StillSmart

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-12-03T18:42:17+00:00

Hi RJ, no head-beating here - I've been running a lot of Odin's through the AirStill so I'm aware of the clear thing. Not worth oaking this stuff I don't think as there isn't a lot of it so I think the oaking would be hard to judge (especially as it's not something I've done before). Also, as the original damson wine had lots of Mashy's slithery bits in, the damson taste is subtle to say the least, so I wouldn't want to mask it any more.

Mashy - took me a while to re-establish self-control there..!

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Thu Dec 03, 2015 6:42 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-12-02T01:20:41+00:00

hampk wrote:
Obviously it's not brandy, as it's clear,
Hampk

To save you a little head beating against the wall - distilled spirits come out clear, barring any disasters, such as puking. The color in brandy is as a result of being exposed to wood during the ageing process.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Wed Dec 02, 2015 1:20 am

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-12-01T23:45:13+00:00

I try and filter slithery bits out of my product.
I find it makes for a better macerated product.

Robert.

Trying hard to keep a straight face here.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Tue Dec 01, 2015 11:45 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-12-01T18:11:38+00:00

slithery bits! Damn I almost spit tea out my nose. Perhaps the best auto-incorrect ever!

Statistics: Posted by chill — Tue Dec 01, 2015 6:11 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-12-01T17:21:46+00:00

I have to say this sounds like a good use for y' plums. [sorry]

Seriously. Having made some plum wine in the past. It is terrible stuff to get to clear and a little bit underwhelming. I always thought it was not really worth the effort.

I did taste slithery bits - like I mentioned - and was also was massively underwhelmed.

Maybe you are on to something ........

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Tue Dec 01, 2015 5:21 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-12-01T17:08:24+00:00

Thanks Mash. It's now resting in a rather nice bottle that had limoncello in it when purchased. It'll be interesting to see how it changes with time, if it lasts long enough

Cheers

Hampk

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Tue Dec 01, 2015 5:08 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-11-29T20:25:12+00:00

I was watching this with interest. Really pleased... I had my fingers crossed for you.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun Nov 29, 2015 8:25 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-11-29T17:58:16+00:00

Ok, I thought I'd better report back on this one!

I did a spirit run last night, and after cuts today, I have just under a bottle of what I'm going to describe as damson grappa. Obviously it's not brandy, as it's clear, but it actually tastes really quite nice, with quite a reasonable damson flavour, and a noticeable bite, hence terming it grappa.

As an experiment, definitely worth while, and I'll certainly have another go (possibly with a bigger quantity) next year.

Cheers

Hampk

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Sun Nov 29, 2015 5:58 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-11-24T23:46:13+00:00

Well the stripping run is done, and wow did it smell bad.. That having been said, the distillate did taste of damson, so I guess that's a good thing, maybe.

Spirit run in the next couple of days and I guess we'll see if there's anything left.

Cheers

Hampk

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Tue Nov 24, 2015 11:46 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-11-24T19:51:59+00:00

Well the strip run is under way. I have to say that the smell does not currently forebode good things..

I shall follow it through and see what I get!

Cheers

Hampk

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Tue Nov 24, 2015 7:51 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-11-17T11:27:28+00:00

Cripes I do hope it comes out better than Slivovitz - tried that - yikes.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Tue Nov 17, 2015 11:27 am

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-11-16T22:55:17+00:00

I didn't know that! Interestingly my wife (the SWMBO mentioned in my previous posts) and I nicknamed my step-daughter Ayesha several years ago!

I'll probably run the damson this weekend and I'll report back in due course

Cheers

Hampk

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Mon Nov 16, 2015 10:55 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-11-16T20:45:23+00:00

Just as a rider to this thread, in areas where Slivovitz is widely produced, some do oak age it, though many don't. Additionally, as a flavour enhancer, some make a practise of cracking the stones and including in the fermentation

I am sure that should you explain to SWMBO that plum brandy was a favourite tipple of Haggard, then SHE might grant you licence.

Statistics: Posted by Toper — Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:45 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-11-16T14:32:08+00:00

Thanks for your thoughts, Toper. They mirror mine really - I wasn't expecting to get much more than half a bottle out. Thing is, SWMBO really likes the damson wine, so I can't experiment with too much of this year's vintage!

Cheers

Hampk

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Mon Nov 16, 2015 2:32 pm

Re: Damson Brandy

2015-11-15T23:23:04+00:00

I have distilled damson wine with pleasant results though using a pot still and, in far lager quantities than the 4 litres you mention.

As a wine, probably in the region of 12% abv, you have something around 480 to 500cl of pure alcohol to deal with, unlike the sugar wash used in the Guide illustration, which would be rather stronger I think.

The Stripping run would deplete the total alcohol somewhat, whilst , in the Spirit run, the disposal of fores, and separation of first heads and then tails, ceasing altogether at a reading of 30% abv would mean that very little would be available as hearts.

If the wine in question is below par then it might serve as an experiment for future reference, should you have a larger surplus to deal with.

Good luck should you try it.

Statistics: Posted by Toper — Sun Nov 15, 2015 11:23 pm