Oak essence, anyone use it?

Mark, I've made my own and also used the commercial essence. I use

0.5 to 1.5 tablespoons per gallon, but this really does vary from wine to wine. I've used as much as 2.5 tablespoons on a really heavy Syrah. I don't like the oak to compete with the wine, so do not over-do it.

To make my own, I fill a one-pint mason jar with shredded French oak that is first dampened in water. I tamp it, but don't pack it tight. Then I add Everclear until the oak begins to rise out of the jar, put a lid on it, and set it in a cabinet. After about two weeks I find I can add another half cup or so of Everclear, then put it back in the cabinet. After 3 months (although I've forgotten it and left it in for 5 months) I strain out the Everclear (now an oak essence) into a dark medicine bottle and add more fresh Everclear to the mason jar. It will continue extracting good oak flavor for about 5 or 6 strainings 15 to 18 months. I then put the shredded oak in a jelly bag with 6-8 marbles, tie it tight, and drop it in a bulk-aging port, leaving it there for about a year.

Jack Keller, The WInemaking Home Page

Well I added 2tsp and don't plan to rack again until I bottle in another month or so. Do you think the stuff would mix in well enough over that time if I just pour some in on top of the wine in the carboy?

Mark

Mark, add the essence and then use a wooden dowel or plastic rod to stir it. Allow it a few days to integrate well.

Jack Keller, The Winemaking Home Page

Jack,

I'm curious why one would make their own oak-essence-in-Everclear rather than adding the oak directly to the wine?

This is not a criticism of your method, just a genuine question as to why one would put forth the time, expense, and effort of creating the oak essence as opposed to simply adding the oak to the wine during fermentation or bulk aging.

I don't do this, I just add the oak directly, but I could see how is may give you better control over the level of oak flavor. Adding a certain amount of oak chips or even aging in a barrel is a , let's say, inexact science concerning the resulting flavor contribution.

Andy

Ken,

There are at least three reasons. First, a lot of people have asked me about using Oak Essence (the product) and I had never used it and wanted to so I could talk about it knowledgably. I couldn't find it locally, so decided to make some. After I made some, I found the product and then began comparing mine to theirs. Making it became a habit.

Second, I have at times bulk aged a wine and when I was ready to bottle it wished I had oaked it. Oak essence is the answer, and the stuff is much cheaper to make than to buy. Plus, it really makes itself.

Third, I have oaked wines before until they were perfect, removed the oak, and two months later found I could hardly taste it at all. Oak essence is the answer. It's easy to use, you can taste the results right away, and if it isn't strong enough you don't have to wait another month.

A friend in Fredericksburg, Texas also makes his own essence. His method is slightly different than mine. He uses vodka. He also leaves the oak chips in the jar for a couple of years. When he uses some of his essence, he just adds more vodka to the jar. His gets stronger than mine.

Jack Keller, The Winemaking Home Page

Jack,

All very reasonable reasons, which I hadn't considered only because I'd never run across any of those situations previously. I may make a jar, just to keep on hand for those situations.

But I see one negative to this process... It ties up the oak chips for a long time, and that would leave me with none for the grill. ;)

not to sound ignorant, but what's everclear? Rick

Rick,

It's a commercial rotgut, tasteless 190 proof alcohol. Considering it's potency the price is very reasonabl, thus it lends itself well to functions such as fortifying a sherry or port, and in liqueurs and cordials.

Also used by fraternities to spike some horrific mixtures. ;-)

I must admit I have never used the stuff. Jack's reasons given above are very practical and good reasons in them selves. I can think of one additional possible reason. I am not sure about this so someone correct me if my thinking is wrong.

It is offten recommended to add oak to wine early so it will better incorporate into the wine. This suggests that the oak is blending or chemically reacting with something in the wine. The most likely think I can think of that it would be reacting with is alcohol. If this is the case, making the oak essence would generate exactly what you want. Oak blended with alcohol. Thus you could adjust your oak level relatively quickly by mixing some in, letting it sit a week, tasting, and further adjusting.

Just a thought.

Jack, do you water down the everclear? Is it really necessary or adviseable to use it in it's 190 proof state?

Ray

Rick, Everclear is the brand name of a 190-proof (95% alcohol by volume) liquor that has some great uses besides the obvious.

When I lived in Colorado, I put a tablespoon or so in the carburator on really cold mornings and it fired up the car better than spray starters (usually ether).

It tenderizes tough meat very quickly, especially if injected with a syringe (don't overdo it).

It is a better fortifier for wine (as in turning a 10% wine into an

18-20% port) than 80-proof brandy because you use less and dilute the wine less.

It can be used to make other extracts besides oak essence, such as vanilla, orange, almond, tonka bean, coconut, etc.

Ray, to answer your question I never dilute it. If I wanted to do that I'd just use vodka or gin.

Jack Keller, The WInemaking Home Page

I'm looking for a state where I can buy Everclear, I travel around the country a bit, what states besides Colorado is it available? Larry

Texas and Louisiana

Jack Keller

Thanks to all for the tips on the states it is available. I will be in NC and Arizona this year. Larry

hi, Larry, maybe you can pick up us michiganders a bottle! Rick

Larry,

Everclear is sold in VA ABC stores. I tend to buy in MD because the VA stores contain exact carbon copies of each other in stock. MD stores have a much wider variety, and that appeals to my desire for interesting scotch and grappa. Grappa isn't even available in VA! I don't recall seeing Everclear in MD stores, but I will look the next time I'm there.

I just got some here yesterday (Brunswick, Maryland). I got it for experiments fortifying and sweetening some wine.