Old Molasses

[Sponge]

I have 4 litres of molasses in the shed that has been sitting there for at least 5 years.
Would this still be OK to use in a rum wash?
Instinct and logic tells me it should be fine, but would like to double check this one with the forum members?

It looks and smells fine, but I wouldn't really know what to look for in "bad" molasses?

[gaza the instructor]

5 Years?? would not be there 5 mins in my brew shed.
If it smells ok do it, you are going to boil it before
consuming aren't you.

[Sponge]

5 Years?? would not be there 5 mins in my brew shed.
If it smells ok do it, you are going to boil it before
consuming aren't you.

Hi Gaza, thank you for taking the time to reply.
It was left over from 10 litres I used for carp fishing.
Wasn't even sure if I still had it. Dug it out this morning.
I'd like to get a rotation of Neutral, Whisky, Rum going.

you are going to boil it before
consuming aren't you.

I am now.

I've noticed you mention Lidl brown sugar in a Rum wash on a previous post. Would that be the light or dark brown sugar? Off to Lidl this morning so can pick some up....if they have it.

[phantom]

molasses is one of those things that lasts a mega long time. if anything, some of the sugars may have crystalised out to the bottom of the can, but that's nothing that a kettle of hot water can't sort out.

If it's gone manky at all (unlikely), then you'd smell it. But that's not generally the case as the heating from the sugar production and the remaining sugars help protect it.

I'd say you should be good to go..........

[gaza the instructor]

http://www.kentfoodsdirect.co.uk/Sugars ... 32-74.aspx
This is my choice along with Black Treacle or Golden Syrup.

[Sponge]

molasses is one of those things that lasts a mega long time. if anything, some of the sugars may have crystalised out to the bottom of the can, but that's nothing that a kettle of hot water can't sort out.

If it's gone manky at all (unlikely), then you'd smell it. But that's not generally the case as the heating from the sugar production and the remaining sugars help protect it.

I'd say you should be good to go..........

Hi Phantom. Thank you for the reply and reassurance. It smells as good as the day I bought it and there doesn't appear to any crystallisation either. In the pot it goes.

http://www.kentfoodsdirect.co.uk/Sugars ... 32-74.aspx
This is my choice along with Black Treacle or Golden Syrup.

Thanks Gaza. So was I mistaken about the Lidl brown sugar? Must've been another user. Read so much information that it does all get a bit muddled. I want to get the wash on today so will just use some Lidl brown sugar this time and keep that link for future reference. Thank you.

How long should I boil the molasses for? Can't seem to find any definitive information via a search?

[gaza the instructor]

No have used Lidil Demerara it comes in 1kg bags, but
Costco dema is in 3kg bags and cheaper.
This Muscavardo is the nuts its thick sticky horrid stuff, but
smell like rich xmas cake and it makes a difference also very
cheap. It's half the price buying like this .

[phantom]

Not even sure it needs boiling. After all, it's already had that treatment in the sugar factory and it's not like you're extracting starches etc, that has to be done with grain based mashes etc.....

Think I'd just be watering it down with hot to get it mixed and rinse out the can with the same (waste not and all that).......

And a hot mix should also be enough to dissolve any added sugar too..........

[Mash]

+1

Molasses is over 65 brix. It will be fine.

You don't need to boil it. It's going to be fermented (which is a cleaning process) and then boiled (distillation).

That said if you want to boil, for your own peace of mind, it won't hurt it. But it really is unnecessary.

Sweet is one method of preservation. Think jam.

The only signs it might have gone off are spiders foot prints

[Sponge]

No have used Lidil Demerara it comes in 1kg bags, but
Costco dema is in 3kg bags and cheaper.
This Muscavardo is the nuts its thick sticky horrid stuff, but
smell like rich xmas cake and it makes a difference also very
cheap. It's half the price buying like this .

Ahh that's probably what I read. funnily enough the only alternative sugar they had in my local Lidl was the demerara. Saw it was cane sugar so bought that. I'll definitely try out the Muscavado sugar on the nest run.

Not even sure it needs boiling. After all, it's already had that treatment in the sugar factory and it's not like you're extracting starches etc, that has to be done with grain based mashes etc.....

Think I'd just be watering it down with hot to get it mixed and rinse out the can with the same (waste not and all that).......

And a hot mix should also be enough to dissolve any added sugar too..........

Thanks Phantom, this is what I ended up doing. Recipe I followed called for 2.7kg, which meant I still have 2kg left towards the next run. Messy wash by far to date though. -

[Sponge]

+1

Molasses is over 65 brix. It will be fine.

You don't need to boil it. It's going to be fermented (which is a cleaning process) and then boiled (distillation).

That said if you want to boil, for your own peace of mind, it won't hurt it. But it really is unnecessary.

Sweet is one method of preservation. Think jam.

