a newbie question about flavours

[ukjam]

hi all as ive just got my airstill and on my first run im still learning about brewing i was wondering about the different flavours available.ive got a couple of still spirits with it but the wife does`nt drink spirits so is it possible to add fruit juice or some thing similar and make some thing along the lines of 14% proof wine or mix bottles from the supermarket ie pina colada or similar thanks

[Admiral Toad]

Hi mate welcome to our friendly forum.Still Spirits make a huge range of flavours including very good Irish cream and Pina Colada. These typically come out at about 20% ABV but there is nothing to stop you adding more water to these or for example sambuca flavours to lower the strength further. Indeed the flavour bottles/bases often give a non alcoholic option so it is probably a case of 'splitting the difference'.
Bear in mind most of these flavours use a powdered base plus a bottle of flavouring and then water/alcohol. I find they mix best in a food processor.
On the Internet, Wineworks for one offer the full range and give a few options of flavour and base paired up, as one purchase.
There are of course other makes and retailers but I find these pretty good .....enjoy

[mozr]

A perfectly reasonable question well answered by the admiral.

My wife is not a hardened drinker, but goes through the cream, banana, melon, vanilla, lemon and mango liqueurs like they are going out of fashion.

They are easy to drink at 20% ABV, but like Admiral says you can water them down further (and that way they go further and are cheaper!)

[Jimmy]

All the above is correct - just remember, you're basically making ethanol which is the same booze as is in wine, beer, whatever so as long as you're making decent stuff it's just a case of finding the right flavours to mix it with.

Personally I find that Dr Pop (Morrisons Dr Pepper knockoff) is a good mixer with neutral spirit for the non-alky, same goes for various fruit juices (cactus is excellent), I guess you could probably add some to grape juice and end up with a sort of wine thing but never tried it...