Enhancing an Essence

sluggerdog · Post by **sluggerdog** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:53 pm

Hi,

I was wondering if it was possible to enhance an essence with wood chips.

For example:

I make a rum with an essence and I am not happy with the outcome. If I soaked the spirit in rum wood chips (my local HBS has this) would it give a different flavour and hopefully a better one?

Am only new to this game and have never done anything with wood chips before.

If this would be a good idea, any suggestions on how much and for how long etc?

Thanks

Rebel_Yell · Post by **Rebel_Yell** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 3:01 pm

The wood WILL change the flavor of your 'rum'.

Only you can decide if you like it.

Don't be afraid to experiment to find your own best taste....

sluggerdog · Post by **sluggerdog** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 3:11 pm

Awesome, Thankyou. Will have to give it a go, maybe even a comparision test to see which I like, with or without wood chips.

Any idea how long and how much I should be using to begin with?

Cheers!

Rebel_Yell · Post by **Rebel_Yell** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 3:23 pm

Experimenting with subtle tastes is one of the pleasures of this hobby.

How much hooch? This depends on how much you have to spare. If you are drinking more than you are making then it's kinda hard to spare a little.

How much wood? Try some small amouts of wood and another with a large amount.

How Long? Try a taste at regular intervals and see if it suits you yet.

Most importantly, keep good notes so you can do it again if it was good and avoid screwing up twice if you err.

Oh yeah, we would all appreciate you sharing your methods...

Good luck and enjoy.

sluggerdog · Post by **sluggerdog** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:22 pm

Cheers.

Was doing some googling around and I read someone was aging the netural spirit in the chips without adding any essence.

Would this work? Would the chips give enough flavour to a netural spirit?

Thanks!

Rebel_Yell · Post by **Rebel_Yell** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 3:38 pm

Ask yourself this...

What am I after?

I have found NO wood chips that will make a neutral spirit taste like a rum.

sluggerdog · Post by **sluggerdog** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 4:25 pm

Just what I thought. Thankyou.

I emailed the homebrew store that states this and they confirmed:

"Soak in the chips for 4 weeks then drink. No essences required."

Rebel_Yell · Post by **Rebel_Yell** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 4:38 pm

sluggerdog wrote:Just what I thought. Thankyou.

I emailed the homebrew store that states this and they confirmed:

"Soak in the chips for 4 weeks then drink. No essences required."

I never tried drinking chips....

Who advertises thusly???

hans · Post by **hans** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:04 pm

I HAVE USED TOASTED OAK CHIPS IN MY RUM AND SWEETFEED. PERSONALLY I LIKE IT. IT TAKES ALOT OF THE BITE OFF. I HEARD ABOUT A TRICK FOR USING THEM THAT DIDNT SOUND RIGHT TO ME BUT I TRIED IT AND IT WORKS VERY WELL IT CUTS THE AGING TIME DOWN. HERE IT IS.

AFTER CUTTING YOUR ALCOHOL PUT ABOUT 2 CUPS OF TOASTED OAK CHIPS IN TO THE GALLON PUT IN FREEZER THE NEXT DAY TAKE OUT AND LET SIT ON THE PORCH.DO THIS FOR ABOUT SEVEN DAYS. AND THEY SAY IT WILL AGE IT SEVEN YEARS. I DONT KNOW ABOUT THE SEVEN YEAR PART BUT IT DOES WORK QUICKER.THEY SAY THAT WHEN WHISKEY IS AGED IN A BARREL IT IS EXPOSED TO THE WEATHER CHANGE WITH THE SEASONS. AND THE ALCOHOL WHEN COLD GOES INTO THE WOOD AND BACK OUT WHEN IT IS WARM. BY ROTATING IT FROM FREEZER TO WARM TEMP.YOU ARE WORKING IT IN AND OUT OF THE WOOD. TRY THIS IT DOES WORK. HANS

Uncle Remus · Post by **Uncle Remus** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 8:22 pm

2 cups of toasted oak in a gallon of hootch is a hell of a lot of oak. That would be WAY TOO OAKEY tasting for me. In a gallon I put about what I can fit in the palm of one hand.

The part about in and out of the freezer makes sense though. I might give it a try.