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06-06-2012, 01:04 AM
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#1
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Fortifying with brandy vs. everclear?
Fortifying with brandy (80 proof) vs. everclear (190 proof), what are the pros and cons?
Other than you'd have to use less than half of everclear to raise it the same amount of alcohol.
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06-06-2012, 01:07 AM
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#2
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Brandy will also add some smoothness, body/mouth feel.
Brandy will add taste, not just alcohol.
Everclear is alcohol, yes, but it is not derived from wine.
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Robie
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06-06-2012, 01:09 AM
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#3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robie
Brandy will also add some smoothness, body/mouth feel.
Brandy will add taste, not just alcohol.
Everclear is alcohol, yes, but it is not derived from wine.
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Thx, Brandy would add some oakyness too I'd imagine.
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06-06-2012, 01:36 AM
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#4
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They say that grain spirits will never "marry" with the wine like brandy (grape spirits) will. I used brandy in my last port and was very happy with the marriage!
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06-06-2012, 01:37 AM
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#5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abefroman
Fortifying with brandy (80 proof) vs. everclear (190 proof), what are the pros and cons?
Other than you'd have to use less than half of everclear to raise it the same amount of alcohol.
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BUT!! Depending on how much you you want to boost your alcohol, you will not need nearly as much everclear as you wooud Brandy therefore keeping most of your original Grape/wine flavor. Not to mention cost.
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06-06-2012, 12:53 PM
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Everclear has its own unique "flavor". Best thing to do is try a bench trial with it before hand and see if its something you can tolerate. Brandy will make a difference in the color of the finished port wine. It will be slightly lighter in color. I did a tannin boost and oak boost on mine and it took it and laughed at me (that all you got!) Turned out fantastic with brandy and the extra tweaks. YMMV as they say.
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06-06-2012, 02:31 PM
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#7
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MMMMMM EVERCLEAR!!!!!!
That reminds me of this funny story.
When I was in high school we had a party which we spent two days cutting and juicing fruit into a 50 gallon barrel and adding I don't know how many bottles of Everclear to make jungle juice.
So when the party started we all started drinking and having a great time and after 3-4 glasses .. . . . . . . . .. . ... .. . . . . . . .... ... . . ...
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06-06-2012, 02:56 PM
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#8
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I believe that in Protugal, where they make lots and lots of good port, they predominantly use clear brandy. They could likely save money using everclear, but they don't. Just my opinion, but that is good enough for me.
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Robie
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06-06-2012, 05:09 PM
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#9
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Oeno-sapien
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Use brandy.
Everclear offers nothing (other then the "burn" taste of alcohol) in the way of flavor. Brandy adds a certain flavor element that some consider a major component in classical port. Sure it's more expensive, but well worth it!
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06-06-2012, 05:22 PM
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#10
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joeswine
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Evercleer or brandy
There's some very good replies up there...evercleer ,not for enhancing wine good for cellos and the like,(correct statement), not the wine flavor your looking for,i'm not sure about brandy either,good for port but not the right ingredient for wine if your goal is to add more alcohol to a volume of wine,that should be adjusted in the beginning.i have personally used both and niether will work to the desired end well...just my view
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