Weird Type of Gin Louche

[nickT]

Hmm, have now made a few gins, and occasionally got a louche at the time of proofing down with water (especially the first couple of times), due to using too much lemon zest. But this time I had no issues when proofing down (to about 44%), 'gin clear', but only after sitting on the shelf in a glass jar overnight a louche appeared. Furthermore, it only appeared in the lower half of the gin (other times it has always been the entire jar). Shook it up, and overnight it re-settled into a gin of two halves. Crystal clear top half, louched lower half.

Only used 0.8 grams of dried lemon peel (but this is the first time I have used dried peel instead of fresh zest). And the only other different thing I can think of is using 0.8g of green cardomon pods. Overall recipe in 2.3 litres of neutral at 50% abv was:

crushed juniper 40g
uncrushed juniper 40g
coriander seed 28g
Dried lemon peel 0.8g
angelica root 8g
Licorice root 8 g
Cardomon 0.8g

Proofed with fresh artesian spring water.

Has anybody else suffered from 'delayed louche' syndrome? (Will try adding a bit of neutral, but not particularly worried about the appearance, just curious....)

[GrumbleStill]

Had a similar problem a while back. Best way to describe it was a bit like the two phases in a lava lamp. One perfectly clear, the other cloudy.

TBH I don’t really know what caused the problem. Probably could have theorised about it all day, but in the end just ran it through a coffee filter paper. Problem solved. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Cheers

[howard]

like this, about 13:50 in this video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjWgS4REEQw

[nickT]

like this, about 13:50 in this video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjWgS4REEQw

Kind of like that but not nearly as solid, and easy to re-dissolve. Come to think of it though, I did break open a new package of juniper for this run, so it may well be that which is affecting it.

[nickT]

Hmm, after 2 more days it all disappeared, back to 'gin clear' again....... (?)

[howard]

Hmm, after 2 more days it all disappeared, back to 'gin clear' again....... (?)

good.
a lot of my gins louch immediately after diluting them.
most seem to clear as they settle down and the oils dissolve(?)
it's probably dependent on how close you are to louching and handling the first 10ml.
also temp can affect a gin that's on the cusp of louching.