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Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 4:56 am
by Demy
Has anyone ever experienced something like this? Not a whiskey cream (Baileys style) but something different... water, sugar, whiskey and any natural flavourings....

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 5:59 am
by jonnys_spirit
I enjoy a drambui every once in a while. Me Da turned me ontoit a number of years ago along with a rusty nail.

Might collect and produce some tinctures and use a bourbon base instead of scotch for something interesting.

viewtopic.php?t=30960

Cheers,
jonny

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 6:58 am
by Steve Broady
Funny, Demy. I was just thinking about exactly the same thing yesterday. We make panty dropper with neutral, orange liqueur with brandy or rum, coffee liqueur with rum, etc.. but what about whiskey? Drambui was the only thing I thought of off the top of my head, but I have a feeling that an orange liqueur would be amazing, given how well orange pairs with whiskey. I also thought about an apple cinnamon liqueur with a corn whiskey base, sort of as a slightly fancier version of the classic apple pie moonshine.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 7:26 am
by jonnys_spirit
IMG_3075.jpeg
Allspice Berries, Black Cardamom, Cassia, Cloves, Coffee Beans, Fennel Seeds, Ginger Root, Grapefruit Peel, Lemon Peel, Liquorice Root, Pink Peppercorns.
I like the idea of orange. Perhaps some coffee and cocoa. I’ve got some bourbon extracted vanilla beans in the spice rack. Orange blossom honey could be an interesting sweetener.

I make a bitters from vanilla pipe tobacco, cocoa, and coffee beans. Just a dash subtlety enhances a neat pour nicely so constraint may be helpful.

Maybe start with a high proof base bourbon so it can end up around 40%abv when bottled.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 7:33 am
by MooseMan
Demy wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 4:56 am Has anyone ever experienced something like this? Not a whiskey cream (Baileys style) but something different... water, sugar, whiskey and any natural flavourings....
I tried making a Bourbon liqueur with a peanut butter flavour syrup, it was lovely, but not something that I'd go back for a second one on the same day.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:37 am
by The Booze Pipe
Heritage Distilling made a BSB Brown Sugar Bourbon. It was pretty good and very popular they sold it to Jamie Fox, and the recipe changed, it’s not as good now.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:57 am
by Deplorable
The Booze Pipe wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:37 am Heritage Distilling made a BSB Brown Sugar Bourbon. It was pretty good and very popular they sold it to Jamie Fox, and the recipe changed, it’s not as good now.
There was an old shiner that used to frequent the local winery, that made his own spin on Heritage BSB, and it wasn't too bad, but I think his cuts were a little too far to the left and not far enough to the right. I dont know what ever happened to him. He just quit coming around.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:40 am
by sweeps
Southern Comfort was originally bourbon based. They changed it to a GNS base for a while, but I believe it's back to using whiskey again. There are lots of copycat recipes all over the web that might provide some useful inspiration.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:50 am
by The Booze Pipe
BSB isn’t my preferred kind of drink, but I would definitely try making it. In fact, I usually use a sugar sour mash or white dog for liqueurs or extracts. I figure it’s like using raw sugar over white table sugar.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 1:18 pm
by Dougmatt
Pritchard’s in Tennessee makes several whiskey liquors. Their best seller is called sweet Lucy but there are several.

https://prichardsdistillery.com/liqueurs.html

They used to age their bourbon on cocoa nibs to create a chocolate bourbon. They stopped for awhile, looks like they’ve started again. Made a great old fashioned last time I bought some.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 3:28 pm
by NZChris
I’ve done quite a few Glayva style liqueurs using mead dregs and various whiskeys and honeys. Most were successful.

My daughter likes UJSSM and honey, but I’m not a fan of it.

Any liqueur made with honey is difficult to get clear so I don’t put much effort into clearing them. If anything does settle, I rack off the best and chug the rest.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 6:54 pm
by HDNB
NZChris wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 3:28 pm I’ve done quite a few Glayva style liqueurs using mead dregs and various whiskeys and honeys. Most were successful.

