All elite alcoholic drinks from a good manufacturer have a mandatory aging period, it affects the quality of the finished product and, of course, its taste. We will find out how to insist on moonshine on the bark of the oak tree itself, if there is no special barrel nearby, and we will learn the secrets of experienced moonshiners.
What is the difference
Experienced masters of alcohol know the answer to this question, there are several advantages here:
- oak bark, due to the absorbent properties of wood, contributes to the absorption of all harmful substances and aldehydes remaining after the distillation process that adversely affect the body;
- besides the fact that the bark of oak binds all compounds that are dangerous to health, it also has an excellent aroma, which means that the drink turns out to be soft in taste and pleasant to the nose;
- contributes to the treatment of a large number of various diseases and, of course, their prevention, home-made quality moonshine on oak bark. Its recipe requires some knowledge about the quality and composition of the required raw materials.
What should be oak bark
Home brewing is not an easy process in itself and requires some skills. Professionals of this business know how to insist on moonshine on oak bark correctly, and share their secrets with beginners:
- It is necessary to insist on moonshine for a certain amount of time, otherwise the taste will become bitter, and the color will darken.
- It is better to prepare the oak bark for the preparation of the drink yourself, but you can also purchase it in a special store for distillers or in a pharmacy. Additionally, the boiled or burnt bark will give moonshine a beautiful amber color, and the notes of prune, smoked or vanilla will be clearly felt in the aroma.
- A drink aged in a real oak barrel will differ significantly in its chemical composition, and every year it becomes better and better, this can not be said about cognac from moonshine. At home, the recipe does not imply such a long exposure and such conditions, but it greatly ennobles the taste and color of the drink, makes it cleaner and healthier.
We will procure raw materials ourselves
If you can’t get a quality oak bark, you can visit the nearest forest, this raw material will be even better and more reliable than the purchased one.
- It is important to know that young oak bark, saturated with a large amount of nutrients, is especially good for such purposes. And you can find it on old trees, or rather, on their young branches and shoots. The best time to collect the raw materials we need is spring, when all the plants wake up, renew and are filled with fresh juice.
- To remove the bark is simple: you need to make transverse cuts on the branch in the right places and one along it, and then, picking up the edge of the cut with a knife, remove the bark completely in a circle.
- Outwardly, such pieces of raw material extracted from young branches resemble long thin tubes. It is in this state that we leave them to dry in a dry, well-lit place. Direct sunlight and moisture reduce the beneficial properties of the product. To get a truly high-quality moonshine on oak bark, the recipe and its entire sequence must be strictly observed.
Oak tincture
The taste of moonshine on oak bark in its taste is very similar to good cognac. Having already mastered the implementation of this recipe, it will be possible to add various herbs and spices to it that improve the taste of the drink and give it originality. Experienced moonshiners show their imagination to the fullest, experimenting with coriander, St. John's wort, cloves, pepper, oregano and other fragrant components. In the meantime, we will consider the basic recipe for tinctures, the main components of which are:
- harvested or purchased oak bark - two tablespoons;
- moonshine (with a degree determined independently) - two liters;
- homemade honey, preferably fresh - half a glass.
Classic recipe
Connoisseurs of high-quality alcoholic beverages have long been arguing about whether moonshine can be insisted on oak bark; they don’t like the taste of such tinctures, considering it a bit harsh, but it is certainly better than ordinary moonshine, and some of the harmful substances are absorbed bark, which is a definite plus. And preparing the tincture is simple:
- at the bottom of a clean container (you can use a regular three-liter bottle for this purpose) oak bark is poured;
- it is filled with the right amount of moonshine;
- then honey is added, and the resulting mixture is thoroughly mixed until it is completely dissolved;
- Now you can close it with a lid and put it in a cool place to settle, or you can experiment and add a little of the above herbs.
- how much moonshine to insist on oak bark, you can decide on your own, periodically checking its color and taste. But experienced masters of this business recommend keeping the mixture for no more than two weeks, and then strain it and pour it into pre-prepared bottles.
Mandatory preparation of moonshine
A homemade drink on oak bark can significantly spoil the high content of fusel oils found in unrefined moonshine. Therefore, before starting to prepare tinctures or cognac from it, it is recommended to filter it. There are several ways to do this:
- Using potassium permanganate.
- Milk.
- Activated carbon
- By freezing method.
Experienced moonshiners consider the latter method the easiest and most affordable. Before insisting moonshine on oak bark, place a container with it in the freezer. Water will freeze to the walls of the vessel, and with it the majority of fusel oils, the remaining liquid can be drained and made cognac from moonshine at home based on it.
Homemade Cognac Recipe
An important condition here is a special container for making the drink. It is best if it is wooden, but very good if it is oak, but if it is not at hand, you can take enameled or glassware. Most often, in the home preparation of the drink, ordinary five- or three-liter cans are used, and for their corking - polyethylene lids.
- sugar is heated in clean enameled dishes, it is important to darken it to a golden color, but not to burn it, which will spoil the taste of future cognac;
- the resulting mass must be carefully poured into moonshine and stirred until it is completely dissolved;
- to improve the taste of the drink, cloves, vanilla, nut partitions, caraway seeds and oak bark are added to it;
- knowledgeable moonshailers to make the drink more similar to cognac put a little citric acid in it, after which the container is tightly corked and sent to a cool place for settling;
- the drink can be tasted in five days, but it is better to withstand a period of three to four weeks, we note that the saturation of taste and aroma of such homemade cognac completely depends on how to brew moonshine on oak bark, and over time its useful properties will be only improve.
Bark is the most important aspect
Ready brandy is passed through a filter, cleaned of small particles in it and poured into beautiful bottles, which can be stored for many more years. His recipe is based on oak bark, so its preparation and selection should be treated with utmost care. It is thanks to her that the drink gets its rich aroma, taste and a lot of useful properties, for which it is so deeply loved by true connoisseurs of this product. All other spices in its composition are added to taste.