Saltine cracker whiskey?

[Steve Broady]

My kid is sick, so we had a box of saltine crackers out. Naturally, I was reading the ingredients. Mostly enriched wheat flour (shocking!), with a little oil, and 2% or less of salt, barley malt extract, and “enzymes.”

I can’t help wondering how that would work as a whiskey mash. I know the yeast can tolerate a little salt, and some recipes even include it. No idea what the enzymes are, but I assume they’ve been denatured during cooking, so I’d have to use more or some of the 2 row malt I have on hand.

Just an idea, but I’m curious if anyone else here has had a similar idea, or tried it?

[sadie33]

Isn't it funny how our minds go to -"I can mash that". I was food shopping yesterday, looking at what size the larges box of raisin bran was and how much it cost. I can't imagine the crackers would have much flavor, but if you threw in some other things it might be good.

Hope your kid feels better soon.

[Demy]

I believe there are better ingredients with which to obtain our products. If you really don't want to use cereals, use some bread left in the pantry.

[Salt Must Flow]

I remember a while ago, my grandfather used to go to a local store and fill the trunk of his car with FREE bread that is perfectly good, but past the date which the store wanted to sell it. He fed it to birds or something like that ... I don't remember exactly. Bakeries and other stores otherwise just toss it in the dumpster.

[Deplorable]

You wouldnt be the first member to ferment crackers. Saltines, maybe, but Cranky did a cheez-it mash...

viewtopic.php?p=7331837

[Steve Broady]

Jeezus… I thought that saltine cracker whiskey was a cheesy idea!

I agree that there are probably better ways to make whiskey, but I can’t deny that the idea intrigues me for the sheer silliness of it. And I’d argue that you have wheat which is already hydrated and some of which is toasted. There might be some interesting flavors there. Then add in whatever the impact of that barley malt is.. I can’t see it being huge at less than 2%, but at worst it should make a straight wheat whiskey, right?

[Deplorable]

Might make a good vodka. I like a smooth wheat vodka.

[zach]

I've made wheat flour whisky. I'd imagine saltines would be close. Jimbo started a thread on it.

[bilgriss]

The reason people use wheat bran for flavor is that's mostly where the flavor is. Saltines are made from the cheapest, bleached wheat flour with all that removed, so to say the resulting flavor will be 'subtle' is probably an overstatement of the flavor. But as long as your salt levels are low enough, I bet you can do it.

[TwoSheds]

I suspect it's been done before, but this makes me think Graham crackers would probably make a decent whisky. The sugar and (i'm sure small amount of) honey should boost the yield a bit. I'd consider the experiment if I found some being dumped.

NGREDIENTS: GRAHAM FLOUR (WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT FLOUR), UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, CANOLA OIL, HONEY, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, WHEAT STARCH, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.

[Medicine_man]

Two Sheds,
I believe they have a graham cracker liquor
Bailey's made some ""s'mores"" flavored abomination a while back...I'd still be interested in hearing someone else's take on it before I'd go with a commercial brand

[TwoSheds]

Two Sheds,
I believe they have a graham cracker liquor
Bailey's made some ""s'mores"" flavored abomination a while back...I'd still be interested in hearing someone else's take on it before I'd go with a commercial brand

Yeah, I'm sure any commercial liqueur is loaded with sugar and at best extracts, at worst artificial flavors.

A whisky made from graham crackers would be a different beast. Most of the ingredients are ones we would use anyway and no sugar makes it through the still so the result would be much more whisky than liqueur but the baked wheat flavor might make it.

Of course, you could then decide to drop a toasted marshmallow in a jar of it to see what you get but I think it could stand on its own.

@LWTCS was one that I found in search mentioned he had tried it in this thread: viewtopic.php?t=22656

[Pure Old Possum Piss]

With the cost of Saltines these days that would probably be one expensive flavorless vodka.

[Steve Broady]

Depends on how much you make! But yeah, it might not be the most economical way of doing things.

The point about wheat germ is well taken. Makes me think it’s not a great way to go, unless I get my hands on a lot of crackers cheap.

[Medicine_man]

TwoSheds

I like your idea but maybe a little real maple syrup in the jar with a toasted cherry wood chunk , I'm not much for marshmallows without a campfire involved