Home Distiller

Just wondering if those flavour essences you buy from home brew stores can be tweaked to replicate the flavours of commercial stuff like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam?

I dont trust the store owner enough to ask him. Say you got a good essence, maybe added a little of another essence, and mellowed with oak peices? Is it possible or am I wasting my time?

I do know the proper way is with the correct grain bill and a pot still. Just want to stick with my reflux for now.

Cheers

not with essences, but if you can get Jack Daniels or bourbon barrel chunks, you can soak your neutral with them and get a pretty good replica. afterwards the mostly depleted oak is good for aging your rums etc when you get there.

great, thanks mate. I'm sure I'll still be able to come up with something tasty from essences, until I get (make) me a pot still. Thanks again!

when I use them I do put the on oak. Also burn some white oak down to about 2/3rds and soak it in some neutral until it turns black and add about 1-2 ounces of that as well. For me it gives it the "real" taste that I look for while my UJSM is aging. You will find many opinions on essences but find something that you like and start tweaking it.

I find essences are okay for mixed drinks when made with good quality neutral. I've used about 5 so far and the only 2 I'd buy again are the Prestige peach schnapps and the Prestige Canadian whiskey. None of them have the nose of the real thing.

thanks for the tips fellas

Kiwistiller, with the Jack Daniels barrel chips, should I follow instructions on the pack or is there a better way? After soaking your neutral with the chips, do you just dilute the spirit and thats all you do? Or dilute before soaking with chips?

Cheers mate.

I followed the instructions I think... has been a while. maybe I used more chips to spirit?

cool, cheers again mate