Looks great, and good timing! I have been prepping to do some in the next couple weeks, once I have the beans I want to use. I'm looking at a 6 month window, but there is no rush.
Anyhow, it looks incredible and I hope it turns out well, ssandy_561!
Smoked for 2 hours at about 80 degrees, spritzed with ice water every 30 minutes. Smells like smoke and vanilla... only used vodka so the smoke isn't confused with any barrel flavors.
Just catching up, I've always been infatuated with making my own potions and such. Here is a jar of vodka, with vanilla, I've had for years. I think I moved it here, and I've lived in this house 7.5 years. It's the jar on the right, when it gets down about 1/3, I top off with vodka. When I see vanilla beans, I buy a fresh one or two and add, then later take out the old ones. It smells like vanilla perfume to me! I agree with whomever above said it saves money, if you use much vanilla, and it just gets better over time. These are quart jars.
The other jar, on left, has a question attached. It's a jar of raisins and rum, also several years old. I used to have a neighbor who made killer coquito, at the end of year holidays, and always brought me a jug. She put rum soaked raisins in the bottom, and it was pretty heavenly, even though I usually hate raisins. She moved away, and I've had illusions of making it myself ever since. I started a jar of raisins and rum, it has been sitting I'm guessing four or five years? Smells good, I don't bake, no idea what to do with them. I'm assuming being dried, then soaked, they are pretty well preserved. Ideas?
I used to actually also have a jar of moonshine (I grew up in East Tn, it's still out there) with a peach soaking in it. Someone gave to me ages ago, I think prob 20?, and then a visiting relative swiped it not long ago. I never had the urge to taste it, in high school I saw someone pour moonshine into a styrofoam cup and try to drink it before the bottom of the cup fell out, so passed on tasting. Still, as I said, I'm infatuated a bit with the soaking and fermenting. Might need to rev up a bit more of it! So, anyone want a jar of vintage rum raisins?
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