Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Grain bills and instruction for all manner of alcoholic beverages.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Shine0n
Distiller
Posts: 2488
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:00 am
Location: Eastern Virginia

Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Shine0n »

I've been wanting to play with the special malts and I love caramel so I've decided to make a bourbon in the same manner as the all mighty HBB but instead of honey malt I'm going with the caramel malt 80 and a little heavier so the flavors are very dominant.

Here's the list of grains for a 30 gal ferment

40 lbs cornmeal
5 lbs white wheat malt
5 lbs red wheat malt
5 lbs pale malt
5 lbs caramel malt 80
2.5 crystal malt

I'll strip run on the grains and a final spirit run will have 10% backset added to make a bold drink that's going on heavy char, med toasted American white oak domino's I'll make, they will be 1"×2"×5" per gallon for no shorter time than a year.

I don't think there's anything special about this other than I want to have a caramel/vanilla type of bourbon, I may even up the special malt to ensure good flavor carry over or add another malt... possibly caramel 120 or a bit of chocolate malt.
There is a great possibility of 5 lbs steam rolled oats for mouth feel :thumbup:
I'll also be doing a no cook method for the corn, just add boiling water to the corn and special malts, wrap it up and wait until 150f then add the other malts.

Like I said there is no "WOW" Factor with this recipe but it seems like a good way to start the new year and end 2018 with some fine bourbon.

Thanks SCD for your inspiration with the special malts :thumbup:

Shine0n
User avatar
fizzix
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 3698
Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 4:08 pm

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by fizzix »

ShineonCrazyDiamond and his recipes sure do spark a creative imagination.
Thanks to him I went from 10mph to 70 and didn't hit the guard rails or run off the track with his Honey Bear Bourbon (I assume that's what "HBB" is.)
I'm trying his Sundae Chocolate Bourbon soon despite the "not for everyone's taste" warning. I'm interested in his procedure and profile. (Good word, "profile," I learned here.)
Still too green myself to wander off the Yellow Brick Road like you're doing, but I see my own creations over the horizon once I understand the specialties better.
Found this to acquaint myself with your recipe's taste. I otherwise like sweets, bolds, gins -oh hell I like 'em all.

When can we expect a review on your creation?
User avatar
Jimy Dee
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 217
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 2:20 pm
Location: The Munster Republic, Ireland

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Jimy Dee »

ShineOn - let us know how it goes, sounds really interesting and plants the possibility that good recipes may be modifiable. Let's see. JD
Shine0n
Distiller
Posts: 2488
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:00 am
Location: Eastern Virginia

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Shine0n »

Well the wife is 9 months preggers and it's currently 14°f and has been this cold since I posted this recipe.

I just looked up Brutals steam wand in I like that idea for this mash so I'll be building this wand first, hopefully this week so I can hit the ground running.

I also need to build the insulated box for the drum to sit in and make sure it will hold the heat long enough for good conversion. I'm pretty sure it will be at least a week before I mash anything but it's very soon coming.

I'm looking forward to mashing something like now!
Shine0n
Distiller
Posts: 2488
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:00 am
Location: Eastern Virginia

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Shine0n »

I've finally got some time to do other things and now about to put this plan into action.

I'll be mashing this bourbon tomorrow night and in hopes it will be ready for S3-18

I did decide to add the 5 lbs of oats as I have a 50lb sac laying around :thumbup:

This should be a good one!
User avatar
jon1163
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 502
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 8:57 pm

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by jon1163 »

Looking forward to hearing about your progress. Creating my own recipes is something that I dream of doing but I just don't have the experience yet.
User avatar
fizzix
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 3698
Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 4:08 pm

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by fizzix »

jon1163 wrote:Looking forward to hearing about your progress. Creating my own recipes is something that I dream of doing but I just don't have the experience yet.
+1. Good on you ShineOn. Subscribed, so keep posting.
User avatar
Jimy Dee
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 217
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 2:20 pm
Location: The Munster Republic, Ireland

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Jimy Dee »

ShineOn - Let us know in due course, we are all looking forward to the outcome. Jimy
User avatar
ShineonCrazyDiamond
Global moderator
Posts: 3433
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 6:14 pm
Location: Look Up

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by ShineonCrazyDiamond »

Aye.

