Description
Bourbon Barrel Chunks
The carefully selected barrels have been aging bourbon for 4-10 years in Kentucky, USA. The unique chunking process ensures each chunk captures the charred inside of the barreland gently opens up the bourbon-soaked oak. Each litre of spirit is in contact with a huge surface-area of barrel to enable aging in only seven days. Unlike dry ‘staves’ or ‘chips’, Essencia Bourbon Barrel Chunks will create genuine bourbon without the need for other flavouring.
The more Chunks you use per measure of neutral spirit (or vodka), the more original flavour imparted in a shorter time. The longer the Chunks are in contact with the spirit, the more oak imparted.
Suggestions for use:
Essencia Bourbon Barrel Chunks can be used to rapidly barrel-age neutral spirit or vodka, bourbon, whiskey or beer. We recommend a process of soaking, draining and filtering. You can test along the way, or blend different batches to your own taste.
Soaking
Soak in 2L of spirit for 10 days
Draining
Putting the Chunks in a straining bag while soaking them makes the draining process easier. It also reduces the amount of sediment carried over to the filtering phase. A small – fine straining bag is ideal. After draining the Chunks, allow the sediment to settle for a few hours before filtering as this sediment clogs the filter and slows down the process a lot. Ideally the sediment is left until the end of filtering.
Filtering
Use a coffee filter paper in a funnel, or 2 x cotton wool balls pushed down the neck of a large funnel. This process should take time. The product should only drip out of the filter.
Testing
Because everyone’s tastes are different, the soaking times stated above are suggestions only. To obtain the best results for you, it is suggested that you test your product regularly during the soakings. Trying not to disturb any sediment, use a syringe to draw off about 15ml (1 nip) each test and try it. You will notice a marked difference in the character of the product with each test.
