Moonshine on oak chips

Step-by-step preparation

Cooking time: 33 day

1. STEP 1

   

   How to infuse moonshine with oak chips? Prepare the necessary ingredients. I have “turbo” type yeast, so I will describe the entire process exactly according to the instructions for this type.

2. STEP 2

   

   Pour warm water (about 35 degrees) into a special tank with a water seal on the lid, which can be purchased at a special wine-making store, add sugar and yeast and mix everything well until smooth. It will be cloudy at first, but that's normal, don't be alarmed. Place the mixture in a warm place for 5-7 days, then leave at room temperature for 3-4 days.

3. STEP 3

   

   The mash is ready when air bubbles stop escaping into the water seal. If you don’t have such a tank, you can pour the liquid into jars and put on a regular medical glove. After the yeast starts working, it will inflate, but after preparing the mash, it will fall off. This means that it is ready for distillation. The mash turns out transparent, yellow in color and with a specific smell.

4. STEP 4

   

   Now you can start distilling the mash into moonshine. Assemble the apparatus and pour mash into the moonshine still according to the instructions. Place the device on medium heat. As soon as the temperature in the column reaches 60 degrees, turn on the cold water.

5. STEP 5

   

   Well, actually, at a temperature in the column of 75 degrees, the process itself begins. Monitor the temperature. As soon as it reaches 80 degrees, immediately reduce the heat. I do this in the bathroom on an electric stove at medium power.

6. STEP 6

   

   Oak chips can be purchased at a special store, but they are not always available there. You can make it yourself by finely chopping a dry trunk or purchase it from a furniture manufacturer, making sure that it is not processed in any way.

7. STEP 7

   

   Wash the oak chips and soak them in cold water for a day. Change the water every 6 hours, then drain and rinse under running water.

8. STEP 8

   

   Bring 500 milliliters of water to a boil. Pour hot water over the wood chips and add 13 grams of baking soda and leave until completely cool. Drain the water and rinse the wood chips.

9. STEP 9

   

   Spread the wood chips in one layer and dry them. It is most convenient to do this in the sun or in winter on a battery. The wood chips should break easily and become approximately twice as light. This usually takes 2-3 days.

10. STEP 10

    

    Proceed directly to the firing process. This can be done on the grill by wrapping the wood chips in foil. But with this method it will be very difficult to control what kind of roast it will turn out. We will make it at home, in a convection oven, but the house must have a very good hood. Place the wood chips in one layer on a baking sheet and place in the oven at 150 degrees. For the first stage, keep the wood chips for 1.5 - 2 hours, it should turn golden brown.

11. STEP 11

    

    Then continue drying until brown, medium roast. This will take about another 40 minutes to one hour and the smoke emission will also increase.

12. STEP 12

    

    Then continue frying until lightly charred. That is, the wood chips should become almost black, but not turn into coals. This will take about another hour. I’ll say right away that the smell of a fire spreads throughout the house, so it’s still better to try to get it in the store. Remove the wood chips from the oven and cool completely.

13. STEP 13

    

    Prepare the containers in which you will infuse the moonshine and the lids for them. Place the wood chips in containers. For every liter of moonshine you will need 10 grams.

14. STEP 14

    

    Pour moonshine into prepared containers with wood chips and close the lids tightly. Store in a dark place for a period of 3 weeks to 2 months. It depends on your taste.

15. STEP 15

    

    This is what he becomes after three weeks.

16. STEP 16

    

    The color and aftertaste of moonshine depends on the degree of roasting.

17. STEP 17

    

    Enjoy your tasting!

Comments on the recipe

tania•oxe

14.12.2023

4.9

For those interested, I’m sharing a link to a recipe for homemade moonshine with fresh yeast.

Natalia Tsibulskaya

14.12.2023

5

What a handywoman you are! I would love to treat myself!

Hoshuug

14.12.2023

4.8

As popular wisdom says, if whiskey does not go into a barrel, then the barrel goes into whiskey. Well, the topic itself is a good one. As a tip, wood chips can be purchased in fishing and hunting stores (we even sold wood chips in the supermarket.) This is for those who don’t grow oak trees. And firing can be done on the balcony using a gas burner.