Activated carbon question

Shifty · Post by **Shifty** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:31 pm

Hi there,

Just wondering if you should filter through activated carbon when you are aiming for a whiskey or rum product, or only when you are looking to make a neutral spirit?

Thanks.
Shifty

Bum Chops · Post by **Bum Chops** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:04 pm

i think its fine to filter whiskey and rum, well it certainly wont do it any harm and i know that evan williams and johnnie walker whiskeys are both filtered

Yttrium · Post by **Yttrium** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:23 pm

Jack Daniels is filtered through burnt maple wood, which is pretty darn close to activated carbon.

linw · Post by **linw** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 8:23 pm

You should only use activated carbon for 'neutral' spirits otherwise it will surely remove the flavour you were trying to bring through from your wash.

Sorry, Yttrium, I don't think charred wood has the same properties as activated carbon. It needs steam treatment to create the trillions of tiny passages that allows activated carbon to do its job.

The Chemist · Post by **The Chemist** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 7:08 am

You can use carbon to "clean up" a spirit without removing all the flavor--it's just a matter of how much you use. Light rums, like Bacardi Silver, are aged in barrels for six months (by law) and then carbon-treated to remove the color, while retaining rum character.

Brett · Post by **Brett** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 10:34 am

correct me if im wrong.

Try your product, if it tastes good to u and those that will drink it why bother to filter it.. If something tastes a little off or sharp filter it and see if it improves it by removing a little of the flavours.

Shifty · Post by **Shifty** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 10:38 am

Thanks for the replies! Looking forward to run!