Home Distiller

Getting a little aging on. My last run I cut 3 pieces of white oak board that a friend gave to me 3/4" x 3/4" and toasted them in the oven. I placed them on a cookie sheet on the bottom rack with the oven on 450 and turned them every 5 minutes until they were gently smoking and started changing a slightly darker color. (Jug on the left) today I took a white oak log from the old wood pile and wedge split a pile of small triangular pieces and did the same thing to them with the oven. Then I thought to myself, " I wonder what would happen if I put them on the top rack and kicked on the broiler?? Maybe it would chat them just a little deeper and I will get a darker color". So I did... The kitchen started filling with smoke after a minute or so. I opened the oven and my entire cookie sheet was engulfed in flames. Thinking quickly I grabbed an oven mit and took the cookie tray over to the sink and ran some water on it to put out the flames. It only burned for about 30 seconds or so. Well I put the new and improved oak splinters into a couple gallon jugs and topped em off with some 130 that I've been saving. (2 jugs on the right) notice the instantly darker color. The first jug is a much lighter color. It been aging on the oak for a week or so but has a totally differnt smell than the darker. It's too early to tell which is better or the real differences between the two. I thought this would be a good example to share. It's amazing how such a small thing as changing the cut of the wood and catching a fire can totally change the characteristics of the aging process. I will keep you posted on weekly progress.

Twinrivers wrote:Getting a little aging on. My last run I cut 3 pieces of white oak board that a friend gave to me 3/4" x 3/4" and toasted them in the oven. I placed them on a cookie sheet on the bottom rack with the oven on 450 and turned them every 5 minutes until they were gently smoking and started changing a slightly darker color. (Jug on the left) today I took a white oak log from the old wood pile and wedge split a pile of small triangular pieces and did the same thing to them with the oven. Then I thought to myself, " I wonder what would happen if I put them on the top rack and kicked on the broiler?? Maybe it would chat them just a little deeper and I will get a darker color". So I did... The kitchen started filling with smoke after a minute or so. I opened the oven and my entire cookie sheet was engulfed in flames. Thinking quickly I grabbed an oven mit and took the cookie tray over to the sink and ran some water on it to put out the flames. It only burned for about 30 seconds or so. Well I put the new and improved oak splinters into a couple gallon jugs and topped em off with some 130 that I've been saving. (2 jugs on the right) notice the instantly darker color. The first jug is a much lighter color. It been aging on the oak for a week or so but has a totally differnt smell than the darker. It's too early to tell which is better or the real differences between the two. I thought this would be a good example to share. It's amazing how such a small thing as changing the cut of the wood and catching a fire can totally change the characteristics of the aging process. I will keep you posted on weekly progress.

I don't know...I toast in the oven nicely, then purposely burn the shit out of them with a map torch. Although I am trying to tone it down more.

I get a wonderful caramel nose with it, and deep colour. Although it comes out a little more Smokey than I am going for.

Tweak, tweak, Tweak.

Toast, rinse, repeat. Toast, rinse, repeat.

when I age in glass, I burn the crap out of my sticks. If I don't see cracks and red embers it ant hot enough. loves me some charred likker

bellybuster wrote:when I age in glass, I burn the crap out of my sticks. If I don't see cracks and red embers it ant hot enough. loves me some charred likker

My cracks start to peel, and then I have to char further to get cracks again.

I'm trying to learn when I've gone too far...

So Ya thought Ya might like to...go to the show...shining on my crazy diamond as I type

If ya haven't seen it:
tp

TP you are ruining my buzz. Wtf?? Just when I thought I had it all figured out I get my peepee soaped with more knowledge...story of my life.

Happy to be there for ya, brother.

tp (and his next-to-favorite attachment)