StillSmart

I replied to a post somewhere hereabouts stating that I was about to try this experiment.

First impressions, after tipping a "guess-timated" amount of flavourings into neutral, add more neutral,lots more neutral.

A couple of drops of pure essential oil go a long way.....

Shake and stir frequently for a couple of hours, because the oil will float on the surface initially.

But this does hold promise, it may take me the summer to come up with a really good recipe ( the failures are acceptable), but at the end of the experiment it may be dirt cheap, and with a successful formula, ultra low effort.

Am I happy

Robert.

Sounds great. Do they improve after a couple of days?

This might be what the big boys are doing? I heard a rumor that Gordon's no longer distill they just buy in & rectify?..... With essential oils?

Being a "drinker" and not a "taster", gin is off the menu for a couple of days.
This product does seem to improve after a few days.
Another variable to add to any recipe!

For sure this must be the way that Prestige and Still Spirits produce their essences?
The most part of those probably being Glycerine?

I'm not suggesting that this is better than any other method of producing Gin.
I would like to know if it is very much cheaper.
It is certainly less effort, with many easy tweaks.

Robert.

I also assume this is how the essences are made. I've often considered using the AirStill to distill batches of single botanicals to make a similar blend. I will be watching this with interest!

Blending is used a lot in winemaking.

When I looked at improving my gin I considered making single botanicals and then blending. However I could not find anything about it. I did try soaking each botanical in a glass of spirit overnight to understand it flavour better.

Thats what started the Sputnik program

This one may run and run!
I had a G&T, ce soir (Am I allowed to say that as we are brexiting?), anyway, the flavours had much intensified from the time of putting them in the bottle. Much so.
My time for everything is at a premium right now, tonights janitorial work and reading all the other posts, may mean that I don't get to make all the replies that I would like to.
It doesn't mean that I don't love or hate you all.

Robert.

Is it the panel's opinion that the essential oils should go into the still prior to distillation, or into the spirit afterwards?

It is my opinion that essential oils get mixed in after a final spirit run of neutral.
I am still experimenting with steeping neutral with Juniper berries only, and then using this, after a third distillation with essential oils.
Mostly 'cos I have lots of Juniper berries.

There are many ways to make Gin.

Robert.

I've checked my cupboard.

I have honey, I have sugar, I have golden syrup and I have black treacle and salt and several Mars bars.

I also have essences of:

Lemongrass
Lavender
Ginger
Sweet Orange
Juniper
Aniseed
Basil

What can I mix with a half litre of 40%abv that the vicar could then enjoy drinking?

It's this combining of flavours I know sod-all about.

Aniseed, Ginger and Syrup? 6 drops, 6 drops and 1 tablespoonful?

Is there a book I should buy about first principles?

Well, I've had a try, I've made a litre of 40%abv with essential oils in the still so the oil stays behind:

2 drops Sweet Orange
2 drops Aniseed
2 drops Basil

Half of it I've chilled, half of it I've dissolved sugar in.

Both are very tasty, I could quite happily call the sweet version a liqueur for Christmas. The spirit version has more interest served at 60%abv but even at 40%abv it has a distinct charm. I think I have the number of drops about right.

I have a sherry glass, I'm definitely not drinking more than one of those tonight. I'm wary of spirits.

I'm very aware that it's random, this combination. I fear I'm incapable of telling what works from what doesn't. Maybe I need to try it on my sister-in-law, she's good at opinions.

Well, all I will say is that a Gin needs Juniper.
Anything else is extra.
Orange from your list would be good.
But there are many drinks and many tastes.
If something works for you, then it is good.

Robert.

The holy Trinity of Gin is generally considered to be Juniper, Coriander and Angelica.

The last one is well worth playing with and makes a difference.

In the US at least, juniper is legally required in order for a drink to be described as gin, other ingredients being optional. Offhand though, I can't think of a gin that doesn't include coriander.

Spent a while in our vet's waiting room yesterday, so to pass the time I did some Googling and found a few gins that don't include coriander. Not surprisingly, they were relatively unusual recipes so here are some links that give their ingredients:

Ungava - http://ginandnosh.co.uk/2016/07/12/gin- ... new-black/

Elephant Gin - http://www.ginfoundry.com/gin/elephant-gin/

Stovell's - http://www.stovellsgin.co.uk/botanicals/


I don't know how many of us have ready access to boabab fruit, but some of the other botanicals may be worth trying.

I've been meaning to try the Ungava, but I can't get past the Yellow Snow connotation and the price.