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jCross | all galleries >> What I Did Today >> What I did Today 2013 > February 27, 2013
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27-FEB-2013 jCross

February 27, 2013

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I got to thinking today. Ginny thinks that is a dangerous thing. Anyway, I was watching a documentary about making whiskey and saw that for Kentucky bourbon, they really flame the insides of the oak barrels leaving behind quite a layer of charcoal. SO, I decided to make some charcoal. This is pretty easy. All you have to do is heat wood in the absence of oxygen and you end up with charcoal. So I fashioned this little rig. The larger can has six charcoal briquets in it and the inner can is full of oak chips. A piece of foil with a hole in it makes up the rest. And, sure enough, after a couple hours, the charcoal was done. I cooked until it was odorless. Before it is done, there is a smell of turpentine like stuff. I took a tablespoon of the charcoal and put it into the two batches of whiskey I have aging on the kitchen counter. Next week I will taste it and see what I get.

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jCross13-Mar-2013 03:03
Didn't know you could do that. Have to look into it.
John Cooper13-Mar-2013 01:02
I used to buy a small bottle of oak flavour from the "Wine" shop when I made whiskey, cheap and effective.
I liked home made Gin best, very tasty.