Use of sugar to Raise SG

[dyerwolf]

When making a whiskey mash, it seems that many people raise the SG by adding sugar. Does this sacrifice flavor to increase alcohol content and save money? Do the big boys all use sugar?

[Dnderhead]

I would say yes-yes and yes same with fruit or any flavor but most
people do not have bushels of fruit, grain or gallons of molasses
then some like UJSM rely on sugar

[gs_moonshine]

If you mean like commericial spirits I don't think their allowed to use sugar by law. At least thats the way I take here in the states.

[wineo]

You will get more flavor by doing all-grain,but you will still get plenty of flavor using sugar and use alot less grains.

[theholymackerel]

Maybe I'm a whiskey snob... it happens when ya can make better whiskey than ya can buy... but whiskey doesn't have any sugar in it.

Some of the sugar-head recipes use a bit of grain to make em taste drinkable, but that don't make em whiskeys.


I'm not puttin' down folks that like the sugar-head, I'm just sayin' that I won't drink it.

[wineo]

I have never done one without some sugar but have tasted others that were all grain,and there is a difference.I may do the purist method someday.I usually start with a mash of about 1035-1040Sg,and adjust it up to 1080 with sugar.I know its cheating!!

[Centimeter]

THM, what do you do if you cool your "pure" cooked mash down and find that the SG is too low?

[cannon.co.tn]

Make a little less whiskey would be the logical answer....

[theholymackerel]

THM, what do you do if you cool your "pure" cooked mash down and find that the SG is too low?

Well, the still is awfully good at raisin' the abv%.