Combining Bought essence and oak chips to neutral

[dmarsc10]

Hey all, I have used some store bought essence (top shelf "aussie gold" and "dark rum") to add to my neutral. Both are ok drinkin, however i was wondering if they could be improved by adding some "rum soakers" (oak chips), or would this be a waste of time/effort? cheers.

[sparky marky]

I did it that way a couple of years ago when I first started and found that it did give a more authentic oaky taste.
Give it a go and see what you think

[maheel]

i say yes it improves it (adding chips) it's what i used to do

i would stretch the essence a bit further and add 1 bottle to about 10L of 40%
then store it on oak etc for a fair while and then transfer it into my keg as i needed to top it up.
I also found adding some port, steeped raisins (steep them in spirit "rasin tea" and pour in the tea) to add some different flavors to make my whiskey or bourbon more "complex"
i have steeped all sorts of fruit to see what happens

i could never get my rum to be anything like Bundy rum so it depends on what you are trying to "copy", my mates all drank Bundy

i always found the bourbon essences i used seemed to make the most "copied" or "copyable" as i quite enjoy the jim beam range and found it similar to that.

i then found after a while i just enjoyed what i was making without essence and just did my own thing... but it needs TIME to age i reckon more than anything else

but each to their own

[dmarsc10]

Cheers. So basically, it can't make it any worse hey? I had planned to just add some chips to what i already have diluted (1 bottle essence to 2.25l of 40%, as per instructions). Might just add a small amount of the "willards rum soakers" and see what happens given some time.

[maheel]

yeah cant hut except a few $$$ spent

maybe do a side by side testing

1 bottle just essence
1 with just oak
1 with both

they are all going to need time

[Popcorn Fan]

If you want oak don't buy it from the home brew shop, they charge the equivilent of about $60.00 a kg. You should be able to get it for $5.50 a kg.

I bought way to much of it (about 15kg) if you are in Brisbane and want some give me a yell. It hasn't been toasted so it's raw oak, if you want it toasted it's not hard to do over a fire or in the oven.

Cheers

[dmarsc10]

I got some "willards rum soakers" today (sorry popcorn, it was before i read your post) from the local brew shop and have added about 15g (only guessing from what i took out of the 100g bag) to 2l of aussie gold and 15g to 2l of dark rum. I'll give it a week or so and see how it comes up.
Popcorn, not in Bris mate, northern nsw. would definately be interested in some oak for that price but, where do you get it?.

[Popcorn Fan]

I got it at a cooperage near Redcliffe, he does frieght. Do a search in the flavour and aging section, I posted it a month ago maybe or if you want me to throw some in a post pack PM me. Hell of a lot cheaper than brew shops.