StillSmart

Was looking at the nuking threads on all the posted forums..

In excess of 150,000 views and replies

Never thought it would go that far...

happy stillin,

FS

That is impressive! We all owe you a debt of gratitude for your bravery in exploring this. I must admit, it sounded insanely dangerous when I first read it! Now it is my main drink.

Thats cause its good stuff FullySilenced.
Have been experimenting with JD chips,
now getting good results.
Many thanks for onfo

I still watch the jars carefully while in the micro wave, but not as nervously as the first time!

Robert.

@Robert

So do I, always have always will!

happy stillin

FS

@Fully: mate, I reckon I can park my reticence and soft cynicism about this 'seemingly-crazy' idea, given your continued enthusiasm and the gathering, documented results using this method. I have NFI if/when I may get the chance to have a go at this, however I do know its surely proving to be a great example of thinking 'outside the circle'. Thank you....

I gave this a go to make calvados from my own cider. I ran it through my Airstill twice, taking the hearts for nuking. I followed Almanac's version with JD chunks and also got a cloudy product. I ran it through a coffee filter to take out the obvious detritus prior to bottling. I was a bit surprised at how long it took to filter so there was obviously more than just bits of JD chunk in there. However it still threw a deposit after this rough filtering. Maybe it needs chill filtering, has anybody tried this? It is currently settling and I will leave it for a few weeks before decanting off the clear stuff and trying to filter the cloudy remnants.

I put a couple of drops of glycerin in each bottle after comments from a friend that it was a little lacking in mouthfeel but otherwise it turned out OK if I say so myself.

Gravity is a great clarifier. Nuclear JD is good.

I have learnt it is better to add sugar / honey / glycerine once it has cleared. Else gravity seems to take a little longer.

Wandering a little away from the latest posts in this topic;
These days I do not do the screw cap on the jar thing after nuking.
Bring to the boil, allow to cool, X 3.
Get the amount of wood right, and it is good.

Robert.

is that to say you don't seal it up to get the vacuum effect?

Yup,
IMHO, the vacuumn effect is a red herring. Soaking is just as efficient.
I re-use the same oak sticks time after time, adding a couple more new ones with each new sample.
One day the jar will be full, and I will have to re-think strategy.
I simply heat to the point that bubbles are seen forming, and then let cool to room temps, X3.
I lose a little volume - some higher alcohols, a drop from maybe 60% to 48 - 50%.
After pouring the liquer off, I screw the cap on, until the next time, and keep the wood wet.
Hardly pioneering, but it seems to work pretty well.


Robert.

The vacuum effect must be limited or I'd never get the lid off.

Very interesting..

That's why I have been using kilner jars with a rubber seal.... you can tug it out.

Do I make from that Mash.
Happiness is a good tug

Lol. A good tug leads to happiness.