Top Ten...?

[Jimmy]

I was thinking of doing an article for newbies about the top ten things I struggled to get my head around when I first started out. I figured as we have a nice mix of new and more experienced people on here, I should ask you lot what your suggestions would be? I have a few but it would be good to get your ideas!

[quietman]

How about this for starters,
HYDROMETERS,
The difference between wine ones and spirit ones, how to work out the alcohol content of your wash (start and end readings) and then later the spirit.
Regards, Q

[pi55ed]

Thats a good start quietman, as i dont have one!! lol
Is there any way for testing for contaminents before we put it in our mouthes..
My big question so far is how can i clean my smartstill is kettle cleaners anygood??

[pi55ed]

Some good SUGAR WASH conversion charts on here to maybe help newbies........ http://homedistiller.org/wash-sugar.htm

[Opus 27]

What about a points/rating system for essences.

So far for me, Top Shelf not good Probably 5/10

Same manufacturer (Still Spirits) Classics 8/10

[Phantom]

What about a points/rating system for essences.

So far for me, Top Shelf not good Probably 5/10

Same manufacturer (Still Spirits) Classics 8/10

It\'s one of the reasons that when I try a different one, I try to remember to keep the bottle/packet, then take a pic of it and write a little review.
Jimmy included a couple on the main site.
Though in truth, once I know which ones I like, I tend to stick with them (Still Spirits Tennessee Sour Mash - yum yum).
Gert Strand\'s 55 (mg of thujone) Absinthe. Beats the hell out of Pernod, Pastis, Ricard, etc etc any day IMO

[Opus 27]

Phantom

Their Classic Tennessee Bourbon Ah! pure nectar

[Phantom]

Phantom

Their Classic Tennessee Bourbon Ah! pure nectar

It\'s better than the Kentucky Bourbon one - that comes out a bit like Wild Turkey or Jim Beam. I prefer the JD like ones

[Electrif]

Essences are easy and useful.
My most sucessful has been sloe gin via still spirits Top shelf English Gin.

[Opus 27]

Electrif

I.ve just been discussing sloe gin and thinking of giving it a try in the autumn, memories of Pakaran and Spain. how did you do yours.
Opus 27

[Electrif]

I follow the recipe from The sloe.biz sloe gin recipe.

However, I don\'t prick the sloes, but freeze them.

[Opus 27]

Thanks Copied and pasted

[Phantom]

Ha! that\'s if there are any bleedin\' sloes this year.......
I don\'t know whether it was a late frost or the rain stopping the bee\'s getting out to pollinate, but there was bugger all sloes last year!
The year before, there was nothing but sloes!
I still haven\'t decided whether I\'ll pick and then just bottle whole (well frozen first) or whether I\'ll bang \'em through my steam juicer...........
Here\'s hoping eh?

[Electrif]

Ha! that\'s if there are any bleedin\' sloes this year.......

I was lucky, I picked mine (when there was a glut) and froze about 10 years (yes 10 years) ago. Just got enough for another 4 litres.

[Phantom]

I was lucky, I picked mine (when there was a glut) and froze about 10 years (yes 10 years) ago. Just got enough for another 4 litres.

there was a hell of a lot the year before last as well.
I\'m not so sure that I\'d keep them that long, don\'t forget, stuff does de-hydrate, even in a freezer.
Though as long as you enjoyed the results, what the hell.
Just thinking though, if you\'re here, then you could always just make gallons of sloe gin and sort it. I know that it doesn\'t usually have the alcohol content of mainstream spirits, but I don\'t see any reason why it shouldn\'t "keep".
10 years though, damn! I\'m surprised you managed to chisel them out of the freezer :-D