My daughter likes UJSSM and honey, but I’m not a fan of it.

Any liqueur made with honey is difficult to get clear so I don’t put much effort into clearing them. If anything does settle, I rack off the best and chug the rest.
i did a honey spirit, it was ok aged on oak, a bit one dimensional but a nice smooth drink. what really paid off was i used the honey backset to make a corn whiskey next, it gave over a real nice bourbon with a distinct honey note.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:25 pm
by GrumbleStill
A couple I’ve come across are Wild Turkey American Honey and The Dubliner Irish Whiskey Liqueur.

They’re kinda like a magician’s drink. A full bottle just appears outa nowhere when the party should be well and truly over, and then magically turns up empty the next day… :wtf:

Cheers

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:47 pm
by Saltbush Bill
This was by far the best I've ever tasted.
Unfortunately it was discontinued 7-8 years ago, if your ever lucky enough to stumble across an old bottle don't hesitate to buy it.
LocanOra_1_600x.jpg

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 1:15 am
by Demy
Thanks for your contribution guys. My idea is: water, cane sugar, whisky, neutral alcohol (minimum quantity to bring the ABV target) and a pinch of cinnamon and cocoa. I like the idea of ​​a touch of orange... I was thinking of orange peels macerated in alcohol which is used to correct the alcohol content....

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 1:33 am
by NormandieStill
Demy wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2024 1:15 am Thanks for your contribution guys. My idea is: water, cane sugar, whisky, neutral alcohol (minimum quantity to bring the ABV target) and a pinch of cinnamon and cocoa. I like the idea of ​​a touch of orange... I was thinking of orange peels macerated in alcohol which is used to correct the alcohol content....
The standard garnish on an old fashioned shows that orange and whisky go well together. I can also confirm whisky and apple. And whisky and chocolate (I was once served chocolate ice cream with a splash of whisky on it).

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 1:45 am
by NZChris
You can get orange into a drink by suspending fruit or peel above the liquor. See Liqueur du pendu.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 3:41 am
by MooseMan
Demy wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2024 1:15 am Thanks for your contribution guys. My idea is: water, cane sugar, whisky, neutral alcohol (minimum quantity to bring the ABV target) and a pinch of cinnamon and cocoa. I like the idea of ​​a touch of orange... I was thinking of orange peels macerated in alcohol which is used to correct the alcohol content....
Instead of adding neutral Demy, you could just add whisky at barrel strength?
I use 60% for my sipping cream recipe.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 4:02 am
by LWTCS
This here fits the bill.
Tastes just like a good corny white dog,,,cept really sweet.
Screenshot_20240422_080105_Google.jpg

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 11:06 am
by MooseMan
LWTCS wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2024 4:02 am This here fits the bill.
Tastes just like a good corny white dog,,,cept really sweet.
Screenshot_20240422_080105_Google.jpg
Oh, seeing the name of that liqueur has just reminded me!

Has anyone here tried making bourbon with nixtamalized maize?
I'd bet the alkaline treatment would alter the flavour that comes through from the corn, but no idea if it will inhibit yeast without being treated first?

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 12:25 pm
by Steve Broady
MooseMan wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2024 11:06 am Has anyone here tried making bourbon with nixtamalized maize?
I have searched for threads discussing the use of masa, and the general impression I got was that there was little difference. But I’d love to learn more, if anyone has found a significant difference in the taste.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 4:07 pm
by Demy
MooseMan wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2024 3:41 am
Demy wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2024 1:15 am Thanks for your contribution guys. My idea is: water, cane sugar, whisky, neutral alcohol (minimum quantity to bring the ABV target) and a pinch of cinnamon and cocoa. I like the idea of ​​a touch of orange... I was thinking of orange peels macerated in alcohol which is used to correct the alcohol content....
Instead of adding neutral Demy, you could just add whisky at barrel strength?
I use 60% for my sipping cream recipe.
Yes of course...I will only add it if strictly necessary. As soon as I can I would like to try to make a very small quantity 👍

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 4:11 pm
by Demy
NZChris wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2024 1:45 am You can get orange into a drink by suspending fruit or peel above the liquor. See Liqueur du pendu.
Excellent idea... it would give a more delicate taste... I know the method but I used it to make "coutreau"... it could be the same liqueur more or less...

