Query: alcohol

[hypatia42]

Wandering blissfully into the world or cordial making. I started slowly on this trek last October when I shucked two pomegranates into some vodka. I completed the second step in the process, adding the sugar syrup, in the past couple of weeks. Turns out that I should have done that last December or so. Ah well, live and learn. I tasted it a couple of days ago and am kinda worried that I put too much sugar in it. We shall see in a few months what its like. I used pomegranate juice in the sugar syrup to pump the flavor.

I found Italian Prune Plums in the grocery store last night. So heres the query part; Should I use rum or vodka for the alcohol? Its going to be warm anyhow since I'm going to use honey to sweeten it so the rum warmness won't be a huge factor. If I use rum I can use a higher proof than if I use vodka. I'm not sure that it would be a good idea to use the rum though. I suppose that I could use brandy, but I know nothing about brandy or the flavors it would impart. roy_baty said Eww to the rum idea. I want other people's opinion.

Comments

[julia-spring.livejournal.com]

mmm. rum.

I did a sultana plum rum that I am told is delightful. :) I can't stand it myself, something about it is overpoweringly plastic to me, but just to me. I'm blaming the cilantro gene.

[nkcmike.livejournal.com]

I think rum has a more prominent flavor. It would kind of depend on which flavor you want to feature. YMMV

For another idea... Amaretto.

[hypatia42.livejournal.com]

Not so much with the Amaretto. I'm trying to avoid adding other true flavors. Almond and plum? I admit I don't like almond much. At least with the rum its just the sugar flavor. I agree the rum has more of a flavor than vodka. I think its one that will complement the honey well.

Rum vs. Vodka

[shades-of-nyx.livejournal.com]

The raspberry everyone loved at FSG was rum based. I make rum based cordials because something in cheaper vodkas acts as a migraine trigger for me. I advise not going for the highest proof possible, as that can make the cordial undrinkable. I had that experience with a batch of strawberry last year. The flavor was beautiful, but it actually had a burning aftertaste, and was not good at all!

Re: Rum vs. Vodka

[hypatia42.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of buying a pint of 151 and adding about half of that to the regular 80 proof rum. I don't think that would kick it up too much. The pome that I did seems a bit light in alcohol content right now. That could be because its so close to when I added the sugar and it hasn't mellowed yet. I don't know. Does the alcohol content rise when you add the sugar syrup?

[aminita.livejournal.com]

We always used vodka when I was with Stephen. Have not made any in a long time. Was funny to watch the squirrels after we would get rid of the nuts from a batch in the back yard. They would have trouble climbing the trees.