StillSmart

Good morning all.

Have just got my second ever batch of distilling underway. (s/s air still)
I\'ve trawled through this forum, lots of useful stuff on here so thanks people. Can\'t find much definitive on brandy essence recommendations though. I have made a batch of the ss classic and as a mixed drink it\'s not bad. Not wonderful though either.
Any recommendations appreciated, thanks.

The best I\'ve found so far, is the SS \"Classic\" VSOP one. Seems to come out a bit like a half decent \"supermarket\" type brandy taste, hence OK for mixing etc.
I\'ve got a pack of the Essencia brand one to try as well, but you\'ll have to wait for an opinion on that as I haven\'t got any spirit to make it up with at the moment.......
regards
P.

I have had the Essencia VSOP Brandy in a DJ for a week now,it didnt smell very good when I first mixwed it up (very strong caramel aroma)but now it actually smells like Brandy,will give it another week then try a little drop to see how it tastes.In one of my local HB shops I see they have Brupaks toasted French oak chips in two different grades light/dark,intended for using with home made wines,I am thinking of getting a bag and giving them a try with the brandy.Has anyone tried these?
Optic
p.s I agree with Phantom the SS VSOP is probably the best ive tried so far.

Thanks people. I visited the brewers supply shop in Keynsham today and picked up some ss vsop. Will mix it up tomorrow and report back. I also got the ss brandy, also a part a part b arrangement so will be able to compare.
I\'ve just made up a bottle of the scotch heather. Meant to be similar to drambuie. It says to use 50% spirit which I didn\'t bother with, just went with 40%. I guess it\'s a little like drambuie, but forgetting that it\'s a really nice whisky liquer. If you\'re into that sort of stuff, highly recommended.
Cheers.

I will pipe in on this one also.
I like a nice brandy and have also used the VSOP one.
A week after it was made it was sort of ok - just. A month after it was probably 20% better.
We tried it 12 months after making and it is a very nice drink indeed. I cannot say it is as good as what a real quality brandy should be - but it appears the flavours in these additives need time to develop. We are dealing with the same processes - just utilising different forms of producing the finished product as would be found in barrel aging. The complexities of flavours are still there.
So when it says you can drink it after a week or month or whatever - sure you can. But if it is crap - not much point.
Now my mate and I leave everything at least 3 months and then we have a taste. We have only used carbon once - and that was for the Brandy run we did. All output coming from a reflux column and 94% output prior to watering down. We were using the turbo yeast for fermentation.
Time seems to be a big factor in if it tastes good or very good. Not much use if you want to make brandy now and drink it next week type of thing - but that is what I have found. Not a hobby for the impatient individual.
If you can wait a bit - it improves out of sight from the raw very new drink you thought you were happy with.
J

A week after it was made it was sort of ok - just. A month after it was probably 20% better.
We tried it 12 months after making and it is a very nice drink indeed. I cannot say it is as good as what a real quality brandy should be - but it appears the flavours in these additives need time to develop. We are dealing with the same processes - just utilising different forms of producing the finished product as would be found in barrel aging. The complexities of flavours are still there.

12 months ? Damn that\'s no good. I want it NOW..... ;-D
I did notice on the Essencia Gin flavouring that it specifically points out about leaving it to infuse for at least a week. Whereas, it seems that most of the SS flavourings I\'ve tried are Ok pretty much straight away - well, one of the rums took a couple of days, as did the ambrosia brand Irish whisky.
Not to worry, once I\'ve got enough spirit to try it, I\'ll be more than happy to pass an opinion (damn I hope it doesn\'t hurt, to pass an opinion..... turds are bad enough).....
I\'m glad I\'m not the only nutter who frequents the forums.....
regards
P.