Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi all,

Has anyone ever tried to make a sugar head Scotch?
Something like a Scotch version of BWKO... grain + malted grain + sugar

I'm not trying to offend any Scotch lovers by simplifying things to this degree, I'm not trying to make a word class Scotch. . .. Just a drinkable one.

I know there is a macwhiskey recepie in the T&P but I thought something like this may also work.

Check out the Fine Scotch Whisky in tried and proven ;-)

Hi Sam,

I have looked at that recipe previously. I wanted to get away from using LME or DLME (mostly due to cost) and hopefully get the maltyness from the grain.

I just don't know if the flavors will carry over in a sugar head like they do in a grain mash... There's probably only one way to find out.

Since scotch only uses malted barley (peated and non peated) it is really easy to work with. Have a a look at biab. I've tried sugarhead and its not great unless you use 60-70% of your fermentables from a malt source

Next scotch I do I'll keep the grain for a sugar head and let you know the verdict.

TheMechwarrior wrote:Next scotch I do I'll keep the grain for a sugar head and let you know the verdict.

At the end of the day a sugar head will never be as good as the all grain. Period.

But if done right can still make a decent whisky, steeping some peated malt is a good start :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Cols15 wrote:Hi Sam,

I have looked at that recipe previously. I wanted to get away from using LME or DLME (mostly due to cost) and hopefully get the maltyness from the grain.

I just don't know if the flavors will carry over in a sugar head like they do in a grain mash... There's probably only one way to find out.

I have been searching around wondering the exact same thing. I'm keen to know how this idea pans out.

If you want a nice scotch there's no shortcuts I'm afraid, you are simply wasting good grain if you're not mashing it.

I've done AG scotch that aged for over a year and it's fantastic, I also tried to mash in the fermenter holding heat for a few hours and topped up with sugar to get a decent SG, this half mashed topped up with sugar is ok but to be honest it's nowhere near as good as the full on AG mashes I've done.

No harm in trying sugarhead scotch though, as long as you enjoy it then go for it :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Hey Mechwarrior,

It would be interesting to see how your used grain sugarhead wash goes, maybe some backset from the AG would help boost the flavor. . ... You could end up one AG and one sugarhead run from one mash.

I've kept the backset, I will get around to it, just got a few other brewing jobs to get around to first.

TheMechwarrior wrote:I've kept the backset, I will get around to it, just got a few other brewing jobs to get around to first.

How are you storing the backset Mech ?

I ask because when I tried to store some in a cube, even with no air it went black and stank like camel piss :))

5 litre Demijohns stored in the fridge. No idea how well it will work but it's the best I can manage with what I have.

I've got a demi of backset in the fridge from july and it looks and smells the same as the day i put it in there if that helps ease your concerns. I need to use it soon though cause the mrs is getting pretty tired of it :-@ :laughing-rolling:

Here's a photo i forgot to add if it helps to see the color.

I whack mine in these feta buckets



They have a good seal on em. Ask at a coles in the deli section, they use shedloads of em

It's been awhile but I'm finally going to try a sugar head Scotch.

First run will be 3 gens then a spirit run (Pot still)
1kg Bairds medium peated malt
1.5kg Caramalt tin
3kg sugar (white)
1 packet US05 and 20g lowans yeast
Top up to 20lt



Second run will be 3 gens then a spirit run (Pot still)
1kg Bairds medium peated malt
1kg of caramalt or golden promise or maris otter grain? (Haven't decided which one yet)
4kg sugar (white)
1 packet US05 and 20g lowans yeast
Top up to 20lt

I have some once used BWKO toasted/charr oak to age on.
I hoping 1kg of peated malt is enough to carry some smoky/peat flavor through, if it's not I'll add more to the 2 run recipe.

I have my first run scotch wash fermenting.
I had to reduce the amounted of peated malt from 1kg to 500g as the home brew shop incorrectly ordered me a bag of heavy peated (25-35ppm) instead of medium (8-10ppm).

I also purchased some malt for my 2nd run recipe. I was originally going to get a bag of Golden Promise but instead purchased this -

https://www.beerco.com.au/product/malt/ ... llers-malt

It will be interesting to see how the 2nd run recipe will turn out seeing that its just grain and sugar.

Update .......

The 1st run caramalt recipe has a much stronger distinct smell than the lighter grain 2nd run.

I have about 4lt of both recipes sitting on oak. Oak is a mix of new toasted American and 2nd use BWKO at 10g per lt.
I'm hoping the new american oak is not too strong, it seems one reason Scottish distilleries use used oak is so it doesn't overpower the spirit.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-07/c ... ey/6919802


"I say this to everyone, you are not going to get any more barrels for flower pots," he said.

"Those days are over because I want all the barrels we can get our hands on."


There is a show on TV from the UK about a demolition company selling reclaimed building material can not remember the name and that a distillery was closing and 10,000 old barrels for liqidation sale .
They were selling the barrels they purchased cheap and cutting in half and they did have some content.

Ive been working on this recipe for awhile and have come up with something i think is very good for a cheap scotch.

1st gen
1.7kg 2row malted barley
300g heavy peated malt
3kg sugar
20g lowans and 5g us05 yeast

Top up to 20lt


I grind the grains down to a fine powder with a food processor and put them in the fermenter with around 10lt of boiling water, let them stoop for a few hrs before addind sugar, coolwater and yeast.

2nd gen
700g 2row maltrd barley
300g heavy peated malt
40% backset

I normally do 3 gen's then a spirit run through my pot still.


This recipe works out to be cheap grain wise as a 25kg bag goes a long way.

Is there anyone else out there that's willing to give this a go? It would be interesting to hear what others think about this sugar head scotch.