ChainWhip Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 (edited) Chatting with Nivto the other night about blending experiments got me thinking about trying some more vattings of my own. What's your list of tools for your vatting/blending? Are there any good recipes out there (aside from SB Blend) or resources (E.G. see The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom) you go to for reference? I'd imagine some sort of measuring container (kitchen measuring cup, graduated cylinder), funnels, empty bottles, pipettes, droppers, notebook, bottle of E150, etc., ;-) Edit: Here's a vid by Ralfy that goes into this subject... I've posted this before, but here's a link to another video by Compass Box's John Glaser that goes into how they came up with the recipe for Flaming Heart 4th Edition: Edited November 14, 2013 by ChainWhip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smknjoe Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Pyrex measuring cups of various sizes when getting samples ready and the cap of a 1 liter bottle of Ozarka for dropping water into a pour until desired taste is achieved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelturtle1 Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 My set of vatting tools Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 My set of vatting tools I had a feeling you were going to bust out your "big one"... =]b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelturtle1 Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I had a feeling you were going to bust out your "big one"...=]bHa , that is not the "big one" i have a 5L graduated cylinder at work... Figured that was overkill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ejmharris Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 Started the night with an OWA 7year from '08 then had some WTR101. For the 3rd drink I thought what the hell lets mix one. I didn't expect much from it but was very surprised. So good I had A second healthy pour of the mix. Was pretty close to a 50/59 mix the first time and 60 (OWA)/ 40 (wtr101). Highly recommend Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted November 29, 2013 Author Share Posted November 29, 2013 Started the night with an OWA 7year from '08 then had some WTR101. For the 3rd drink I thought what the hell lets mix one. I didn't expect much from it but was very surprised. So good I had A second healthy pour of the mix. Was pretty close to a 50/59 mix the first time and 60 (OWA)/ 40 (wtr101). Highly recommend Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKLS Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 I usually just use a jigger and a mason jar. I would also consider using a digital scale for measuring. I assume there are some variances in density in different bourbons, but for the amounts I am mixing I doubt the volume difference will be substantial. After letting everything mingle for awhile, I pour into an empty bottle. I use the mason jar because it doesn't pour well so it deters me from sampling too often and too early. Also if I am vatting cocktails sometimes I might add a charred barrel stave and the wide mouth is nice for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostBottle Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 (edited) I usually start with two mediocre to undrinkable whiskies. I will then dump them into a 5 gallon bucket (use a stainless pail here so the plastic does not leech) and mix thoroughly for 15 minutes with a handheld blender to ensure they are properly married. I then let the concoction rest a half hour in an industrial freezer; I find this helps to add a strong chill that will knockdown any of that annoying taste. I like to finish the vatting by mixing 1 part whiskey with 5 parts sweet red vermouth and a cup of bitters. Sometimes, I get extra fancy and will do the vatted whiskey coup de grace. That is, I take 2 or more vatted batches and re-vat them. Mostly though, I just buy decent bottles Edited November 30, 2013 by LostBottle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted November 30, 2013 Author Share Posted November 30, 2013 I usually start with two mediocre to undrinkable whiskies. I will then dump them into a 5 gallon bucket (use a stainless pail here so the plastic does not leech) and mix thoroughly for 15 minutes with a handheld blender to ensure they are properly married. I then let the concoction rest a half hour in an industrial freezer; I find this helps to add a strong chill that will knockdown any of that annoying taste. I like to finish the vatting by mixing 1 part whiskey with 5 parts sweet red vermouth and a cup of bitters. Sometimes, I get extra fancy and will do the vatted whiskey coup de grace. That is, I take 2 or more vatted batches and re-vat them. Mostly though, I just buy decent bottles All that talk about "industrial" this and "stainless" that had me visualizing you with a goatee & glasses doing your best Walter White impersonation =]b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostBottle Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 (edited) All that talk about "industrial" this and "stainless" that had me visualizing you with a goatee & glasses doing your best Walter White impersonation =]b Oh yes, I'll add large bathtub to the list of essential vatting tools Edited November 30, 2013 by LostBottle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 I was thinking Dr. Bunsen Honeydew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillman Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 We shouldn't forget the most important one, perhaps - a good palate. