Ardmore surprise

[buffalobob]

Someone gave me a bottle of Ardmore that I didn't like so I put it in the boiler with a CF spirit run. When I did the cuts the back end of the run that I normally put in the feints went down the drain it tasted so bad . I ran off the (smelly) backset this aft and took off my boiler lid to clean out and found the crap left in the bottom of it.

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It's the first time I've ever included anything shop bought in my boiler and probably the last. I did the microwave cycle x 3 with some oak and thankfully the end result is just as gorgeous as normal. It makes me wonder what goes into a bottle of the ardmore
Currently got the window and door open waiting for the pong to go away, got 140lb of scrumpage to process for fecks sake.

[Easydrinker]

Ah!
The refined palate of someone that knows how to make their own.
'Tis quite often better than that which is bought.
140lb is a lot of scrumpage - you must have large pockets!

Robert.

[Mash]

140lb good man. Try freezing some first, press and then ferment with elderflower and sugar. A stunning good white wine. I have a recipe somewhere if you want it.

[buffalobob]

Mash I was thinking more along the lines of hard cider and then chuck it in the still. Depends on how much juice I can get out of em really. I might make an apple wine but too late for elderflowers. Either way its destination still . Wish I had a chest freezer mate but I don't so the apples will be going through my scratter before pressing. I used to make apple wine every year along with gallons of blackberry wine but now it all gets stilled. I was hoping to get some blackberry wine stilled this year but not many around in my neck of the woods this year. Got enough to put some in my thumper when I do the apple spirit run though, sounds good to me .

[Mash]

Hard cider agree. But you will get only get 5%. Bung some sugar in to make it worth the while. Take it to 10 %

[Easydrinker]

I just love agreeing with Mash
The cider that I made last year, from our apples, is fine.
Just fine.
Dry, flatish, cider at 4%.
Just a little boring!

Robert.

[Mash]

Lobbing in some elderflower towards the end of the fermentation really does turn it into a pleasant white wine. (if such a thing exists)

[buffalobob]

I looked everywhere for my pressing cloth's, couldn't find them anywhere.

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Jesus christ, anyone would think I'd ruined the net bloody curtain. I know it looks like it's been boiled in old mans piss but It will take 5 mins max to rinse out, probably don't know why my OH carries on so much, I only borrowed it for a bit.
So the end result was 8 gallon of juice from 140lb of scrumpage. I was expecting around 10 gallons which makes the as dry as a nuns front bottom official. A little bit disappointed but hey the apples were the best sort...free, so it's all good. I made apple wine to spin it out a bit. I'll ferment it right out before stilling it, can't wait for the end result, yum yum.

[Easydrinker]

Good result on the juice.
Maybe Mrs.bb resented the temporary lack of privacy?

Robert.

[buffalobob]

Dunno Robert, it's a mystery to me .

[Mash]

Good result on the juice.
Maybe Mrs.bb resented the temporary lack of privacy?

Robert.

.. Or the nuns

[jacquie]

You guys have a delightful turn of phrase, it's as 'flat as a witches tit' and 'dry as a nuns front bottom' (never having examined either I will have to take your word) - jack

[Easydrinker]

We try to be honest and professional.
But really we are just chatting in a virtual shed.

Robert.

[Mash]

just chatting in a virtual shed.

That is a good way to summarise this site. It also gives jacquie a unique insight.

[phantom]

Good metaphor? worth it's weight in gold

Yesterday's example from R4's PM program, was that Johnson has taken to prime ministership, like a badger in the outside lane of the motorway........

A bit political sure, but very funny nonetheless

Oh and the pressing cloth is available at Vigo last time I looked (but it wouldn't be cheap from them)........

[buffalobob]

Yes that sums up Johnson very well indeed and very funny . And chatting in a virtual shed is ace, I love it.

[Mash]

Use natural hessian or muslin cotton as pressing cloth. Much cheaper. Bugger the net curtains.

[phantom]

Pressing cloths link.........

[Jennysgin]

You maybe need bigger ones for big batches of apples etc but I use the muslin cloths that are still kicking around the house from when the kids were babies. They're easily available from supermarkets etc at the baby clothing bit and pretty cheap

[Mash]

Pressing cloths link.........

How much!

[Jennysgin]

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£5 for 3

I'm sure you could get them for less. Also available on eBay etc by the metre.

[buffalobob]

I normally use muslin, only a couple of squid for a metre, but the net curtain did a decent job. Any port in a storm eh. The nets were a gift from the mother in law so don't tell her, she'll be round with her SS mates

[phantom]

Pressing cloths link.........

How much!

Various prices. The Vigo ones are reusable, machine washable, etc. Nothing is cheap from Vigo, as they're a commercial supplier.

Oh and they also do K-meta in 1, 10 and 25kg bags in powdered form so it's easy to make up a nice healthy 10% solution (I generally use it in a hand spray)...........

[buffalobob]

Put my fermenters in the airing cupboard on Wednesday. This morning they were ominously quiet. I've just found my ph meter and hydrometer and was cursing myself for using more sugar than I normally use. I put my hydrometer in first to see what the reading was that it got stuck at and was amazed to see 0.980. As dry as a nuns front bottom...and in record time (for me) so I'm very happy. I was convinced there was a problem as normally my wash's take 7/8 days. So I must have done something right by accident

[Easydrinker]

Where does Mrs bb now stow what used to be stored in the airing cupboard?

Robert.