New oak disaster

[Copper top]

Well I had a couple of different samples of oak and was trying to see what the difference between the two might be,,
After a few months sitting in the 70% abv spirit the colours looked good and different,
I then decided to dilute to 40% after half an hour it started to go cloudy kind of separating almost green in colour ,I tried filtering but still looked awfull
The oak was relatively new oak not very seasoned and not toasted , do you think it's too young and needs to be dried that's the only thing I can think to cause this .?

new oak

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[S-Cackalacky]

My guess would be that the lignin leached out of the oak into your product. I had the same problem with some applewood that wasn't properly seasoned. I would suggest rerunning it.

[DAD300]

Color, cloudy and loach is one thing. How did it taste?

[Copper top]

I think I have discovered what the problem is ,
I got some demineralised water and diluted the spirit it did not go cloudy or separate it remained clear , so I'm guessing maybe the lime/ minerals in the tap water ,
Question is is it ok to use demineralised water to dilute spirits or is there a better way .

The taste wasn't bad as I have very quickly learned that it also needs time to age before it can be truly appraised

[Wiz of Oz]

Dilute your booze with distilled water, available at most pharmacy sections in grocery stores. Distilled and demineralized are two different process'

[T-Pee]

What Wiz said. Use tap for fermenting (minerals, etc.) and distilled for diluting product.

tp