StillSmart

Tell me about it!
The last whisky that I made is very drinkable, but will surely benefit from more aging.....

Robert.

Anavrin wrote:Update 2
this years xmas wine will need to be made in June I think, and with less added water, maybe only top up the kit to 20lt to give it some more body and a little more %idge :-)

Like a lot of folks I started off with kits...wine/beer many many moons have pasted now grasshopper.. and I found out that most guys cut back on the water by a couple of liters or a little more.

Young's cellar 7 have recently added a 7 day spanish rojo that sells for around £30 for the allegedly 30 bottle kits and it's the first red kit ever where I've found myself adding a little extra water and getting the full 30 bottles as it has fantastic body and a lot of flavour. There's 5L of grape juice in the kit.

I'm far from a wine expert and none of it has reached maturity or close to it, but it's very drinkable and also makes an awesome sangria. I'd say it'll be cracking after a few months.

Next month is the season for making some wine from grapes. Have a go, you will be pleasantly surprized.

Mash wrote:Next month is the season for making some wine from grapes. Have a go, you will be pleasantly surprized.

My Surprising Yankee still-mate!

My vines are several hundred miles too far north it would appear.
The winters do not kill them, nor the foraging Haggis eat them, they just have not produced a grape yet.
Global warming may help here.....

Robert.

Howdy partner. How long have you had then in? They normally crop (something) year 3.

Wine grapes arrive from the continent in September.. Much easier than growing

Cheers Curmudgeon

I happened to pass by my local HBS today and pick up a Cellar 7 Spanish Rojo, see how it turns out :-)

My vines, which are in the ground four years now, look like a destined fail this year, but looking good for the prune back and fruiting for next year.
Sometimes, I am a real optimist

Robert.

Anavrin wrote:Cheers Curmudgeon

I happened to pass by my local HBS today and pick up a Cellar 7 Spanish Rojo, see how it turns out :-)

Hope it worked out. Bottled last week at a guess as you likely gave it a bit more time.

I've been a bit lazy with this one, it's still awaiting finings!!

Now drinking the Cellar 7 Spanish Rojo, for a £30 kit it's excelent, even though it's still young, it's perfectly acceptable and I dare say better at this age than the expensive one was, good shout with this one

Anavrin wrote:Now drinking the Cellar 7 Spanish Rojo, for a £30 kit it's excelent, even though it's still young, it's perfectly acceptable and I dare say better at this age than the expensive one was, good shout with this one

I haven't made any wine in a while, but timely reminder to pick one of these up on Monday now I finally have decent quantity of acceptable alcohol bottled and can focus more on quality.

Completely off topic, but just noticed on another site that Anavrin puts all soft hoses, thermometers and breakables on the same side of his still as his dartboard.

edit, take it as a compliment or insult Anavrin, but I just bet a mate that you are REME or ex REME (he thinks Royal Navy as you have everything locked down to not slide or move with clever wooden bits)

Curmudgeon wrote:

edit, take it as a compliment or insult Anavrin, but I just bet a mate that you are REME or ex REME (he thinks Royal Navy as you have everything locked down to not slide or move with clever wooden bits)

Enjoyed the videos Anavrin and as noted everything is in its rightful place, is that an old picture? the last video has a keg boiler... very nice and sorry to go off topic.