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Sorghum Mash
Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:10 am
by Virginia Gentleman
Anyone ever tried using sorghum to make a mash? Best I know it's just sugar cane juice that has been boiled to remove impurities and reduced to the brown syrup. I would guess it could be used much like molasses to make a decent rum wash. They sell it in the road side stores here, locally made, and from Kentucky. I know one thing, it sure is good on homemade biscuits with lots of butter.
"Goin' on the mountain to raise a little cane,
Make a barrel of sorghum for sweet little Liza Jane."
Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 7:55 am
by The Chemist
Sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is the only crop that provides grain and stem that can be used for sugar, alcohol, syrup, jaggery, fodder, fuel, bedding, roofing, fencing, paper and chewing. It has been used for nearly 150 years to produce concentrated syrup with a distinctive flavour [7]. Sweet sorghums have also been widely used for the production of forage and silage for animal feed. The oil crisis of 1973 and 1976 renewed interest in the commercial production of sweet sorghum for biological transformation into ethyl alcohol for use as fuel or fuel additive [1].
Not sugar cane, but will certainly make something. Pretty amazing stuff.
Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 12:54 pm
by Virginia Gentleman
Right, I see, it's not sugar cane but sorghum cane. Pretty closely related I'd guess? Sorghum has almost as much of a place in colonial history around here as corn/maize or sotweed (tobacco) does. Started a rum wash today with local molasses. Will have to try the sorghum next.
Life, Prosperity and Health to you too, Chemist! Got a good buddy in Convington, LA if you're anywhere near there. He's headed out for a little Jazz Fest today.
Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:05 pm
by The Chemist
Nope, Covington's on the north side of Lake Pontchartrain, close to Abita Springs. Here in northwaste LA, we're waiting for Mudbug Madness, the next local excuse to boil lots o'crawfish and drink lots o'beer!
Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 1:35 am
by pangea
My son made a 2 1/2 gallon sorghum and turbinado mash. It yielded about two fifths of 127 proof spirits. The taste was excelent!
Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 4:18 am
by Josesillo
hi guys, i'm plannig to make a straight sugarcane juice mash, not molasses, do i have to add water or sugar?, what would be a good starting SG for this mash
Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 9:00 am
by The Chemist
Some of the best rum I've ever had was rhum agricole from Martinique. The sugar juice method, as THM says, is an oldie AND a goodie.