StillSmart

Has anyone tried gelatin, pectin, guar gum etc while using maybe half the essence amount?

No but I really want to. I agree with you about glycerine. It is not helped different suppliers shipping different strengths.

I have tried diluting to 50% this gives a bit more control.

I constantly play with different dilutions of essences.
Some results are better than others.
Rums seem to be one that is hard to dilute too far...
And it was once my favourite tipple.

Robert.

With essences, I have often wondered, having bought many brands and flavours, and found them all equally disgusting, are they sold as 'food stuffs' ?

I raise the question, fervently hoping that nobody, ignoring my wishes, decides to recommend a particular essence, but rather to ascertain the 'nature' of the products on offer under such labels.

As I understand the various Food Acts, anything intended for human consumption has, by law, to declare it's constituents.

Please, I repeat, please don't tell me which you consider good, but, instead, tell me what is actually in them.

Surely, only by knowing what is in them can we be sure they are safe for human consumption?

Blimey. What a good point.

I have to say I don't use many at all. I cannot recall the last time I bought any, but still have a few on the shelf. I prefer the dig it, pick it or hunt it principle for my food.

I'm replying, not to be a nag, but simply because the question fascinates me

It certainly isn't a matter to trade secrets, every single food product sold in this country bears a list of ingredients and nutritional values by way of calories, carbohydrates, proteins, salts, sugars etc.

The laws in the country of production have no bearing on the sale of items in this country.

Even in the case of products whose production methods preclude their possibility of human consumption, such as cat and dog foods, tend lately to also give some indication of what is contained

I do remember, a few decades ago, speaking to a woman who's son was a major chemist in “Bird's Eye “ laboratories, She bragged that they fooled everybody by using chemicals to replace natural flavours (extracts)

As these are 'essences' which give the characteristics and not the actual natural flavours, do we have not have the legal right to know which chemicals are being used?

I certainly take the point about vaping liquids. The tobacco companies must be rolling around their plush corporate carpets with glee. Not only have they found a politicly correct way to to continue to foist a highly poisonous and desperately addictive substance on the society. (nicotine), they now further enhance the experience with a variety of unknown chemicals to add flavours (essences?)
How carcinogenic are these chemicals themselves?

These liquids are not a food stuff, or a medicine so they don't have to declare them.

These liquids are not a food stuff, or a medicine so they don't have to declare them.

You have a very good point there.

The latest bottle of 'essence' that I bought in the UK, manufactured in Sweden, gives no real detail away.
Gusessing that means there is no law to do so.
Should the manufacurer of an essence sold to turn a "commercial" vodka into something that costa only 50p a bottle more when bought in store as an "original" product, give such detail, maybe.
But we all know these essences are not used as a "barman's friend",
they are used to flavour home distilled spirit.
Best of luck complaining to your local food standards agency.

Robert.

Lol. Yeah I did think they're is nowhere to go with this.

Tbh I think it is a wine/spirits thing. Commercial spirits, beer and wine don't have ingredients analysis labelling.

Maybe because what You buy is not a finished product, i.e. is finished at home. and therefore beyond the scope of the original seller to quantify?...
Legagalise?

Robert.

I recently got 3 sachets of SS Ginger & Rhubarb Gin, turned out really nice if drank with tonic. 1 bottle for me and 2 as Chrimbo presents. Me thinks I will order up some more.

I made a nice Ginger gin with fresh Ginger using
the winstons (boodles) recipe and added some
Rhubarb concentrate, very nice and cheap.

Gaza oo that sounds good.
How much ginger? What concentrate please?

Used 1.5ltrs neutral 1ltr filtered water.
Scaled the gin recipe and just 1.5 pound
sized fresh Ginger chopped.
The concentrate was one of those on Ebay
I just added to taste. Ginger can be funny
too. Some fresh being much stronger than
others.

Reason I asked, is cos a like the ginger flavour. I make mega ginger spirit to use as an ingredient and blend in, but have had no success with rhubarb.