Diluting for aging

[UnclePaul]

I have finally gotten to the point that I ain't drinking it as fast as I'm making it. So now I'm getting some set back to age.
About what ABV or proof do you try to mellow it out to before setting it back? I've got me a gallon of UJSSM with toasted oak up now and a gallon of the Gerber barley on oak too.
So far the only way I've been figuring how strong it was before setting back is that I take a small amount of straight run and then dilute it with distilled water until it just barely burns, but will still flame up.
The last couple batches took 1.5 ml of water to 3 ml of product.

[still_in]

most commonly used aging abv is around 65% but it depends on what you are aging and how. i have started at 65% and then a month later water it down a bit to say 55% and leave it again. ive been told that different percentages bring out different characteristics from the wood. most commercial distilleries start at 65% or so and by the time its done aging it will be down to between 55% - 45%.

if you don't have an alcoholmeter its a lot harder to figure. if you have a pot still and make conservative cuts you might be getting a final product at about 75% so you could just do the math to get it down to 65%

good luck