by ultrasuede » Sun Mar 12, 2017 4:22 pm
I noticed the vodka didn't have much body. Kinda felt like cheap liquor in the mouth. So in the spirit of experimentation, I mixed it with some white dog 100% corn whisky and decided to make gin. I was aiming for tanqueray no.10 so I steeped 1.5 litres of 80% with a white grapefruit, a lime and a Valencia orange (all quartered), diluted, then ran it through the pot. This tasted amazing! I wish I had more to keep separate.
I added 2 tbsp of crushed juniper, 1 tbsp angelica, licorice and coriander seed, 2 tsp black pepper, and 4 tbsp of chamomile. I sealed it in a jar, and put in the sous vide at 60c for 5 hours, then diluted and distilled. Let it air overnight, then dilute to 47.3%
OH MY GOD! It is so good. Juniper up front followed by citrus notes accompanied by a subtle sweetness from the corn. There is a lingering herbal and chamomile sweetness on the tongue, with a hint of the prickly pear leaf taste.
I only ended up with 1.7 litres after 5 distillations. No regrets. Amazing straight up, and even better in a apple, fennel cocktail.