StillSmart

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-20T17:37:26+00:00

Myles wrote:
No the article I read didn't say.

I hadn't realised but the oak stick manufacturers that folks like SDEurope use are getting quite specific with their products. So many weeks at specific ABV.

I know you can make your own wood, but to start with using standardised commercial products until you find what flavour you like seems a good idea.

Agreed I have French cooperage oak. It seems a lot of money ate the time but the difference is stunning.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun Mar 20, 2016 5:37 pm

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-20T15:59:57+00:00

No the article I read didn't say.

I hadn't realised but the oak stick manufacturers that folks like SDEurope use are getting quite specific with their products. So many weeks at specific ABV.

I know you can make your own wood, but to start with using standardised commercial products until you find what flavour you like seems a good idea.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Sun Mar 20, 2016 3:59 pm

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-20T15:40:11+00:00

Myles wrote:
Some of the commercial distilleries are now using accelerated ageing processes.

Some (Cleveland Whisky) even put their spirit into new barrels in order to qualify as Bourbon, immediately decant it into stainless tanks, chop up the barrel to throw in the tank and subject it to pressure. Ageing time 6 days.

Hmm. Corny keg whiskey. Do you know the temp and the pressure?

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun Mar 20, 2016 3:40 pm

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-20T12:33:57+00:00

How the tables have turned, the big boys have started to copy us!

Statistics: Posted by Benoit — Sun Mar 20, 2016 12:33 pm

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-20T11:53:06+00:00

Some of the commercial distilleries are now using accelerated ageing processes.

Some use wood chips (ageing time about a year). Some use 3 gallon barrels instead of 53 gallon ones (ageing time 4 months), some use temperature controlled warehouses.

Some (Cleveland Whisky) even put their spirit into new barrels in order to qualify as Bourbon, immediately decant it into stainless tanks, chop up the barrel to throw in the tank and subject it to pressure. Ageing time 6 days.

All compared to the traditional many years in barrels method. Interesting!!!

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Sun Mar 20, 2016 11:53 am

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-20T11:02:39+00:00

Benoit wrote:
Barrels can be water tight without being entirely air tight, some alcohol will soak in & seep straight through the wood to the other side & evaporate as well as the vapour that sneaks through any tiny holes. Some will also be left behind as its soaked in to the staves but that's more of a drop in overall volume than ABV. It's a very slow process though!

Apparently it's affected by the storage temperature, plus a few other elements.

It makes a big enough difference that if you see the documentary filmed at Jack Daniels, it gives them bonuses and problems. Inasfaras, the bonuses are that they get enough very good product as to be able to do the occassional vintage releases like single barrel and/or dated etc.

The problems are that the temperature variations can also mean that there's a lot of lesser product to be blended in.

I believe that for accounting purposes, HMRC allows 3% per annum for the "angels share"........

I've also read about various distilleries using an "industry standard" barrel size, so they can apply the liquid/wood interface calculation and work out how long and how much they'd yield etc.......

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Sun Mar 20, 2016 11:02 am

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-20T10:27:56+00:00

Seagull wrote:
Does the abv naturally drop over time? How does that happen?

Barrels can be water tight without being entirely air tight, some alcohol will soak in & seep straight through the wood to the other side & evaporate as well as the vapour that sneaks through any tiny holes. Some will also be left behind as its soaked in to the staves but that's more of a drop in overall volume than ABV. It's a very slow process though!

Statistics: Posted by Benoit — Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:27 am

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-20T09:35:09+00:00

Watched a program a few weeks back about storing alcohol and after a very long time they would find maybe up to half the barrel had gone...the Angels Share as it known....Interesting read

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Sun Mar 20, 2016 9:35 am

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-20T09:04:47+00:00

Does the abv naturally drop over time? How does that happen?

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Sun Mar 20, 2016 9:04 am

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-20T06:49:12+00:00

Bang on Robert. I use oak dominoes, a sunny windowsill and a wide mouth jar left loose. Probably 2 - 3 months

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun Mar 20, 2016 6:49 am

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-19T22:35:48+00:00

Admiral Toad is probably the man to ask this of, he seems to have some experience.
In a 10 - 15 litre barrel my best guess is 6 - 12 months.
Maybe much less.
But I may be wrong.

For me, not using Oak barrels but loose lids or corks, when the spirit has dropped from 63% to 55% it is done.
Did I mention sunny window cills yet?

Robert

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:35 pm

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-19T19:26:12+00:00

Thank you all for the kind words, I'm sure it will all run smoothly & will raise a glass to you all! For those that will be sat round a campfire somewhere, sampling the many wares that I'm sure will be floating around....I will attend gathering number 2!
If someone was to produce a small barrels worth of whiskey, nothing crazy, 10 or 15 litres....how long would you recommend it being in a barrel? A few weeks on oak seems to be enough when it's just a litre or two but how does that scale up time wise? Surface area to volume gets less the more you have so I'm expecting a funky kind of curve rather than a straight line graph.

Statistics: Posted by Benoit — Sat Mar 19, 2016 7:26 pm

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-19T05:47:04+00:00

Benoit best wish's for you both on that day from my good lady & I....hope all goes well.

Marriage is a great thing to behold...I know I've had 3 so far...the present Mrs Ice bakes me a fruit cake every now and then...she says it's the cake I'm after.

Any road up....we that attend in Aug will raise a glass or two or three..to you & yours..

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Sat Mar 19, 2016 5:47 am

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-19T05:12:50+00:00

Benoit wrote:
Foolishly I'm getting married & in typical "just my luck" fashion, it's that weekend. However I'm sure it will be successful & there will be more to attend, besides if it makes it that long the beauty of this game is that it all gets better with age!

Getting married is the best decision I never made... since being married there have been other decisions I don't make too . I truly, madly deeply wish you and yours all the best.

Better go else I will have to change my username to MUSHY

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sat Mar 19, 2016 5:12 am

Re: My latest whisky

2016-03-19T00:43:22+00:00

Nothing foolish in getting married, and I send you and your partner my best wishes.
My two wedding days were the best two days of my life!
Neither lasted, but ho hum, I did it with passion, as I tend to do with most things in life.
Cue Edith Piaf....

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sat Mar 19, 2016 12:43 am