American scotch single malt whiskey mash bill?

Grain bills and instruction for all manner of alcoholic beverages.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
boschd
Novice
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:13 am

American scotch single malt whiskey mash bill?

Post by boschd »

Trying to make an American single malt similar to Balcones. I know they use Golden Promise as their base 2-row malt, but I'm wondering how much specialty malt to add and at what point it is too much?

Here's my mash bill:
80% Golden promise
5% Carmel 60
5% Special B
5% Honey Malt
5% Victory Malt

Has anyone had experience a single malt with too much specialty grain being overpowering/offputting? I'm going for a caramel/honey flavor.
User avatar
still_stirrin
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10370
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2014 7:01 am
Location: where the buffalo roam, and the deer & antelope play

Re: American scotch single malt whiskey mash bill?

Post by still_stirrin »

So, the thing to consider when crafting a new “signature” beer flavor is that this will be distilled. When making a beer for drinking, you can add specialty malts and crystal malts for the flavors they add. But, when distilling, the flavors don’t necessarily translate into the finished product.

Now, I’m not saying that you won’t get contribution to the whiskey flavors like you do with a beer. It’s just that the flavors that do come over in the spirit may, and probably will be much different than the beer. You’ll notice some sweetness carryover. And some spiciness as well. But a bigger impact will be noticeable from how you oak and age the spirit (and make your cuts, obviously).

Be creative. Goodness. But, to try to emulate a paradigm may require several iterations. You will create a signature spirit....just maybe not exactly what you’d originally targeted. Maybe...BETTER!
ss
My LM/VM & Potstill: My build thread
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
User avatar
Expat
Distiller
Posts: 2252
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 3:58 pm

Re: American scotch single malt whiskey mash bill?

Post by Expat »

Unless the flavors are highly compatible I'd not mix multiple specialty malts. 5% is generally the limit for one, probably applicable to multiple.

Also, it would be just american whiskey, no scotch involved.
_____________________
EXPAT

Current boiler and pot head
Cross flow condenser
Modular 3" Boka - pics tbd
___________________
User avatar
8Ball
Distiller
Posts: 1611
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2018 9:12 am

Re: American scotch single malt whiskey mash bill?

Post by 8Ball »

boschd wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:06 pm Trying to make an American single malt similar to Balcones. I know they use Golden Promise as their base 2-row malt, but I'm wondering how much specialty malt to add and at what point it is too much?

Here's my mash bill:
80% Golden promise
5% Carmel 60
5% Special B
5% Honey Malt
5% Victory Malt

Has anyone had experience a single malt with too much specialty grain being overpowering/offputting? I'm going for a caramel/honey flavor.
Look at this: https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtop ... t=American
🎱 The struggle is real and this rabbit hole just got interesting.
Per a conversation I had with Mr. Jay Gibbs regarding white oak barrel staves: “…you gotta get it burning good.”
boschd
Novice
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:13 am

Re: American scotch single malt whiskey mash bill?

Post by boschd »

Appreciate the recs- good advice in general Stirrin.

Will definitely be a trial and retrial process with some good drops along the way.

8Ball, thanks for the link for the american malt whiskey thread.

Just did a honey bear mash, will ferment it and distill it on the grain like always- this stuff is great.
Post Reply