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 9:05 pm
by Setsumi
I maserate pitted dates in white corn. Just dont leave it to long, the skins tend to be astringent. Start with a cup of medium fine chopped dates in 2lt of 40%. Start tasting at day 3 to check for astringency. Remove dates when you get a wooden taste.
You can add some dried apricot as well.

After you removed the dates you can add some simple syrup if you want a proper liqueur.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2024 2:52 am
by Steve Broady
I haven’t tried dates in whiskey, Setsumi. I did a small experiment with dates in mahia, which improved neither the dates nor the mahia. Kind of put me off trying that again any time soon.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2024 8:08 am
by Demy
I started the experiment... I thought I'd make a very small amount as a test.
For approximately 200ml of liqueur at an alcohol content of 31/32 ABV
I thought of these doses: 100ml water 70ml whiskey 50 ml neutral 30-50 g brown sugar a pinch of cinnamon a pinch of cocoa A small orange
At the moment I have started preparing orange in a hybrid way (between maceration and suspension of whole orange)
IMG_20240424_174035.jpg

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2024 8:27 pm
by Setsumi
Steve Broady wrote: Tue Apr 23, 2024 2:52 am I haven’t tried dates in whiskey, Setsumi. I did a small experiment with dates in mahia, which improved neither the dates nor the mahia. Kind of put me off trying that again any time soon.
Bin the dates after, they will be wood. For me the trick is a short maceration time.

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2024 11:51 am
by Demy
I continue....
IMG_20240425_174323.jpg
The ingredients
IMG_20240425_181415.jpg
Final liqueur
IMG_20240426_193657.jpg
This has nothing to do with it but I was preparing it 😁
IMG_20240425_182048.jpg

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2024 1:44 am
by Demy
I tasted this liqueur over several days..... The combination with orange is definitely spot on, I think less orange would be needed to be more balanced. The sugar in the recipe Is 35 g... I don't like too much sugar.

For those wishing to try the recommended doses are:
For 1 LITER of product (32 ABV)
500 ml water
350 ml whisky (45 abv)
250 ml neutral alcool
175 grams cane Sugar
1 Orange
a pinch of cinnamon and cocoa

Re: Whiskey or bourbon liqueur

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:58 am
by LWTCS
Demy wrote: Sat Apr 27, 2024 1:44 am I tasted this liqueur over several days..... The combination with orange is definitely spot on, I think less orange would be needed to be more balanced. The sugar in the recipe Is 35 g... I don't like too much sugar.

For those wishing to try the recommended doses are:
For 1 LITER of product (32 ABV)
500 ml water
350 ml whisky (45 abv)
250 ml neutral alcool
175 grams cane Sugar
1 Orange
a pinch of cinnamon and cocoa

Orange is super easy to over do.
One way to maintain control is to zest / peel an orange add zest to equal ( or the like) parts sugar & water in a pot and bring to a soft boil. Let some of the water work off till you get a syrup like consistency. Then add a measured amount of the orange syrup to your alcohol.

I find this method dampers back the orange oil bite and makes it easier to add more robust color and aromatics without the overpowering bite.

As an aside, if you use some alcohol to your boil mixture then bring to temp and stir, as the liquid evaporates you will start to grow sugar crystals by stirring the mixture. The crystals will have the color and orange flavor infused. It's a nice rim garnish if you like a proper cocktail.