Nuclear Whiskey / Nuclear Rum and Spirits Rapid Ageing

[FullySilenced]

The lid would not be in contact with the liquid.... i see no need for a wooden cap of any sort at this point... let the product breathe.... or exhale as it seems to do...

throw the lid on when it gets to temp. and let it cool...

have fun with it...

FS

[zouthernborne]

I have just under a quart of rum hearts (which usually end up left white), that I decided to sacrifice to this experiment. I don't mean to sound like a downer, FS, but I can't think of this as anything more than an experiment and had to force myself to hit that "start" button, and still can't shake the feeling that I've ruined my lovely white. Like a few others on here, I am a purist. I don't spice my rum. Oak is the only thing that touches it during the aging process. However, as LWTCS and I have discussed several times, this is all about experimentation for many of us. I have eight gallons aging in a used small-batch barrel, and several gallon jugs aging as well. I'm not too worried about losing a quart of product.

That said, I have to say that even if this does work and it smooths out my quart of rum and ads sufficient flavor and color, I still can't think of it as anything but a bandaid for harsh drinks. And regardless of whether anyone has managed to blow themselves up or if it's comparable to running a still in the first place, the safety concept does seem to go out the window on this one. I'm not trying to start an arguement or debate whether this works or not, nor am I saying that you all should just stop what you're doing and do things the old way. But me, personally, I don't think of this as true aging, true quality production, or a good example of our commitment to show the world that our hobby is safe and should be legal for everyone over the age of 21 who his competent enough to run a still.

I really don't know how to say all that without sounding offensive to OP or pissing off some of the newer people who are looking for a quick way to drink their booze without having to wait a long time. Thanks for reading, and I will now back away once more into the shadows to do what I do.

[jarheadshiner]

After all of that typing you could at least say how it turned out.

[zouthernborne]

I'll let you know tomorrow. She's still cooling down from the first run. But believe me, I will report back. Whether it's good or bad, I'm not going to BS about it. I will be fair about what I see, smell, and taste. Everything I said before is just personal opinion, not to be taken as a broad spectrum slam on the process.

[Truckinbutch]

Ya do what it takes to catch the coon . Has been workin well for me to secure some better drinkin now while time is taking care of the bulk of my stash .

[zouthernborne]

After four cycles (following the instructions to the letter) I'm not seeing a difference in much more than smell. The taste continues to be as harsh as freshly distilled rum, while the smell has a more noticealble vanilla and oak note. I'm going to do one more cycle and let it cool for today, then I'll report back. But so far, I'm not seeing anything that encourages me to use any more of my rum for this experiment. Perhaps this is working for some people, but it's not doing a damned thing for me.

[FullySilenced]

Did you put chips in it or oak spirals or staves? or did you just nuke the hearts with nothing added...?

[zouthernborne]

I used staves that I cut into domino-sized chunks and then I tried with my usual 3"x.5"x.5" stave pieces. I noticed no noticeable change in harshness, and only a slight change in color. However, color isn't a big deal for me compared to taste, so I have to say that according to my results in my particular case, I can't say it's worth the risk to do this. At least not for me. I've tried to be unbiased during this experiment, and so my findings are unbiased. I will now leave this thread alone and go back to aging long term.

[Truckinbutch]

Every microwave is different . You have to play with the cycle times to reach the desired heat/effect . My wave is borderline adequate at 2 minutes 50 seconds per cycle . This is not an exact undertaking .

[FullySilenced]

ZB thank you for your input and good luck on you journey...


FS

[mealstrom]

I decided to give this a shot! I took 3 different types of wood and put them all in some white rye whiskey. The woods were Plum, Pecan, and Maple. Each were roasted then torched with a blowtorch. The procedure was the same each time:

1. Microwave until it was up to 150 degrees
2. Immediately put the lid on it and stick it in the freezer
3. Leave in the freezer overnight

I repeated this 3 times, and these are the results:

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

[Jimbo]

Dont care much about color. How they taste? To each other and to non nuked?

[FullySilenced]

Mealstrom NO need to put it in the freezer sir... just let it cool naturally

So how did they turn out taste wise with the different wood types?

[mealstrom]

Very distinct flavor differences. The maple has a slight sweet taste - not like Crown Maple or anything, but a distinct background hint of maple. The others are really good. The only experience I have to compare them to are different oaks, so it's tough to compare. But they taste great. I'm going to definitely start using plum more. A nice, interesting flavor. I'm going to have to do a lot more sampling so I can give better descriptions!


As for freezing, I did notice a dramatic difference after freezing. Microwaving it made a noticeable difference of course, but following it up with the freezer created a really strong vacuum and a much darker color the next morning.

[Jimbo]

Sounds good. I have some apple and cherry wood been thinking about trying. Might should do that.

[Truckinbutch]

I've been getting very pleasing results with used barrel white oak , both toasted , 1 chared .

[aknewb1s]

Anyone tried nuking/aging with corn (cracked, whole kernel, cob)?

[FullySilenced]

Not that i can recall on any forum...

[Doogie]

I used cherry for a GGGP based rum - worked good ... better in taste than oak ... IMO

[MDH]

http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2013/08/ ... -microwave" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[mystakilla]

Interesting article. thank you!

[Scurrillous]

Likewise.. Thanks for posting that. Very interesting.
I am nuking all my runs now and would love to have a large enough microwave to save myself some time.

[Doogie]

Yes, I am doing a lot of fruit macerations right now (SPD, blueberry SPD, hard lemonade, soon lemon SPD) and nuking greatly speeds up the process for me - only addition is I do it in mason jars for the vacuum ... I can produce an SPD in about 2-3 days ... versus weeks

[Antaean]

The chips you can buy for smoking (cooking) in a bar-b-q pit. Do you toast them in the oven before putting them on a spirit or straight out of the bag them come in?

I ask since I bought a bag of Pecan wood chips (which are labeled in a way that made me think they had been heated) filled a quart jar about half full with the chips, them filled the jar close to full but leaving room with 100 proof spirits. I nuked the jars ( I have made four) four times. They have been sitting for about two weeks now and I shake them at least one time a day. I taste tested one last night and it is nothing like the spirits I had sitting in a charred oak barrel I had gotten from a distillery. I understand pecan wood will give me different flavors then oak. So, to the question I have.....should I toast the chips out of the bag, or just use straight out of the bag.

[FullySilenced]

Give it a try and see how it works for you... in the end its your product, your drink, and you being happy with the taste...

have fun

FS

[heartcut]

I always toast them unless they're JD chips (already toasted). Don't taste right to me without it. 350degF for an hour is my starting point. Used to char in the broiler, but use a torch now- faster and less grief from the wife.
Like FS said, up to the distiller.

[Antaean]

I always toast them unless they're JD chips (already toasted). Don't taste right to me without it. 350degF for an hour is my starting point. Used to char in the broiler, but use a torch now- faster and less grief from the wife.
Like FS said, up to the distiller.

When you use the oven for an hour at 350degF do you foil wrap the chips or just use something like a cookie sheet?

[Doogie]

I boil them in water for about 1 minute to clean them ... that is it ...

[Antaean]

I used a brand called western pecan bbq smoking chips. Since it says they are kiln dried I figured they did not need to be placef in an oven. But my product has an off taste. Any thoughts?

[Rivver]

You don't want kiln dried wood, only open air seasoned wood. Running wood through a kiln does something to it that isn't good for aging. I'm sure some of the mentors could give you a better explanation on this.


Has anybody tried this with say 190 proof alc? I was thinking of trying this with something like PP's Fire Piss.