Flavoring Recomended and NOT

by **Bottleofrum** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:20 pm

Made up the SS cocunut rum a few days ago with half the base.

Really like this one and will buy again. I think it tastes better

than the one on the shelves. Really do recommend using half the base

though.
Also made up the SS Irish cream with all the cream base,

Again really nice but a little expensive also, would like

to make my own base next time.
BOR

by **Phantom** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 8:00 pm

2 Irish Whiskey essences, that I made up today.
Firstly, you'll note that they're purported to be the same, but one is "Still Spirits Top Shelf" and the other is "Prestige".
The only difference is that the Still Spirits one is designed to make 3 x 750ml bottles/2.25ltr and the Prestige one is designed to make 1 x 750ml bottle.
Now as I've only just made them up, I can't do a comparison. I've used the Prestige one before, though it was packaged in a small bottle, rather than a sachet - though apparently if you look around the net, you'll find that the Prestige branded flavourings is one of Gert Strands labels.
So far, when I tried the Prestige one before, it was a bit weird. I'd mixed it up and when I tasted it, you could tell that it was a whiskey flavouring and different from a Scottish Whiskey flavouring, but it seemed a little lacking in flavour so I just put the bottle away.
When I tasted it again about 3 days later, wow, what a difference......
Now, I haven't had time to taste the Still Spirits one properly yet. I've had a little "shlug" out of a bottle and to start with, it did seem to be fully flavoured straight away. It's a good colour.
p.s. and yes, I still haven\'t got a clue how to include the image in a post - I did try using the \"img\" tags that that didn\'t work so you\'ll have to make do with the link to picasa - and I\'ll explain the actual flavour/taste differences when I\'ve got 5 minutes to do a \"side by side\" test.....

by **optic** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 8:41 pm

Phantom

I had the same thing with a Prestige carte noire brandy essence even two weeks after it had been mixed it still tasted like something that had come from the scent glands of a skunk,so I put it at the back of the drinks cabinet with the idea of re distilling it at sometime but I tried it again a couple of months later and the difference in taste was amazing,cant say it was fantastic but it was drinkable.That another question has anyone found a decent brandy essence? the best I have tried so far is the SS v.s.o.p brandy which IMO tastes like a supermarket own label brandy.

by **Opus 27** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 12:30 pm

I tried the Prestige Smokey whisky and that tasted disgusting at first so it went to the back of the cupboard. A few weeks later tried it again and it\'s quite a nice drink. I suppose it\'s about patience as; \" As all good things come to those who wait\". I\'ve heard that somewhere.
Opus 27

by **lyonacre** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 5:59 pm

Greetings all. Just tried out a load of essence and this is what we thought:
Still Spirits English Gin - pretty good, better with clean smelling spirit 7/10
Prestige Bombay Gin - We liked this one, really is reminiscent of Bombay Sapphire 8/10
Still Spirits Southern haze - Used sugar quantity from this forum and it was very drinkable \"in the style of Southern Comfort\" 8/10
Still Spirits smokey malt whiskey - Tried giving it to a whiskey drinker in a crystal glass and he was almost convinced - no way he put it as home made! 8/10
Prestige Dark Jamaican Rum - was really good, we enjoyed! 8/10

by **Bottleofrum** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:28 pm

Nice reviews,
Going to be making the Southern Haze this weekend along with

Cherry Brandy, Vodka, VSOP Brandy, Chocolate Cream, Coconut Rum.
Ill let you know how it goes.
BOR

by **marc83** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:22 pm

Great feedback,

Have a half bottle of southern haze essence that i will use when i distill my next batch.

heres a couple of my reviews.

SS Top Shelf Scotch Whiskey-very nice,Johnnie Walkerish,8/10

SS Top Shelf Bourbon-My fav so far,close to JD,8/10

SS Top Shelf Kentucky Bourbon-Bit too sweet/fruity for me,JB like 7/10

SS Top Shelf Ouzo-great for shots,nice aniseed flavour,8/10

SS Herbal Liquer-sooo goood,jagermeister,yum,9/10

SS tequila,not to my liking,was the bottle that makes up to 5L,may try the top shelf one.5/10

SS London Dry Gin-a friend of mine has gone through 5 bottles of it,so must be good.
Will post how my essencia bourbon chunks come out next week.

by **Phantom** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:11 pm

Ok, so further to my last post about the 2 Irish whiskey essences........
They\'re quite similar, but the still spirits top shelf Irish whiskey is slightly \"rougher\" tasting, the Prestige one is quite smooth.
Not that I\'m any kind of expert in whiskey, but of the 2 I\'d say that the SS top shelf one get 7/10 while the Prestige one gets 8 to 8.5/10
Just means that I\'ll have to drink the SS one with ginger ale.......
Most of the people who have tried the SS Classic Scotch flavour seem to like it, the same applying to both the SS classic and the Prestige gins. I\'m a fan of the SS Classic Tenessee Sour Mash. That\'s a good one IMO....
I\'ve tried a few of the liquor flavourings and while they\'re Ok for a piss up with friends (after something else has done the job.....) they\'re a good novelty.....
The prestige cinnamon schnaps is horrible, unless you mix it with a \"black sambuca\". The prestige \"cherimoya\" vodka is quite good, you definitely get a recognisable taste of cherimoya (custard fruit), if a little sweet.

by **lyonacre** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 3:59 pm

YO!
Feel it is my duty to keep trying these essences no matter how ill it makes me!!
Latest is:
Prestige Bombay Gin 9/10 we thought just like Bombay sapphire (and we have a regular BS drinker)
SS Top Shelf Navy Rum was also cracking 8/10
SS Top Shelf Smoky Malt just keeps growing on me I would up that to 9/10 for enjoyment

by **lyonacre** » Thu May 06, 2010 8:55 pm

Latest try is SS Kentucky Bourbon.
I am not a Bourbon drinker but thought I would give it a try anyway. Reminiscent of Jim Beam I would say. Very drinkable, 7/10. Got the Irish to try next

by **Opus 27** » Thu May 06, 2010 10:12 pm

Lyonacre,

Do you spend much time horizontal or have you got an exceptional alcohol tolerance level. Only joking.
Opus

by **marc83** » Fri May 07, 2010 12:03 am

Thought the SS kentucky had a very fruity flavour to it.Too much for me,im more a JD drinker.A mate who drinks jim beam liked it though.

by **lyonacre** » Tue May 11, 2010 6:48 pm

It\'s my attempt to bring down the Government. Every drink I have is less tax for whoever is governing us!

I use bio-diesel for the same reason. Unfortunately it is not wise to go for the double hit using the bio whilst experimenting with the spirits!

by **Opus 27** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 3:02 pm

Not traditionaly a Gin drinker but tried this for friends that are, Essencia Blue Saphire. Apparently it\'s as good as the real thing and they all give it 10/10.
Opus 27

by **marc83** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 4:10 pm

Great one,will have to try it now.have been drinking my gin lately,leaving the bourbon to age for a bit.I had seen that essencia essence and wondered about it.now i know.cheers opus.
Also this just came to mind,Seen on a home brewing online store here in NZ a bag of juniper berries and coriander seeds,you crush up and mix with 500ml of neutral spirit,and leave for 14 days,then filter out the alcohol and this is then flavouring to make Gin,100ml to a Litre of spirit.

link below:

http://www.haurakihomebrew.co.nz/produc ... cts_id=306