I can't believe I hadn't posted in this thread yet. I've been following it since the beginning and will continue to do so.

Keep up the good work. :thumbup:
"Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond."
Shine0n
Distiller
Posts: 2488
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:00 am
Location: Eastern Virginia

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Shine0n »

Seems like life throws a swift kick to the crotch, a bowl of wrenches and the need for everything else so this is still an almost a go recipe. lol

With the weather perking up with temps in the high 50s to mid 60s and my honey list almost finished I can now clean the fermenters and get to going.

I have 2 30 gal fermenter so the grain bill will be 60lb for 25 gal.
I'm going heavy on the malts just because I want a heavy malt flavor and with the heavy char this should be very bold and flavorful.

Raining tomorrow so should get one done and the other this weekend.
aircarbonarc
Swill Maker
Posts: 451
Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2015 1:11 pm
Location: Mountains ocean and rain

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by aircarbonarc »

I'll agree thay this would be great I made a similar recipe using crystal malt. Actually a few days ago I started a batch of HBCB (honey bear caramel bourbon) well itll be more toasty caramel as I added a couple lbs of dark crystal malt in with my honey malt. The wort was tasty and toasty so hoping the final product really loves life.
long live Oldsmobile Aleros
OtisT
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 11:59 am
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by OtisT »

I'm subbed to see how this turns out. :-)

Otis
Otis’ Pot and Thumper, Dimroth Condenser: Pot-n-Thumper/Dimroth
Learning to Toast: Toasting Wood
Polishing Spirits with Fruitwood: Fruitwood
Badmotivator’s Barrels: Badmo Barrels
User avatar
bilgriss
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1690
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 2:28 pm
Location: Southeast-ish.

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by bilgriss »

Also watching.
Shine0n
Distiller
Posts: 2488
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:00 am
Location: Eastern Virginia

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Shine0n »

Well it's going to be Thursday when I mash in, I'm taking 2 days this week off plus I'm headed to the OBX for a week so when I return it should be nice and dry :thumbup:

Still not sure if I'm doing a single with the thumper or stripping it, more than likely it will be a single tho.

Hoping to have it on oak so I can bring a sample to S3-18.

Ain't no promises but it's looking like 6 months on oak should get me there or at least close.
User avatar
ShineonCrazyDiamond
Global moderator
Posts: 3433
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 6:14 pm
Location: Look Up

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by ShineonCrazyDiamond »

First you have to actually mash the damn thing.
"Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond."
OtisT
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 11:59 am
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by OtisT »

ShineonCrazyDiamond wrote:First you have to actually mash the damn thing.
+1

Zzzzzzzzzz. Wake me when you are finished. ;-)

Otis
Otis’ Pot and Thumper, Dimroth Condenser: Pot-n-Thumper/Dimroth
Learning to Toast: Toasting Wood
Polishing Spirits with Fruitwood: Fruitwood
Badmotivator’s Barrels: Badmo Barrels
zapata
Distiller
Posts: 1664
Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2017 1:06 pm

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by zapata »

Try not to freeze at the OBX, you're about a month early for me!
Bavis54
Swill Maker
Posts: 233
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 6:08 pm
Location: Appalachia

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Bavis54 »

This sounds like a really nice grain bill, once I got the mashing procedure down, honey bear is my favorite bourbon. I did something sort of similar last winter, but used spent hbb grains with new caramel 120 malts for a sugar head . It turned out nice but I didn’t notice the caramel flavor, I only used 2 lbs in 25 gal wash so maybe didn’t use enough . Anyway I really interested to hear how turns out.
semper fi
Shine0n
Distiller
Posts: 2488
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:00 am
Location: Eastern Virginia

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Shine0n »

It's been 70+ for the week and today has been in the mid 50's, been very pleasant so far.

Bavis, I'll post back when I find the time to mash in. lol
LIFE!!!
User avatar
Hoosier Shine9
Swill Maker
Posts: 412
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2016 10:00 am
Location: central indiana

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Hoosier Shine9 »

I was watching this thread, had it bookmarked & Subscribed.
I was going through "old stuff" & remembered this.
ShineOn, did you ever get this mashed in & run?
User avatar
Irishgnome
Swill Maker
Posts: 396
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2018 7:53 am
Location: 'Inventing Room'

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Irishgnome »

I too have been curious about this one.

