I pulled it out, and screwed the cap down tightly, and set it inside an empty cardboard bottle box. I covered it with a towel.

This morning it jar is a mahogany brown color, not the rich amber/brown color the same whiskey gets after 5 months in a Gibbs barrel.

Haven't tasted it yet, haven't opened the jar yet. I'm planning on making a bunch of these sticks, and dropping them into used 10 gal Gibbs barrels, and refilling the the barrels with 140 to 155p alcohol, and letting them sit for 3 months. The Gibbs barrels might have an extra cycle or two in them, but the give up their color very slowly after their first use.

Wondering what that jar tastes like right now....
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by rgreen2002 »

Sounds like a nice little trial you have going there... Keep us posted.
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by Tomb »

WARNING (don't believe everything you read, ymmv)

I read this....

"I did the stop-start method with water and measured the temp. The 80 proof spirits were 2degF lower with the same timing, probably due to more evaporation."

I believed this and concluded that about the same time for alcohol as water.
And did the same and though trial and error with water settled on 2:00 to get from 72 to 150 degrees.

With 125 proof it boiled at 1:50!
So I threw out all my calculations and found the new time is 1:30.

My lesson? Try everything for yourself with twice as much caution as you think you need.

T
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by FullySilenced »

Every microwave is different... once you learn your unit it should have basically the same results each time or close....

happy stillin,

FS


microwaves vary quite a bit in wattage always err to the size of caution when your dealing with an unknown unit
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by crazybean »

FullySilenced wrote:170f ... I think you will find the product will be boiling or on the verge.... also once your distillate is in that temperature range and when using a microwave you may super heat the liquid to the point where its still in a liquid state.. but once disturbed, shaken, stirred or even moved... it can instantly boil...

IF this happens it can jump out of the jar in a fraction of a second as the lighter solvents go from a liquid state to a vapor...

HENCE one of the reasons i suggest 150f or there abouts....

I suggest you incrementally run your microwave to know or so you can approximate the desired temperature your microwave will produce in a given time...

Keep thinking it through guys and I hope you are enjoying the process as much as I have in it's development.

Happy Stillin

FS
A friend of mine got nasty burns by super heating milk bottle in microwave.
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Re: Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

Post by BoomTown »

BoomTown wrote:OK, I soaked 4 sticks in water for most of a day, then zapped um for 3 minutes on high in our new (for distillery use only) microwave. Smells like we had a forest fire here, but the sticks didn't catch fire. I see that they did darken quite a bit, and some sizzle dripped out on the rotating table inside the Mike.

Dropped a stick in a quart jar and added 750 ml of our Misty Morning whiskey (at 90p) and set it inside the Mike for 3 minutes. Temp peaked at 160F, and so I pulled it out, and screwed the cap down tightly, and set it inside an empty cardboard bottle box. I covered it with a towel.

This morning it jar is a mahogany brown color, not the rich amber/brown color the same whiskey gets after 5 months in a Gibbs barrel.

Haven't tasted it yet, haven't opened the jar yet. I'm planning on making a bunch of these sticks, and dropping them into used 10 gal Gibbs barrels, and refilling the the barrels with 140 to 155p alcohol, and letting them sit for 3 months. The Gibbs barrels might have an extra cycle or two in them, but the give up their color very slowly after their first use.

Wondering what that jar tastes like right now....
Temptation got the better of me, and well ... I took a slash!

What I learned: I think putting the oak stick in the distilling, and then into the Microwave was a mistake. The whiskey darkened very rapidly, in 10 days it turned a very beautiful dark brown with amber hues when held up to the light. The aroma was too oaky, and the taste was a massive experience of tannin saturated alcohol. My assumption is that it got a head start, but the intensity of the tannins released may never be managed by the oak stick. I immediately dumped the whole jar into a twice used barrel, and will top it off with 120 to 140p distilling at the earliest opportunity. I loved the color, but the tannins were a deal breaker.
“…Let’s do this one more time....”
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