The Fake Whiskey Challenge

[cowdery]

All I can say is that it's harder than it looks.

[tommyboy38]

Has the experiment concluded? Any good results/recipes?

Maybe we can submit a bottle to the San Fran Spirits Fest and win the double gold for Faux American Whiskey.

[cowdery]

I never got very far and abandoned the experiment.

For one thing, you have to start with something like Everclear if you're going to use ingredients such as tea and prune juice, and I didn't care enough about the project to invest in a bottle.

[tommyboy38]

I may give it a try if I find some time...I find the idea fascinating if I was able to pull it off.

[pepcycle]

I just thought I'd give this a try.

Here's what I have infusing.

6 oz Pure Blue Corn based Vodka

10 raisins

1/2 a vanilla bean

Four Oak Chips Charred on the grill. (1 x 1 x 1 cm)

All ingredients are in a cheesecloth bourse in a mason jar with the vodka.

[cowdery]

If nothing else, it's bound to improve the vodka.

[pepcycle]

I can't wait to eat the raisins and throw the rest away.

[gr8erdane]

The cheesecloth might be the most salvagable item.

[pepcycle]

The raisins didn't work, so a new experiment.

The color was great, but there was a distinctly molasses like quality that I didn't care for.

Solution:

Prunes!!!!

I'm infusing the corn vodka with chopped prunes.

Say goodbye to Oak Chips.

I charred a dozen toothpicks and their soaking in the mixture.

Anybody know what wood toothpicks are made from?

I think its Birch!

PS: The cheesecloth was delicious

[pepcycle]

Things are progressing nicely.

The color is just about perfect.

I added more charred toothpicks to accelerate the "wood".

Vanilla bean added for one day and removed.

Doesn't taste bad.

[TNbourbon]

...I charred a dozen toothpicks...

:skep: Okay, I'll bite -- how DOES one char a toothpick, Ed -- and still have anything left?!

(Not that I care to try it, really, understand. It's just an intellectual curiosity, as it were.)

[BourbonJoe]

I think you're losing it Ed.

Joe :usflag:

[Jake_Parrott]

Just coming back to this topic. Do note such a product as "tannin powder" exists, if you need to punch up the mouthfeel.

[pepcycle]

After "significant" experimentation, the best way to char toothpicks is to put them in a toaster oven.

I use the same recipe that I use to toast pignoli nuts (which I char accidentally everytime)

I might try a little Dalidyne for the tannin. (Is it still available?)

[jburlowski]

The raisins didn't work, so a new experiment.

The color was great, but there was a distinctly molasses like quality that I didn't care for.

Solution:

Prunes!!!!

This could become your regular pour....

[pepcycle]

I was trying to think of catchy names that would hint "prunes" but not say it.

Old Montezuma's Revenge

The Wrath of Corn

TP Reserve

[gr8erdane]

Old Nip Van Wrinkle? Old Commodewealth? (Sorry Julian, no offense against fine products intended)

[gr8erdane]

Joe, you're assuming he had it to begin with...

[TNbourbon]

I was trying to think of catchy names that would hint "prunes" but not say it...

Old Plum? Or, for that matter, Plumb Old? Unstucky Straight Burnin' Shi...no, let's don't go there!

[pepcycle]

Test 2 is now officially a failure.

In a blind taste test, two testees (not testes) indicated that Evan Williams was bourbon and the other stuff was darn good barrel aged, Rum!!!!

Darn it. I feel like the scientist looking to create a filet of flounder, crossed a flounder with a jellyfish and came up with a bony jellyfish

Test 3 will now commence.

[cowdery]

It's not as easy as it seems.

[kickert]

My first attempt is under way:

• 2oz Vodka
  
• 1 drop imitation vanilla
  
• 2 small (or one large) drip light pancake syrup
  
• 5 uncrushed black pepper corns.
  
• fresh wood shavings
  
• toasted wood shavings
  
• charred wood shavings

The initial results are good, but the barrel/smoke/char flavor is notably off; it is more campfire than bourbon barrel.

On another note, my imitation scotch is indistinguishable from the real thing: 2 sweaty work socks (if you work with cattle the taste is much more authentic); half an ashtray of cigarette butts; 1 cup of mulch. Let it sit in a bath of vodka for a week and you are golden.

[pepcycle]

I got the same thing in my preliminary test.

Charred wood gives a wet fire smell/taste.

Heavily toasted gives a better smokiness without that wet burnt newspaper quality.

I'm going to grate some barrel char off a stave on this next round.

This is used cooperage.

[gr8erdane]

Ben you forgot the eyedropper of iodine for the scotch.

[barturtle]

Guys, what happened to this rule?

No actual wood, not actual whiskey, no pre-made "whiskey essense." We're looking for 100% artificial ingredients.

I'm seeing a lot of actual wood being used...