wood, color and taste

[Celtic]

Toasted oak changes color and taste of the neutral spirit
but how does color relate to taste. A larger amount of
toasted oak can change the color to desired in a few
hours and then removed it stays that way but how does
it taste. I don't want to wait 3 years for an official
whiskey but what is reasonable?

[Tater]

http://homedistiller.org/aging/aging" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[mash rookie]

Forced aging is a huge in depth subject here. There are many threads to read and no clear answers or easy solutions. I have read for hours not finding any answers.

The general consensus is that only time in either charred barrels or on oak sticks works.

We all would like to find a short cut to making a good whiskey.

Here is what I have found and what I am trying now. I have tried oak chips and several different hardwoods. Even with a heavy char they often will ruin your booze by imparting a woody taste because of the tannins in the wood.

I am not sure if the bad flavor goes away in time but it is likely that it does if the alcohol is left in contact long enough. I.e.; left in a barrel for two – ten years.

Here is what I am trying now. I am starting to get good results in my effort to make bourbon.
On the second generation of a UJSM type recipe. (I used corn meal instead of cracked corn) Once aired of the higher alcohols (open aging) you start to get a wonderful corn flavor.

I use Jack Daniels oak smoker chips. They are made from whiskey barrels. They impart a Jack Daniels whiskey flavor and not as much of the woody taste.

I completely fill an open glass vessel with chips and cover booze. Within 24 hours you get a decent forced aging.

Sample each day until you get the level of flavor you want then drain then store the chips in a zip lock until needed again. You will loose some product the first time as they soak.

Keeping them from drying out in the bag will prevent that on future aging.

I am not sure how many times you can use the same chips. I will start a new thread in recipe development as soon as I have more information.

[Tater]

Forced aging is a huge in depth subject here. There are many threads to read and no clear answers or easy solutions. I have read for hours not finding any answers.

The general consensus is that only time in either charred barrels or on oak sticks works.

We all would like to find a short cut to making a good whiskey.

Here is what I have found and what I am trying now. I have tried oak chips and several different hardwoods. Even with a heavy char they often will ruin your booze by imparting a woody taste because of the tannins in the wood.

I am not sure if the bad flavor goes away in time but it is likely that it does if the alcohol is left in contact long enough. I.e.; left in a barrel for two – ten years.

Here is what I am trying now. I am starting to get good results in my effort to make bourbon.
On the second generation of a UJSM type recipe. (I used corn meal instead of cracked corn) Once aired of the higher alcohols (open aging) you start to get a wonderful corn flavor.

I use Jack Daniels oak smoker chips. They are made from whiskey barrels. They impart a Jack Daniels whiskey flavor and not as much of the woody taste.

I completely fill an open glass vessel with chips and cover booze. Within 24 hours you get a decent forced aging.

Sample each day until you get the level of flavor you want then drain then store the chips in a zip lock until needed again. You will loose some product the first time as they soak.

Keeping them from drying out in the bag will prevent that on future aging.

I am not sure how many times you can use the same chips. I will start a new thread in recipe development as soon as I have more information.

I wouldn't take the advice about storing chips wet with product in a plastic bag.Bad advice is worse then no advice at all.

[Dnderhead]

to remove tannins freeze ,most drops out,then filter.then dont do it again.

[rad14701]

I wouldn't take the advice about storing chips wet with product in a plastic bag.Bad advice is worse then no advice at all.

Agreed... Storing in a glass jar would be a safer choice... High proof alcohol will dissolve biodegradable plastic in short order...

[rtalbigr]

I understand impatience, with me it's clearing the wash, just can't stand it, but I just don't get forced aging. In my humble opinion why waste the time distilling a superior product and then not let it age properly? When I age in glass I use roasted (4 hrs @ 400F) oaks sticks (1/4" x 1/4" x4"). I put one stick per quart, age at 70%abv for 4-6 weeks. Then I dilute to 50% and have a Very drinkable whisky. I much prefer aging in oak barrels, it is truely the difference between good and much better. Yes, you do have to wait. Currently I have some where around 5 gal in barrels. Some will be ready in a few weeks, some are a couple of months off. The wait is worth it!!

Also I've read somewhere, maybe the parent site, not sure, about aging at different %abv and what flavors you'll get from the oak. With my larger barrels I start out at higher abv and then dilute and age some more so that I get a wider range of flavors.

Anyway, in my opinion aging is the make or break for good whisky, why rush it.

Big R

[WalkingWolf]

I don't want to wait 3 years for an official
whiskey but what is reasonable?

This topic gets nearly as heated as a good 'ole plastics discussion -- I'll throw it out there again and take the ass kickin' for it.

I hear ya -- I'm with ya. I got drinkin stock built up and I still do it. I'll put 1 charred and 1 toasted stick in 1 liter cut to 65%. I put this in the freezer during the day and set it on the counter at night. I do this for at least 10 days (2 weeks is my usual). After this time I dump into 1 gallon glass jugs with the sticks that were in the jars. After 1 month sitting on the shelf it makes a decent tasting liquor. It does NOT make a well aged premium bourbon. It is simply a flavored liquor you can enjoy as you wait on your other stuff to age mo' proper. This stuff will never compare to sitting on oak for 6 months but it aint bad drinking either. Give it a try -- I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I use UJSSM -- corn, oats, rye, wheat and malt barley

[mash rookie]

I wouldn't take the advice about storing chips wet with product in a plastic bag.Bad advice is worse then no advice at all.

Okay guys. I wont use a ziplock. I will use a glass jar to store my chips.

I am still soaking my booze and It is just the concept of not letting all that booze get away each time by letting your wood dry out.

Don’t judge my results because I would suggest a ziplock bag. My booze is getting tastier each day. The Jack Daniels chips work.!

Bad advice is worse then no advice? Tater, I made the effort to respond and actually write a response to him. Are you to discourage postings if you disagree with the content?

Let me know if only mentors should respond to postings.

Is it not the point of this forum site to encourage the exchange of ideas and the enjoyment of experimentation in our chosen hobby?

Goodness old school boys. With enough experimentation we just may find some different paths and effective alternatives.

Mash Rookie

[rad14701]

mash rookie, members are going to comment any time any member starts talking about using plastics in ways that could prove harmful... The discussion of plastics has been beaten to death enough as you will discover during your research...

[Tater]

I wouldn't take the advice about storing chips wet with product in a plastic bag.Bad advice is worse then no advice at all.

Okay guys. I wont use a ziplock. I will use a glass jar to store my chips.

I am still soaking my booze and It is just the concept of not letting all that booze get away each time by letting your wood dry out.

Don’t judge my results because I would suggest a ziplock bag. My booze is getting tastier each day. The Jack Daniels chips work.!

Bad advice is worse then no advice? Tater, I made the effort to respond and actually write a response to him. Are you to discourage postings if you disagree with the content?Not at all as long as its safe .

Let me know if only mentors should respond to postings.Only in the mentors q&a otherwise any good info is allays welcome

Is it not the point of this forum site to encourage the exchange of ideas and the enjoyment of experimentation in our chosen hobby?Sure is but your post shows how little you have researched before giving advice.

Goodness old school boys. With enough experimentation we just may find some different paths and effective alternatives.That has allways been our hope but again experimentation usually begins after careful research.

Mash Rookie