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Resting White Spirits After Distillation & Proofing


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Hello all,

I was hoping to get some guidance on the resting period for white spirits. Is it common to allow a period of rest in steel or plastic after distillation but before filtering/proofing for GNS/Vodka? As for gin, I've read that a couple weeks of rest can benefit the final product prior to bottling. Again, are their two resting periods for gin (after distillation, after proofing)?

Thanks for the help!

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We "rest" our Gin for 20 days before bottling as many of the flavor characteristics come off at different boiling points. They need time to marry up and the best way is to vat everything and proof a little high. All the flavors will reach their peak after about 20 days and then you can take it to your final bottling proof and put it in the bottle.

With Vodka you shouldn't have to follow this procedure. There shouldn't be any flavors to marry, so you should be good to go as soon as you proof and filter. We still take two or more days to do this as we creep up in the final proof to make sure we get it right.

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All spirits improved from resting, even white spirits, because there are chemicals which break down, oxidize or react with other chemicals which are distilled over from the mash.

The effect is more noticeable if you are making spirits with wide cuts, such as unoaked rums or eaux de vie.

It's not uncommon for French and German distilleries to age white fruit spirits for several years after distillation.

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