Brandy is one of the easiest spirits to make when you’re starting out – though can be challenging to master! The process uses minimal ingredients that you can purchase at your nearest store. And, we can safely say your liquor will be ready for consumption within three months. So, how do you make this magical{…}
Are you wondering how to test for methanol in your drink? Amateur distillers, commercial brewing professionals, and keen alcohol drinkers may be interested in testing for methanol in alcoholic beverages. Below, we talk about what methanol is, where we commonly find methanol, and why it’s important to test for methanol in alcoholic beverages. Later, we’ll walk{…}
Distillation is one of the most useful processes in chemistry. It can separate mixtures into their components, concentrating a product from what was once a reaction mixture. In this post, we’ll be looking at the difference between batch distillation and continuous distillation. What Is Distillation? Distillation is the process of separating parts of a (liquid){…}
A vapor management still is 1 of 3 different methods for the control of reflux within a distillation column. These include vapor management (VM), liquid management (LM), and cooling management (CM). What is a vapor management still? A vapor management still is a method of reflux control set by a gate valve or ball valve. Vapor{…}
Turbo yeast has made fermenting a high-ABV wash fast and easy. It works by using high alcohol tolerant strains of yeast and a concoction of potent yeast nutrients. These sachets can be incredibly efficient, but also lead to producing some nasty flavors and overall a poor quality product. In this article, we’ll explain how to{…}
Oaking or ‘aging’ whiskey is what gives it all of it’s color, and a lot of its taste an aroma. In fact, Dan Szor, CEO and Founder of Costwalds Distillers estimates that wood contributes 60% to 70 % towards the taste of the final whiskey product. “Wood is known to take out the bad through{…}
There are currently over 1500 varieties of yeast available to choose from. But yeast is yeast, right? Well while they may all seem similar enough, there are plenty of differences you should be aware of. Some yeast types perform better than others based on the ingredients you’re fermenting. Others impart unique flavors that are critical{…}
Aging whiskey is one of the most important aspects of this wonderful elixir. It’s the bridge between an okay-tasting whiskey and a perfectly smooth, intensely flavored drink. Whether you want to age your own whiskey, or just like reading about aging whiskey, here’s everything you need to know about the art. How Do You ‘Age’ Spirits?{…}
The relationship between the type of barrel and spirit characteristics is something that most coopers and winemakers have been wondering about. If you want to understand the difference between a toasted and charred barrel, and how these affect the flavors of the beverage aged in them, this article is for you. Toasted vs. Charred Barrels{…}
You’ll hear a lot of terms thrown around by those in the home (and commercial) brewing industry. One of those common terms is a stripping run. When you’re new to the hobby, trying to understand these phrases can feel a bit overwhelming. If you’ve happened upon this term and want to know what a strip run is and how{…}
