first brandy

[jbirdone]

I ran a gallon of plumb wine that I had made in hopes of getting a plumb flavored brandy. I ended up with a normal white liquor with no fruit flavor. I'm new to this.....what did I do wrong?

[Dnderhead]

what was your still? how high was the proof? your proses?

[Usge]

Jd, do post your process, still, etc., for review. But just on point, everything you distill will come out clear unless your still pukes. Whiskey, brandy/congac, etc., gets its color, and some of its distinct flavor, from aging on charred or toasted oak. Distilled wine like everything else is clear when it comes out (regardless of color going in) and tastes a lot like grappa. You have to age it on oak to get the color/flavor — unless you want to just macerate it with fruit/juice. The only issue is whether or not you distilled it at too high proof (ie., refluxed it) taking out too much of the flavor in return for higher abv. But, not sure what you were expecting....even whiskey comes out clear until it's aged on oak.

[W.S.C.beachman]

Aint no doubt about that. That tripped me out to when I made my first runs. Funny things is, is that not only is it clear it all kinda smells the same to..Yah there are differences, but unless you really now what your looking for its all kinda the same. Then add some oak for 3 months and whoaaa we got a whole different ball game!!! I am deciding on what I should do with my brandy, I think Ill age some and mix down some with juice. See what I like better.

[Dnderhead]

If I'm doing a different brandy recipe I age a bit on oak ,then I can tell if I like it on or off wood before I do the whole thing,you can git an idea in a week/month.then just make a note on recipe page. they have recipe "note" books that is intended for wine they work good as some have a place for all that.
if you don't keep notes you will come back in a year or so wondering " that ones good how did I do that?"

[jbirdone]

Well I have the beginner still that plugs into the wall and is fan cooled. I ran the wine to 125 proof............but it just came out like a sugar wash. I was expecting a plumb flavor, but didn't get it. I know some of you guys make brandys and I thought you just ran a good fruit wash thru to get the brandy flavor. I was wrong.................but I DID get a pretty good liquor so all is not lost.......