Please let us know if you ever got the chance to run this.
Sounds tasty!

Cheers,
Irish
"There is something about yourself that you don't know. Something that you will deny even exists until it's too late to do anything about it."
OtisT
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 11:59 am
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by OtisT »

April is a bit early for Christmas, ain’t it? Of course, if you are in Australia it’s only a few months away. :ewink:

Otis
Otis’ Pot and Thumper, Dimroth Condenser: Pot-n-Thumper/Dimroth
Learning to Toast: Toasting Wood
Polishing Spirits with Fruitwood: Fruitwood
Badmotivator’s Barrels: Badmo Barrels
User avatar
Irishgnome
Swill Maker
Posts: 396
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2018 7:53 am
Location: 'Inventing Room'

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Irishgnome »

+1 OtisT

I just get so damn excited.

Maybe we can get an update from ShineOn for Christmas in July?! LOL

Not keeping my fingers crossed. It may be time for me to get everything together and run this one myself.

Cheers
Irish
"There is something about yourself that you don't know. Something that you will deny even exists until it's too late to do anything about it."
User avatar
ShineonCrazyDiamond
Global moderator
Posts: 3433
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 6:14 pm
Location: Look Up

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by ShineonCrazyDiamond »

Wait. I just read back.

Did we confirm if the grain even hit the water yet? :lol: :shock:
"Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond."
User avatar
Hoosier Shine9
Swill Maker
Posts: 412
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2016 10:00 am
Location: central indiana

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Hoosier Shine9 »

ShineonCrazyDiamond wrote:Wait. I just read back.

Did we confirm if the grain even hit the water yet? :lol: :shock:
SCD....
or vise versa :wink:
that was kind of what I was asking
User avatar
Irishgnome
Swill Maker
Posts: 396
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2018 7:53 am
Location: 'Inventing Room'

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Irishgnome »

Life has a funny way of getting in the way, so I understand why ShineOn may have got side tracked. For me stilling is always the last priority on my long list of crap to get done. As a minimum, I try to get one run in a month. In reality, two runs is average.
Just looked to see the grain I have on hand. I’ll be running 15 gallons for this.

20 lbs cornmeal - check
2.5 lbs white wheat malt - check
2.5 lbs red wheat malt - check
2.5 lbs pale malt - check
2.5 lbs caramel malt 80 – need to pick up
1.25 crystal malt – need to pick up

It may be June before I mash in, but I’ll give this one a go.
If someone else gets to this before me, let us know how it goes.

Cheers,
Irish
"There is something about yourself that you don't know. Something that you will deny even exists until it's too late to do anything about it."
Beerswimmer
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 832
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:33 pm
Location: In the garage

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Beerswimmer »

Irishgnome wrote: Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:02 am It may be June before I mash in, but I’ll give this one a go.
It's almost June :wink:
Ut Alii Vivant!!!!
User avatar
Irishgnome
Swill Maker
Posts: 396
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2018 7:53 am
Location: 'Inventing Room'

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Irishgnome »

Beerswimmer wrote: Mon May 18, 2020 3:52 pm
Irishgnome wrote: Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:02 am It may be June before I mash in, but I’ll give this one a go.
It's almost June :wink:
Thanks for the reminder! :shock:
I was going to start a batch of Sunday Chocolate Bourbon this weekend, but I should get this going.
Need to place an order for some grain.
I’ll post an update soon.
Cheers
Irish
"There is something about yourself that you don't know. Something that you will deny even exists until it's too late to do anything about it."
User avatar
Irishgnome
Swill Maker
Posts: 396
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2018 7:53 am
Location: 'Inventing Room'

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Irishgnome »

Grain is on order :thumbup:
"There is something about yourself that you don't know. Something that you will deny even exists until it's too late to do anything about it."
Delecto
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 54
Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:50 am

Re: Christmas Caramel Bourbon

Post by Delecto »

FYI, it may not natter to you but Caramel malt and Crystal malt are the same thing. The terms are interchangeable. What matters is the lovibond rating or toasting level. Very different flavors at the different levels.

I too am curious how this turns out.
Post Reply