Bourbon, Whisky & Rum: A Guide to Making These Popular Spirits Using Recipe Kits

I could do this better at home. Have you ever said those words after having a less-than-stellar drink? Making your own spirits at home really gets things brewing. The knowledge you will gain will make you excited and make you appreciate your next glass more. Brewing isn’t just for beer; spirits are also a great drink option you can stir up at home.

But there is something you should know. Making spirits is not an easy task in Australia. While the process itself is straightforward, to do so, you need to have a proper licence. While it’s illegal in the United States, you can produce homemade spirits in Australia with an ‘excise manufacturer licence.

This sounds like a lot, and that is why I want to introduce you to ready-made homemade spirits recipes kits that come with everything you’ll need. These are completely legal, contain all the necessary ingredients to make a particular drink, and will still give you a unique homemade taste where you’re in control. Here are some popular drinks and how to make them at home. But first, let’s get into the basics.

What Are Spirits?

A true spirit is any alcoholic liquid that has been distilled and not fermented. This drink has a strength ranging from 37.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) up to 50% ABV or above.

Do you perhaps call these drinks liquor? Well, this is an interchangeable name for liquor and spirits. For simplicity, today we will refer to it as spirits. You can produce your own spirits with a not-so-secret homemade spirit recipe that comes in a complete kit.

Let’s start with a classic in the cabinet: Bourbon.

Bourbon

Let’s start with a Kentucky Bourbon homemade spirits recipes kit to give your taste buds some excitement. This style of bourbon has A rich, smooth, and fruity taste with toasted oak and hone, coupled with a lingering sweet and spicy taste and a warm finish to make you want to have another pour.

What’s Inside a Recipe Kit?

In a bourbon kit, you have still spirits, classic crafter’s cut Bourbon Whisky, American Bourbon barrel oak staves, and glycerine. You only need to have a glass jar on hand to store your bourbon for the next 2–8 weeks.

How to Make It

1. Mix both sachets of Crafters Cut Bourbon with 3 litres of filtered alcohol at 40%
2. Add 10 ml of glycerine to smooth the bourbon and add a touch of sweetness. (This is all in your control.)
3. Add 100g of bourbon barrel staves and soak in a glass for 2 to 8 weeks. (Never use anything but glass.)
4. Once mature, bottle your bourbon and remove the staves.

Keep in mind that the longer it has time to absorb, the deeper the colour and the more intense the oak flavours and aroma.

How to Store It

Bourbon does not expire, but it can go bad if it’s been exposed to oxygen, light, or heat. It will last about six months after it’s been opened.

Bourbon doesn’t need to be refrigerated. It is best stored at room temperature. If you want it chilled. Just add some blocks of ice to each glass. Also, be sure to keep it out of the sunlight, as this will affect the flavour.

Whiskey

The making of whisky is a bit different from bourbon. There are all sorts of recipe kits to choose from, but one of the best ones is the Johnny Blue whisky. This has the flavour profile of smoky, hazelnut, dark chocolate, and ginger flavours. You will love the floral, oaky, and smokey finish.

What’s Inside?

Inside your kit for homemade whisky, you will find whisky essence, oak essence, and peat smoke. These are all you need to make your first batch of whisky.

How to Make It

This is a premium scotch whisky, so it should be treated with delicacy.

1. Add the whisky essence, oak essence, and peat smoke to the filtered 40% distilled spirit.
2. To make your whisky smoother, add 5-7 ml of glycerine per 1.5 litres of spirit.
3. Wait 5 days.
4. Pour it into a glass bottle.

How to Store It

What’s so great about whisky is that it has a very long shelf life, even when it’s open. It can still last a year if you remember to keep it protected in a cool, dark area, such as a wine cellar, pantry, cabinet, or box

Rum

If you feel like having a Caribbean vibe, a splash of rum is just for you. Rum has been a longtime spirit of the islands. Now you can make it yourself with the help of homemade spirit kits.

What’s Inside a Kit?

Inside a rum kit, there’s usually some dark and spiced rum, glycerine, and American bourbon barrel chips.

How to Make It

1. Add the dark and spiced rum, glycerine, and American bourbon barrel chips to the filtered 40% distilled spirit.
2. Add 5-7 ml of glycerine per 1.5 litres of spirit.
3. Pour it into a glass bottle.
4. Wait at least one month while it smooths and matures.

How to Store It

To keep the party going. Store rum in a tightly sealed bottle. Store it, much like the other homemade spirits, in a cool, dry place away from radiators and direct sunlight. In addition, do not store rum in a bottle with a pourer attached

Mini Spirit Brewing Dictionary

Here is a small dictionary of the most common spirit recipe terms.

Glycerine: This is a type of sugar alcohol. It is produced from vegetable oils such as rapeseed, sunflower, or palm oils rich in fatty acids. Using this in your alcohol processing will help to smooth the taste.

Staves or chips: They look like flat wooden sticks that make up the body of the barrel. Staves are used to change the flavour of alcohol. Different staves will have different flavour outcomes, this is the difference in taste between whisky and bourbon.

It’s Time to Get to Work

The great thing about kits is that they still allow you to get behind the science of spirits, but you have a very small chance of not having a good outcome. The instructions are so specific, and this is a great way to start your new hobby. The possibilities are endless. Happy brewing.