Desi Daru - Punjabi Rum

[SchmuBrew]

Just ran my first batch, and all I can say is amazing.

Long post ahead...

I was running some Buc Bob's Rum in the garage, ordered some Uber-Eats, the driver arrived, an Indian kid with a very thick accent, he knew exactly what was going on and after a very broken conversation what I got was Desi, Daru, Punjabi, if I can make it taste like back home it would sell for a lot (distilleries now selling a crappy knock off) and also (shaking his finger) drip drip drip. I was doing a stripping run and the fluid was pouring like a garden hose - I think he was trying to tell me to run it slower... Turns out Desi Daru is a single run, so yeah, drip drip drip...

Anyways, a bunch of you-tube later - all with shitty punjabi auto closed captions - what I came up with is the following recipe:

This "molasses" sugar head is made using JAGGERY or GUR - dehydrated indian brown sugar/caramel. (watch out for the ones with spices. stick to Kolhapuri Gur/Jaggery. Verka is the brand I used). You can use any brown sugar - but then you're not making Desi Daru, which has a very distinct flavor

Recipe

(don't copy and paste this just quite yet)

6 gallon car boy
13LB Jaggery/Gur
5LB red apples
3LB red grapes
1/4 cup fennel
1/8 cup coriander
1/8 cup cloves
1/8 cup star anise
1 cinnamon stick

I realized after I added water and melted the Gur that I'd end around 17% or 18% ABV, and I didn't want to stress the yeast, so... divided the batch into (2) 4G buckets, topped up the spices and the following is what I got (side note: GUR comes in solid rock/block form. Put it in a bag and smash it with a hammer, otherwise it will take forever to boil/melt)


4G gallon buckets (x2)

EACH bucket:

6.5LB GUR
2.5LB red apples sliced/diced
1.5LB red grapes
1/8 cup fennel
1/8 cup coriander seeds
1/8 cup cloves
1/8 cup star anise (about 5 or 6 full star pods)
1/8 cup GREEN cardamom
1/2 cinnamon stick
top up with water

3 weeks fermenting on EC1118 (yeast bomb with added nutrients) - smelled amazing. I figured around 12% ABV.
Racked after 3 weeks, waited a week before running.

One and done spirit run:

15G keg pot on electric, 24" copper mesh packed column

After cuts and diluting with distilled water to 40%, took about 4 quarts

Cuts were generously wide, with the heads well compressed - and tails very obvious. While airing out the shed smelled of licorice and spice!

First taste test - young and raw - AMAZING. If you are a fan of chai type spices this is the stuff! Would make an excellent sipper or added to hot chocolate on a cold night!

One month later, things are starting to smooth out a little. Aired out for 10 minutes once or twice a week.

Next batch I will definitely triple the cinnamon, double the star anise, and omit the coriander. I would've added more fruit but grapes at $5usd/LB (apples not far behind) turned me off (especially for a first trial run).