In the 19th century, mass production of potato alcohol and cheap vodka from it was widespread in Russia. However, the bitter intoxication turned out to be unpleasant - consumers suffered a severe hangover. At that time, vodka “Starka” became very popular in Eastern Europe. The recipe for this alcoholic beverage and its term corresponds to the recipe for “Old Vodka”. According to experts, the basis of this alcohol is alcohols infused with pear and apple leaves. Perhaps, due to a similar recipe for Stark, hard liquor lovers could confuse it with Stara Vodka. The tincture was made in Lithuania, in the western regions of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine on landlords' households in a cottage way. The recipe for the preparation of "Starks" has become the subject of pride of many distillers. Judging by the reviews, this strong drink is not forgotten today. The Starks recipe at home provides for several manufacturing options, which you will learn more about in this article.
Acquaintance with a drink
"Stark" is a strong alcoholic drink. In accordance with the recipe, it was made from alcohols, which, in turn, were obtained as a result of aging rye bitter. This strong vodka was poured into oak barrels in which wine was previously stored, and then apple and pear leaves were added. According to the recipe, homemade Stark can also be seasoned with linden blossoms. Alcohol for tincture in a distillation cube underwent double distillation. To make his taste as pleasant as possible, exclusively old barrels were used in the production process, in which wine or port wine was aged. This alcoholic drink was insisted for almost 25 years. According to experts, it was during such a period that strong rye vodka managed to grow old. Name of tincture of Polish origin: an old woman was called an old woman. Judging by the numerous reviews of homemade alcohol lovers, a good tincture can be made from "sam." How to cook "Stark" from moonshine at home?
Recipe number 1
According to experts, this method is considered the most popular among experienced winemakers. Made according to this recipe, Stark is a cross between wine and bitter. The tincture has a rich dark amber color, a complex aroma and a very burning taste. The strength indicator is 36 revolutions. You can store the drink for 5 years. According to the recipe, the preparation of "Stark" at home is carried out using the following ingredients:
- One liter of rye moonshine. It is important that the "Sam" was a double distillation.
- 20 g of oak bark.
- One pinch of vanilla sugar and ground nutmeg.
- Leaves of pear and apple tree (25 g each).
- Dried linden inflorescences (10 g).
- Sugar (5 to 10 g).
- One lemon.
Working process
According to the recipe, "Stark" from moonshine at home is done as follows:
- First, excess substances are removed from the oak bark. It is placed in a container in which boiling water is poured. So the bark should stand for half an hour.
- Next, the broth merges.
- Rinse the bark with cold tap water.
- Lemon should be washed with warm water using a hard washcloth. After the citrus is thoroughly wiped with a towel.
- So that the alcoholic drink does not turn out very bitter, removing the zest, you need not to touch the flesh of the lemon.
- Next, citrus zest, prepared oak bark, ground coffee, dried linden inflorescences, nutmeg, pear leaves and apple trees are placed in a separate container. The contents are thoroughly mixed and ground. For this purpose, a wooden rolling pin is suitable.
- After the resulting mass is filled with sugar and “sam”.
- After performing these steps, the bottle is tightly corked and placed in a dark place.
- Alcohol should be infused at room temperature one and a half to two weeks. Shake the contents once a day.
Final stage
After two weeks, the contents of the bottle can be tasted. By this time, the drink should have a characteristic cognac taste and a pleasant aroma. Now alcohol is subject to a filtration procedure. For this purpose, gauze or cotton filters will be needed. At the end, the alcohol is bottled, after which they are hermetically sealed and placed in a cool room. Judging by numerous reviews, the home "Stark" should still stand a week to finally ripen.
Second way
According to experts, this recipe for "Stark" from moonshine provides for a more simplified technology. Nevertheless, aromatic vodka is obtained, which is characterized by a mild, refined taste. The advantage of this alcohol is that it does not give fusel oils and alcohol. To cook "Stark", a lover of homemade alcohol will have to acquire the following products:
- Good vodka (500 ml).
- Lemon (1 pc.).
- Sugar sand. It will take from 5 to 7 g.
- Oak bark (10 g).
- Natural coffee (4 grains).
