I want to share a great rice wine that I have had the pleasure of experiencing.
Tuak is a wine made in Malaysia brewed from glutinous rice, sugar, and a blend of yeasts they call 'ragi'. It is typically made a few months prior to the Gawai festival and other special occasions. Traditionally it is consumed only a few weeks after fermentation, and the first quaff I had of this was <i>harsh</i>! However I was able to smuggle a couple liters back home which I set aside and forgot about for almost 2 years.
I turned the bottles up early this year and cracked the bottles. I had not really stored them properly so the corks were dried out. I strained the cork from the wine and a few friends of mine finished what was left. Let me tell you that wine was smooOOooth and sweet! I didn't take any gravity readings then, but I'm fortunate enough to have another liter and a half aging in some screwcap bottles that I got back in February.
I'm attempting to get some more detailed brewing information through family in Malaysia, but if anyone in shouting distance knows anything more about tuak, please share!
Tuak is a wine made in Malaysia brewed from glutinous rice, sugar, and a blend of yeasts they call 'ragi'. It is typically made a few months prior to the Gawai festival and other special occasions. Traditionally it is consumed only a few weeks after fermentation, and the first quaff I had of this was <i>harsh</i>! However I was able to smuggle a couple liters back home which I set aside and forgot about for almost 2 years.
I turned the bottles up early this year and cracked the bottles. I had not really stored them properly so the corks were dried out. I strained the cork from the wine and a few friends of mine finished what was left. Let me tell you that wine was smooOOooth and sweet! I didn't take any gravity readings then, but I'm fortunate enough to have another liter and a half aging in some screwcap bottles that I got back in February.
I'm attempting to get some more detailed brewing information through family in Malaysia, but if anyone in shouting distance knows anything more about tuak, please share!