The only signs it might have gone off are spiders foot prints

Thank you Mash. I did think as much. I know I'd have no hesitation feeding it to the fish. Usually with carp the older and more fermented your bait is, the better. Just wanted to make sure it was OK for human consumption.
As you say I'm going to be distilling it so will be removing any nasties.

[gaza the instructor]

What I actually meant was when you distil it you will boil it.

[Sponge]

What I actually meant was when you distil it you will boil it.

Apologies Gaza. I misread your statement as a question.

Molasses wash is currently bubbling away furiously.

[gaza the instructor]

That's cool mate. I was using a Farm Yard Molasses. It was delivered to
him like fuel in a tanker, used to take cans and he filled them, charged
me about £6.50 per Gallon (4.54ltrs) and it was 45% ferment able sugar.
But it just does not have the refinement of Black Treacle or the smell
and taste of Golden Syrup.
The finished product is to die for. Costco were selling T&L Golden for £8.25
per 7.25 KG tub. That is CHEAP CHeAP so I bought 10 only 4 left.
I posted last week Sponge it was costing me £10 per wash ,but you will
probably get 2 or 3 ltrs per wash using dunder it just gets better and
better.
I fell off my Pineapple and Mango spiced light rum yesterday along with
HWMBO my daughter and son 36% yummmmmmmmmm. Makes lemonade
taste like heaven.

[Sponge]

That's cool mate. I was using a Farm Yard Molasses. It was delivered to
him like fuel in a tanker, used to take cans and he filled them, charged
me about £6.50 per Gallon (4.54ltrs) and it was 45% ferment able sugar.
But it just does not have the refinement of Black Treacle or the smell
and taste of Golden Syrup.
The finished product is to die for. Costco were selling T&L Golden for £8.25
per 7.25 KG tub. That is CHEAP CHeAP so I bought 10 only 4 left.
I posted last week Sponge it was costing me £10 per wash ,but you will
probably get 2 or 3 ltrs per wash using dunder it just gets better and
better.
I fell off my Pineapple and Mango spiced light rum yesterday along with
HWMBO my daughter and son 36% yummmmmmmmmm. Makes lemonade
taste like heaven.

I read your golden syrup recipe post and that is definitely one I will try.
My brother is a Costco member so I'll get him to grab me some now that we can semi socialise again.

Pineapple and mango sounds devine. Do you flavour your rums using a sputnik or maceration?

I'm currently supping on a glass of Still Spirits Spiced Rum and I'm impressed. It's very agreeable.

[gaza the instructor]

Spiced and flavoured Rum's all infusion mate. If I want Pineapple Rum by Distillation
I would need 5or6 big Pineapples and the flavour does not carry that well.
Trust I have tried but one large Pineapple and 3 mango's add some bots from my Gin
cupboard 2 weeks infusion a cold 2ltr bottle of lemonade and it was chaos in my
garden all drunk and wobbly in an hour flat.

[Easydrinker]

That's one way of catching up after lockdown, everyone off their face!

Robert.

[Sponge]

Spiced and flavoured Rum's all infusion mate. If I want Pineapple Rum by Distillation
I would need 5or6 big Pineapples and the flavour does not carry that well.
Trust I have tried but one large Pineapple and 3 mango's add some bots from my Gin
cupboard 2 weeks infusion a cold 2ltr bottle of lemonade and it was chaos in my
garden all drunk and wobbly in an hour flat.

Thanks Gaza. Pineapple Rum sounds like one to try. Hopefully work out better than the pineapple liquor I tried to make from pineapple juice.

That's one way of catching up after lockdown, everyone off their face!

Robert.

I'm not really a pub person, but even I cannot wait to have a pint in a pub after restrictions are relaxed a little more.

[gaza the instructor]

I can finally get a pint. On the river front in Kingston, that's Upon Thames
not Jamaica, some of the pubs are doing takeaways only service no loos
must not stand in the pub apart from socially distanced ques. The Police
are ignoring the lines of pissheads sitting drinking and pissing along the
river front. I think this is a personal safety issue. But I can get a real,
honest ,tasty, succulent, beautiful,golden, come to daddy, pint of Young's
Special or Abbott or Speckled or the like

[Sponge]

I can finally get a pint. On the river front in Kingston, that's Upon Thames
not Jamaica, some of the pubs are doing takeaways only service no loos
must not stand in the pub apart from socially distanced ques. The Police
are ignoring the lines of pissheads sitting drinking and pissing along the
river front. I think this is a personal safety issue. But I can get a real,
honest ,tasty, succulent, beautiful,golden, come to daddy, pint of Young's
Special or Abbott or Speckled or the like

Funnily enough my mate just sent me a picture of him having a pint outside a pub in London. A sense of normality at least.

For now.

[Easydrinker]

I don't have the variety, but consider my beers to be better than pub fare.
Until we can socialise as before, I am not seeing the point of pubs re-opening.

Robert.

[Mash]

Nicely put. The social angle is far more important. In some cases it is a shame to have to drink overpriced piss.