good flavours to go with a strong alchohol content?

[blagooba]

Hello, I'm going for a 16-18 percent outcome on my next project, but I'm not sure what flavour would complement this. I was thinking about using tea, and lemon and making it very sweet? I want a shortish recipe. Thanks guys for any advice?

 

[Arpolis]

I vote for vanilla as the dominate flavor and age this for a week on some lightly toasted oak. Here is a recipe from Jack Keller. Just up the sugar content to the gravity you want and once clear rack onto your toasted oak.


VANILLA WINE
2 cans (11.5 oz) Welch's 100% white grape juice frozen concentrate
4 vanilla beans (6-9 inches long)
1-1/4 lbs granulated sugar
2 tsp acid blend
1 tsp pectic enzyme
1 tsp yeast nutrient
water to make 1 gallon
wine yeast

 

[Honda88]

make sure your use a yeast that can handle the high alcohol content!!!

 

[blagooba]

I have champagne yeast sounds interesting

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Blackberry, plum, and cherry all do well at higher ABV.
Regards, GF.

 

[Honda88]

cherry sounds like it would be awesome at high abv, i wish i could get cherry concentrate at my grocery store i would be so down to try this

 

[gratus fermentatio]

cherry sounds like it would be awesome at high abv, i wish i could get cherry concentrate at my grocery store i would be so down to try this

You could always use juice:
http://www.rwknudsenfamily.com/products/just-juice

Knudsen also has concentrates. Usually the stores that have a lot of organic stuff will have Knudsen juice products.
Regards, GF.

 

[ctgwaltney]

A friend of mine makes Blackberry at 18% and sweetens it a little. My favorite