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 I was thinking Dr. Bunsen Honeydew. Where's Beaker? We shouldn't forget the most important one, perhaps - a good palate. Gary That's always the prime challenge isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauiSon Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 No industrial vatting for me, I just use a 25ml graduated pipette. No need for funnels or any other equipment. Well, a distilled water bottle for clean-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 I found this helpful instructional video on vatting:http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=elwood+blues+with+champagne&id=21A55B6CA3F2A39876B2D63CAA0E63DC378A5062&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail&id=21A55B6CA3F2A39876B2D63CAA0E63DC378A5062&selectedIndex=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vosgar Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 I found this helpful instructional video on vatting: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 I've seen you do that at the gazebo and had always wondered where your inspiration came from. Perhaps some GBS cloth napkins are in order? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmj_203 Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 An area I'm already looking into acquiring a few overpriced 375 bottles and tools for vatting. Being a newb only a month into my love of whiskey, I'm sure I'll have many more bottles in the future that turned out like the disappointment that Devils Cut did for me. I don't think anything will make me Enjoy that pour...just below average. I look forward to trying this in the future with likes instead of just letdowns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted April 17, 2014 Author Share Posted April 17, 2014 An area I'm already looking into acquiring a few overpriced 375 bottles and tools for vatting. Here's some bottles:http://tuthilltown.gostorego.com/bottle-empty-375ml.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmj_203 Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 Here's some bottles:http://tuthilltown.gostorego.com/bottle-empty-375ml.htmlThanks for the link, Like those hudson glasses, plus I can combine a few other things they have into one order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trey Manthey Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I've been playing around with a couple different recipes lately, and have wondered why more homegrown bourbon/rye blends haven't been born from the wellspring of knowledge that is SB.com. I've been to two different bars in the last month that had a bottle of SB Blend (aka "Poor Man's Pappy") behind the bar. Anyone that has been bitten by the bourbon bug in the last 2 years knows about that one. Is that it? I know vatting experiments can seem like alchemy sometimes, but I also have to believe that Weller Centennial isn't the only dusty that's been approximated in the last 10 years. Are we just a bunch of uninspired drunks? Or are we too precious with the raw ingredients to experiment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smknjoe Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Or are we too precious with the raw ingredients to experiment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BootsOnTheGround Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 (edited) Tons of info, recipes, etc on here. I think it's closed so you'll have to request to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/607393885994954/I personally don't mess with volume measurements and do everything by weight on a digital scale. I assume all grams of whiskey are the same volume. That is probably not true, but far more accurate for what I do.Every vat for me is done at least in 3 different ratios, typically 75/25%, 50/50% and 25/75%. If I feel the gradient should be steeper I throw a forth and fifth in at 60/40 and 40/60, but usually not until I've done the others.Don't make the mistake of mixing up 750 ml of something cause you read someone else say how "amazing" it is. I personally do 60 ml test samples for the first run of a new vat and let them sit for about a month. Wait time is up to you, but there is some science behind it {kinda} if you care to look into it.The ability to taste is NOT SUBJECTIVE. It is objective, just like hearing or sight. You can rely on your nose and taste buds, not on someone else's preference or anecdote. One's personal preference for taste should bear zero baring on what you actually taste. Distilled spirits will change flavor over time. That's a fact. If you drink enough and pay attention, you know this already. Take it easy on the wheated stuff. It's too "soft" and doesn't have the backbone and balls to really carry it's weight in a vat. Just what I've learned. I realize everyone MUST mix up some OWA 107 and W12 at some point, and yes it's "better" than Lot B, but I honestly believe that the only people that should be messing with wheated bourbon are the Van Winkles (who don't produce a single drop of the stuff anyway). Most of all, have fun and learn via trial and error. Out of all the vats I've tried, only about 10% are actually worth sitting down and drinking to be honest. I really don't think most who "vat" are honest with their opinion no do I think they can taste very well based on their always-impressed and forever-suprised response. I mean, are you kidding me?? Edited June 17, 2014 by BootsOnTheGround Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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