StillSmart

The small bottles of flavouring you get for neutral spirit,

How are they made? Whats actually in them?

Are they just a orrible pile of E numbers, or they somewhat natural?

Regards

Judging from the flavour, "a orrible pile of E numbers". I have not tried them all and have heard that some are good. All of the ones that I tried were not re-tried. Most got carbon filtered or re-distilled. They may be ok if you like mixed drinks (e.g. rum and Coke) but I like mine straight.

Chuck

Thanks Chuck

The fact that I could not find a ingredients list made me think they must be just a pile of chemical crap.

Not sure I wanna waste my money and try them.

Which ones are you interested in?

Not really sure.

I guess a Gin, whisky, rum and brandy if they were any good.

Just my two'pennorth
SS top shelf dry gin; worth a go with a good neutral.
Can't really recommend anything else,I guess it depends on your personal taste.
Tried a few,most were lacking in most things,again personal taste.
But once you are into the realm of home distilling,-the world is your oyster,if you don't like it,re-distll.
Very little lost,much gained.
Robert.

There are a number of Gin recipes in the Recipes forum. Look for Aidan's post on using Jack Daniels chips (JD chips) for a decent, quick bourbon type whiskey. Rum is easy to make using molasses and sugar. You will need to buy or make toasted/charred oak for a darker rum. Whisky and whiskey of the better sorts require either using grains or Liquid Malt Extracts. Frank has a good topic on that. I have found that brandy is also not hard, but you need to make wine, or something resembling wine first then either drink it as a Aqua Vie or age it on toasted Oak for a brandy.

Chuck

Google swedish connections (www.swedishconnections.co.uk) if in the UK. I get their Sambucca, Gin, Cocorum (malibu) absinthe essences. I can give the sugar contents required for these if needed.Lovely
Planetgong0

Whereas I generally use the SS classic range ones. The gins, rums and whiskies all seem to come out fine (for a tasteless git like me).

Yet ive also tried a number of Gert Strands Prestige and Ambrosia range ones. By and large tbeyre fine.

Plus the Essencia ones Ive tried haven't been too bad either....

Yes, I do go out of my way to make a very clean neutral i.e. double distilling, RO water, carbon filtration, etc etc. I only want the flavour of......well the flavouring really.

If I'm wanting something to drink straight, I go proprietary and pay the top dollar.........but being a tight wad, I haven't done that in 5 yeasrs and make do with my splosh and a soda stream......

Phantom wrote:...and make do with my splosh and a soda stream......

Really....."splosh".... Is that what you make these days with all your experience.....I doubt that!

Really 'P', I'm surprised at you having so little regard for the fine spirits you produce. Tut! Tut!

AM

Go along with Phantom on this

I double distil and filter (for super neutral vodka I triple distil)

Essences I still use are SS classics single malt and the very good Blue Jewel gin

Also find the Black Sambuca base and essence and the ordinary top shelf irish whiskey remain popular amongst my mates

Best of all is the real stuff Ive been doing though just cant beat that but it all takes time but its time well spent IMHO

Same as A.T for me double reflux distill for essences tripple reflux for vodka.just tried Edwards single malt essence from a fellow on the bay and imho this is a very fruity irish style whiskey similar in taste to tullamore dew,if you can get some its well worth a try.
Cheers

billmcc wrote:Same as A.T for me double reflux distill for essences tripple reflux for vodka.just tried Edwards single malt essence from a fellow on the bay and imho this is a very fruity irish style whiskey similar in taste to tullamore dew,if you can get some its well worth a try.
Cheers

Edwards Essences ? are the ones from Aus advertised on ebay aren't they Bill ?

I've not tried those as they seem a bit pricey unless they're doing one of the multiple offers.....

But it looks like I'll have to look again.

Not many left mate try here ,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271322520463? ... 1439.l2649

3 spirit make 15 bottles 2 liqueur make 4 bottles need to buy five to get free postage on 4 so 19 bottles for about 22 quid