Mead Jack

[Annalida]

I have tried to make Jack, but the amount of liquid not frozen is negligible. Is this because of my super low h2o to honey ratio?

 

[brewingmeister]

Can you explain your process and what you mean by mead jack?

 

[lawpaw]

I have tried to make Jack, but the amount of liquid not frozen is negligible. Is this because of my super low h2o to honey ratio?

I'm assuming you are freeze distilling. The problem with that is that the alcohol can be frozen within the water.

I have considered trying this in the future. I think the best method would be to use an ice cream maker, or something that keeps the liquid moving as it freezes so that the alcohol doesn't get trapped up inside.

 

[Devo9]

I'm assuming you are freeze distilling. The problem with that is that the alcohol can be frozen within the water.

I have considered trying this in the future. I think the best method would be to use an ice cream maker, or something that keeps the liquid moving as it freezes so that the alcohol doesn't get trapped up inside.

Or you could try unintentionally freezing it like I did. Seem that when you don't MEAN to freeze your mead, liquid concentrate leaks out all over your freezer.... lol

(was trying to chill it quickly but I fell asleep)

 

[biochemedic]

Use the search to look up threads on freeze distillation...not just in the mead section...most of them are in the beer forums. I've done this with a braggot, and you can get about a 3-fold concentration...it comes out like a cordial at that concentration...very sweet, but intensely flavorful. Best for sipping slowly by the ounce in a small brandy snifter.

If you were to watch the process more closely and have less of a concentration; ie, filter the ice when it first starts to form, you could have something more intermediate similar to the traditional apple jack...

 

[Annalida]

Thanks Everyone!

 

[beninan]

WOAH GIANT FONT!!! May I ask to please stick with the normal font?

Now onto your question. By "Jack" do you mean "Jack Daniel's", and are you trying to clone "Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey" (JDTH)? If so, JDTH is actually a honey liqueur where distilling would be necessary to create it, unlike a mead which is just fermented. JDTH I believe (from what I hear from a co-worker who drinks it, I may be way wrong on this) is whiskey with honey blended into it, so the honey has all the original sweetness and is un-fermented.

Distilling (which includes freeze distilling) is not legal as per Texas law, and is not something that is discussed upon on these forums. However, freeze concentrating is legal as far as I'm aware (VERY fine line between freeze distilling and freeze concentrating, as in, no difference except a name), so you could ferment a mead and freeze concentrate it to increase the alcohol percentage.

Now to further respond to your question, I have never tried JDTH, so I really don't know what it tastes like. I've been told it's like whiskey but with a LOT of honey in it, so much that it's very sweet and it's somewhat hard to drink in larger amounts. I would think that you could make a honey and malt mix with a ton of fermentables, pick a yeast that can ferment it to a high alcohol percentage, and possibly freeze concentrate it to boost the alcohol percentage more.

 

[lawpaw]

I think she is referring to a honey version of Applejack, an apple brandy that is traditionally made by freeze "concentrating" cider.

The popular commercial version "Laird's Applejack" is very good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applejack_(beverage)