Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Drinks Wine Wednesday: Smoke Your Own (Whiskey, That Is)
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Wed, Oct 20, 2010 at 6:20 AM
Accompanied by the new fad of drinking unoaked whiskeys, or "white dogs" which most people would say is basically moonshine, drinkers are starting to realize the complex interplay between the base liquor and the effect of oak aging on the flavors of the spirit. Luckily, you don't have to figure out the chemistry part of the process since Cooper Fox already supplies you with the 'shine in advance.
Your personal two-liter charred American white oak barrel will hold enough white dog to create two fifths of your own special hooch. Since it's designed to be reused for multiple batches, the initial passes through the oak will probably create a smokier spirit closer to American whiskeys, while subsequent batches will probably have more of a scotch-like finish. It's up to you and your personal degree of patience to decide how long you keep it in oak. The longer you hold out, the more complex and smooth the final result will be.
Will your home batch taste as silky smooth as a bottle of Woodford Reserve? Probably not, but at least you'll have that warm feeling of accomplishment to go along with that pleasant burn in your trachea.
Midtown Wine and Spirits is selling the Wasmund's Barrel Kit for $119.99. Each kit includes:
•Two-liter charred American white oak mini-barrel
•Two 750ml bottles of one of cask-strength (124 proof) spirit: Wasmund’s Single Malt Spirit OR Wasmund’s Rye Spirit
•Detailed instructions and FAQ sheet
•Barrelhead Club registration card
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