Chokecherry brandy
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 4:15 pm
OK, fellas, I've spent most of the day picking chokecherries, and here's the plan for some brandy. I've never done this before, so if you see me planning on doing something stupid, let me know.
I'm going to freeze 10 lbs. of chokecherries, thaw them, and mash them up with a paint mixer. I'll then strain off the liquid and sqeeeze the pulp to get every drop that I can. I don't think I want to ferment on the pulp because I don't think I'll be able to seperate it from the seeds and I've heard the seeds are very bitter and even slightly toxic.
I"ll then top off to 5 gal. and add up to 5 lbs. of sugar (unless it takes my sg over 1.080), a tsp of citric, tsp of nutrient, throw in some Lavlin 1118 and let 'er go. I figure I'll rack once before I run it to make sure it is good and clean and then run once through my pot. I'll take my product and water down to 80 proof.
Anybody think this will work?
I'm going to freeze 10 lbs. of chokecherries, thaw them, and mash them up with a paint mixer. I'll then strain off the liquid and sqeeeze the pulp to get every drop that I can. I don't think I want to ferment on the pulp because I don't think I'll be able to seperate it from the seeds and I've heard the seeds are very bitter and even slightly toxic.
I"ll then top off to 5 gal. and add up to 5 lbs. of sugar (unless it takes my sg over 1.080), a tsp of citric, tsp of nutrient, throw in some Lavlin 1118 and let 'er go. I figure I'll rack once before I run it to make sure it is good and clean and then run once through my pot. I'll take my product and water down to 80 proof.
Anybody think this will work?