Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi.
I've found myself dabbling with lower alcohol content drinks.
So when adding essences I've mixed in the normal amount, but I find the result then lacks that "zip" or "bite" to the taste. Obviously because of the lower alcohol content, but I wonder if anyone has any suggestions of something that could be added to get that zing/bite?
I figure if Jack Daniels, Jim Beam etc etc can produce a reasonable tasting lower alcohol version of their RTD's, then it should be possible for us to as well.

Yeah, they just keep the heads, that’s what gives you the “bite”, and the hangover
A good spirit shouldn’t have that bite. It should be smooth

Doubleuj wrote:Yeah, they just keep the heads, that’s what gives you the “bite”, and the hangover
A good spirit shouldn’t have that bite. It should be smooth

OK, I guess that might explain it.
So I could use the heads for similar effect, but keen to avoid the hangover effect :-D any ideas of some essence/product that would add that bite instead?

I wasn’t saying that you should use heads, please don’t use heads.

You could try aging with oak shavings like wine to get heaps of tannin? Not sure how it would go but just a thought.

But yeah I’m with Uj, product should be smooth, I would never bother trying to replicate the mass produced arse piss :puke-huge:

Depending on what ur making.....I find adding Rye adds bite. Have you tried something like Corn Flakes Whiskey and add Rye Flour to it. Make good cuts (No heads) and you will still get some bite from the rye .

Thanks.
I'll definitely pass on using heads.
Cornflake whisky is to run through a pot still, yeah? So that counts me out.
But trying some oak chips sounds like something worth a try. I'll do a trial with that and see how it goes.
Thanks for all the responses.

What about something with chilli .

If you use oak chips as suggested you will gets lots of tannins added quickly and it will get a bite to it, perhaps too much. You could look into aeration to help reduce the amount of bite as air oxidises the tannins and makes them less bitter.

Drink it straight. That will help you get that "bite".