a bit of a result....

[phantom]

Last week, a result........

Some weeks back, chatting with a regular work customer (trustworthy), I mentioned I was gonna have to get some sugar.

I (someone else did) didn't got back there for many days (work days that is), so when we did a Costco run, I got 3 x 15kg slabs of sugar.

Then last week I had to go back to the same/original work collection, and the guy was there, he said about sugar, so I had to admit I was sorted.

His reply was not to worry, and promptly put a 25kg bag on top of the stuff I was collecting.

Checked it when I got home. It is indeed, cane sugar from Mauritius. Just that it's not bleached like normal table sugar, it's "golden" in colour.

Not started any of it yet, but I will today. I'm gonna keep it separate from my normal batches until I've tried some of the resulting spirit. If it comes out slightly "caramely" I'll just use the spirit in some runs.

Moral of this has got to be "WTF, free sugar is good sugar".........

[WelshGin]

You are such a lucky B. You have to foresack sex for a month.

[Moss]

Very fortunate my friend.

During lockdown, I used brown sugar to make whiskey for my father-in-law. He was very complimentary

[WelshGin]

The spelling police let that slide then......

Yes, free sugar is good sugar. Well done.

[Mash]

I have a drum on molasses I keep meaning to dig out

[Moss]

Last week, a result........

Some weeks back, chatting with a regular work customer (trustworthy), I mentioned I was gonna have to get some sugar.

I (someone else did) didn't got back there for many days (work days that is), so when we did a Costco run, I got 3 x 15kg slabs of sugar.

Then last week I had to go back to the same/original work collection, and the guy was there, he said about sugar, so I had to admit I was sorted.

His reply was not to worry, and promptly put a 25kg bag on top of the stuff I was collecting.

Checked it when I got home. It is indeed, cane sugar from Mauritius. Just that it's not bleached like normal table sugar, it's "golden" in colour.

Not started any of it yet, but I will today. I'm gonna keep it separate from my normal batches until I've tried some of the resulting spirit. If it comes out slightly "caramely" I'll just use the spirit in some runs.

Moral of this has got to be "WTF, free sugar is good sugar".........

Sweet

[phantom]

Started a bucket last weekend.

Was rather curious, because while the raw sugar is that slightly off white "golden" colour, when mixed with the water, it was surprisingly brown in colour.

Chucked in a pack of Vodka Star and as it's almost finished fermenting, it's much lighter in colour.

Given that the sugar is unbranded and from an unfamiliar location (for sugar), it's all a bit of an experiment i.e. if the colour is just from the sugar being of a commercial standard and/or either not aimed at this use, or possibly it coming out a bit "caramely" in flavour (after my usual efforts i.e. double distilling, letting down and then carbon filtration) it doesn't matter as I can keep it separately and just use it up in rums.....

Still a bit "watch this space" as I'm down to 1 x 27 ltr fermenting bucket (that'll teach me not to leave them outside or in the greenhouse to dry - UV damage makes them brittle and crack/break), I'm gonna have to find another decent fermenter that's more robust.

Gonna look to see if I can track down one of those smaller sized (60 ltr I believe) blue drums (black lid) - just that so far, all the ones I've seen listed round the various locations are the bigger 205ltr sized ones......

[Mash]

The 60s are v hard to track down unless they have had ink(?) in them.... Er no thanks.

[Salar6]

I am blessed with my local provider of all containers plastic ( oh and a 45l stainless steel drum with clamp type lid). He can provide IBC which have held orange juice, 205 l drums, 120l (harder to get) 60,45 and 30l with screwtop and clamp lids all which are food grade.
I just do not have enough space for my collection to be increased unless I clear the garage. I need to retire because I have not enough time to turn my brews into somewhat stroner liquid. Roll on retirement

[WelshGin]

We, of this age, all agree with your comments.

[phantom]

The first wash made from this freebie sugar has both finished and dropped clear (well as clear as it can be without the use of finings) as it's been a fortnight since starting it.

Going to have to see if I've got something to siphon it into, so I can start another batch, as I still haven't had time to get another fermenter to make a second batch at the same time (but I am getting myself sorted to recommission my T500 so I can do a full batch each time).