45 replies to this topic

[tipk99]

Thanks Nick, i appreciate the response.  I know adding mash to NGS might seem silly, and will likely change the character of the NGS after redistilling, and that would sort of be the point... Well, I suppose there are more reasons than that, but that would be one of them... As many have mentioned over in the "character vs neutral" post, having a touch of character to your Vodka is seen as good by many (including myself)... this method seems it might be a cost effective way to have a vodka with a character that I enjoy - without having to distill from the ground up - and take it all they way up to 190.

Thanks again....

[nick jones]

No problem. I look forward to hearing what you decide to do with your process, and tasting the result!

Nick

[tipk99]

Me too!

Thanks

Tom

[Don Poffenroth]

Since the US TTB definition is "Distilled to 190 proof or above", a mixture of anything with 190 NGS would then need to be redistilled to 190 proof again to meet the definition. Straight 190 NGS, even if it is diluted and run through a pot still  does not have this requirement, as it has already met the definition.

DGP

[Tom's Foolery]

Don Poffenroth, on 27 January 2013 - 12:08 AM, said:

Since the US TTB definition is "Distilled to 190 proof or above", a mixture of anything with 190 NGS would then need to be redistilled to 190 proof again to meet the definition. Straight 190 NGS, even if it is diluted and run through a pot still  does not have this requirement, as it has already met the definition.

DGP

Don is right, NGS diluted and run through a pot still does not need to be brought up to 190 proof a second time to be called "Vodka," as it was already vodka to start with.  However, a reason some distillers run NGS through their still is so that they can legally claim that the product was "distilled by" their xyz-micro-distillery.   But to make the claim that a vodka was "distilled by" xyz-micro-distillery, it needs to be brought above 190 in a still at xyz-micro-distillery.  So, if somebody wants to run NGS through their still and sell it as vodka, and legally claim that they actually distilled the vodka at their distillery, then their still will need to bring it above 190 proof. If it does not go above 190 in a still at xyz-micro-distillery, then it is not vodka "distilled by" xyz-micro-distillery.

[nick jones]

Don Poffenroth, on 27 January 2013 - 12:08 AM, said:

Since the US TTB definition is "Distilled to 190 proof or above"...

I feel it is appropriate to clarify that merely distilling something to 190 proof does not necessarily mean that it is vodka.  It must also be somehow rendered (via distillation or otherwise) into something entirely without "distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color".  

Nick

P.S. I think that many on this forum would do well to heed the sage advice that you append to your posts, Don!