StillSmart

Getting a little low on stock and really are trying to keep at least two bottles of each for ageing so decided to slurp on a middle of the road brand vodka given to me for xmas and I have to say total s**t so now slurping on a proper drink 2011 French brandy Nice ....

With my sugar washes, I use tap water to start them, then once I've run them, I let them down to less than 40% with RO water and re-distill, then the resulting distillate is in turn, let back down to 40% with RO water before carbon filtering.

I'm always amazed how clean it is, with no harshness to it at all. If I didn't know better, I'd think I was drinking something half the strength.

You just have to be careful as it's very easy to get hammered quicker than planned.

I've yet to find what I consider a "good" brandy essence flavouring (I was spoiled many years ago, having been offered to taste a few very, very expensive brandies - so I'm more of an Armagnac person, than Cognac). Though most of the ones I've tasted/tried from essences are good enough to drink with mixers. Like a decent "supermarket" brandy I'd say......

And no, I'm far too lazy to make an essence one up and then try and modify/improve it........ >:D

Mmmmm Armagnac. I am with you there!


Chuck

I totally agree phantom I am not a massive fan of brandy essence but aged and I always put a teaspoon of honey in the bottle seems to make a difference also I have used one bottle of still spirit essence brandy and the Aussie gold rum between to two 75 cl not three,the rum is freeking lovely