Newbie Introduction with an Oak question

[BIGCAV]

Hi guys

thought id introduce myself, names Cavan and im a car nutter, live for them and work for them but they are getting to expensive haha

so iv started a new hobbie which is why im here, i know there are far more advanced methods and ill eventually work my way up to it but for now iv got a turbo500 still and am basically doing the newbie thing of neutral spirits and essences

im trying to experiment with different things and iv spent hours trying to read up on using oak shavings but the trouble iv found is that most questions are asking more advanced info and dont cover the basics, i guess most people here already know the basics, ill get there one day


anyway in regars to oak shavings and neutrals how much oak/litre? been told 25g/1L ???

how long should i leave it?

should i leave it sealed or breathing?

what oak shavings are sweeter?


what iv been told by the local homebrewer is to put a 100g bag of american oak into a gallon of neutral for a month, so far after a week its tasting pretty damn woody and im worried its going to be spoiled after a full month?

[Dnderhead]

you will have better luck with bigger peaces,let it breath..

[Fluxeii]

Welcome!

Oaking neutral seems sort of odd to me; if all goes well, you will end up with wood flavored alcohol. Is that what you're looking for?

[rtalbigr]

Proper oaking will not give you wood flavored alcohol. The combination of compounds within both the distillate and the oak combine to smooth out and give the character to the whiskys we are producing. There are lots of threads here that discuss the many aspects of oaking. Reading through some should help you understand what's really happening.

Big R

[BIGCAV]

thanks guys

the plans not to oak jsut the neutral but once its taken on the flavor to then add the whiskey essences and glycerine etc

iv spent hours reading the thread but most are on the basis that you know the basics about g/l etc etc

thanks for the answers guys