How long to age?

[muscashine]

How long do you typically age your stuff? Just until it smells and tastes right?

Here's why I ask:
I have a Quart of muscadine brandy at 120proof that I put on 8 oak cubes (bought from a wine store). It's been in the attic for three weeks or so since I distilled it. Thanks to some WILD temperature swings here in the south its taken on a decent color and smell. I'm going on a cruise in a month - and I'm going to proof it down to around 80, pour it into a dark wine bottle, re-cork and re-cap it.

I just don't want to take something that would, if left in a jar for six more months, be SO much better. Does it really improve that much just sitting untouched in a jar, especially without oak? What's going on in the jar after distillation is done, if there's no oak or anything in there?

[dieselduo]

3 mnths is about minimum I leave them. take a taste every month to see how the flavor profile is coming and when it gets to your liking take it off and bottle

[Plaincrazy]

I age it all the way to the time I drink it
So far 6 months is my record but I did hide a few jars last april
The 6 month honey shine tasted like liquid candy, I can only imagine what a 2 year old would taste like

[Plaincrazy]

Correction, I just read the label as I poured myself a drink, it's 8 months
Hey , don't judge me, it's after noon, it's morally acceptable to have a drink

[RedwoodHillBilly]

Hey , don't judge me, it's after noon, it's morally acceptable to have a drink

Remember, the sun is over the yardarm somewhere in the world at any time, it just doesn't have to be in your time zone

[muscashine]

I age it all the way to the time I drink it
So far 6 months is my record but I did hide a few jars last april
The 6 month honey shine tasted like liquid candy, I can only imagine what a 2 year old would taste like

Did you run your honey shine once or twice? I find that whenever I try to get flavors not much comes through. The ONLY thing I've had carry over flavors was a scotch - I used all grains, no sugar, with some peaked malt. It flavored very nicely. Everything else; peaches, grapes, apples... I lose all the flavor.

[Plaincrazy]

Did you run your honey shine once or twice? I find that whenever I try to get flavors not much comes through.

Well, actually, not really a Honey shine , more of a honey flavoured shine.
I found the same thing as well, not the flavour I was looking for. Now I have a Honey infused Whiskey.
1/4 cup honey to a mason jar of CS whiskey, add a orange peel and oak stick. Age for 3 months and pour off the cleared whiskey leaving behind the sludge at the bottom. Makes a fine drink on ice

[sltm1]

I just made "honey shine" by adding honey to my thumper....having no basis of comparison, I'd say it's really good.

[muscashine]

I just made "honey shine" by adding honey to my thumper....having no basis of comparison, I'd say it's really good.

That's what I'm thinking about doing in the future... adding my "flavorings" to the second run instead of trying to put them in the ferment barrel.