- Nutmeg. It must be ground. Two pinches will suffice.
How to make an alcoholic drink?
As in the previous case, you should start with the preparation of citrus: the lemon is washed thoroughly and wiped dry. When removing the zest, care must be taken not to catch the pulp.
Next, the zest is cut into thin strips. Oak bark in a separate deep bowl is poured with boiling water. It is processed no more than 10 minutes. After this time, the broth merges, and the oak bark is substituted under cold running water. Oak bark, lemon zest and nutmeg, laid in a glass bottle, are covered with granulated sugar. Whole coffee beans are also placed here. Now the above ingredients can be poured bitter.
At the end, the glass container is hermetically sealed. For this purpose, judging by the reviews, a nylon cover is suitable. The mixture will be infused in a dark and warm room for 10 days. To make the drink with a beautiful amber hue, shake the bottle once a day. At the end, the tincture is filtered through gauze. As experts advise, it is better to double-filter the products. Ripen "Stark" should be in a cool place for 4 days.
Version number 3
The technological process practically does not differ from the previous method of preparation. Due to the fact that in this case other components are required, the taste of the finished alcoholic beverage will be different. Judging by numerous reviews, "Stark" in terms of taste has much in common with aged brandy. In addition, the tincture is inherent in light shades of citrus. To cook it at home, a home craftsman will have to purchase the following components:
- Quality vodka (3 l).
- Sugar (20 g).
- One lemon.
- 50 g of oak bark.
- 2 g of vanillin.
- 7 g ground nutmeg.
About the manufacturing procedure
First of all, in washed and sliced very thin lemon slices, you need to remove all the bones. Then oak bark is processed for 15 minutes in boiling water, and then washed with cold water. After the bark, together with the chopped lemon, is placed in a bottle, into which all the other ingredients are poured. Now add the alcohol base to the mixture and mix thoroughly.
As in the previous methods, the container is hermetically sealed and placed in a cool room. The term of infusion is two weeks. Judging by the reviews, if necessary, it can be extended for a few more days. The bottle shakes daily. Double tincture filtration is carried out using gauze or cotton wool. After completing these steps, the alcoholic beverage is ready to drink. As experts advise, it is better to wait a couple more days for the tincture to finally ripen.
About the long-running drink
According to connoisseurs of high-quality alcohol, the tincture made according to this recipe has a sweetish-bitter aftertaste, a wonderful rich aroma and beautiful color. The only negative of Starks is that it takes a very long time to withstand. This alcoholic beverage is prepared on the basis of one liter of double distilled rye moonshine, 60 ml of cognac, 110 ml of port and a liter of alcohol. It is desirable that its strength indicator was not lower than 70 degrees. The drink is seasoned with leaves of pear (20 g), apple tree (50 g), fructose or sugar syrup (10 g).
How to make alcohol tincture and vodka?
To cook "Stark", namely tincture for alcohol, according to this recipe, you must adhere to the following sequence of actions:
- First, the leaves are thoroughly washed and dried. Then they fill a glass jar.
- Next, pour alcohol into the container.
- The corked jar is put in a cool place for one week.
- At this stage, the finished infusion is filtered using cotton or gauze filters. Finished products are best stored in the refrigerator.
Similarly, at home, make vodka "Stark". First, an alcoholic infusion is prepared on the basis of leaves from apple and pear. For this purpose, 300 ml of alcohol will be needed. Then “Sam”, port and cognac are poured into a separate glass vessel. Next, the mixture is seasoned with vanilla and ready-made apple and pear alcohol infusion. The drink should stand in a sealed glass container in a cool room. In the first 7 days, the contents are shaken daily. According to experts, this recipe provides for a long exposure. In order for Stark to turn out to be of the highest quality, she will have to stand at least 10 years in the cellar. After this time, the infusion is filtered using a cotton or gauze filter, and then bottled.
Finally
Of course, the “Stark” handicraft does not apply to elite alcohol. Nevertheless, it has a fairly pleasant taste. Moreover, without various concentrates and dyes, with natural ingredients, this alcoholic drink is not dangerous. Those who like to experiment can be recommended to try creating your own tincture recipe. In order not to transfer raw materials, it is better to work with small volumes.