Apple Jack

[Minnesota]

Does anyone here make Apple Jack ?

in case this term is unfamiliar to you, Apple Jack is apple cider
that is fermented, then distilled by freezing...several times.
when most of the water is removed, the cider is concentrated
as much as 10 to 1. You end up with a beverage that is at least 20 % alcohol.

I have tried this a couple of times now, and am looking for any tips or tricks.
the first batch turned out great, the second batch was way too tart.

[theracedude]

No but i sure could use a drink now.

[MKG]

... and, if anyone tries it, don't forget to throw away the first 3 or 4 fluid ounces - this contains all of the fusel oils and methyl alcohols in concentrated form. You really don't want to drink that.

Just how big is your freezer, Minnesota?

Mike

[Minnesota]

Good point about the fusel oils and Methyl alcohols, thanks.

This is Minnesota, the whole state is my freezer.
I ferment the cider after pressing in the fall, then just bulk age
it til our weather becomes cold, we get at least one or two
cold spells where the temps drop to -25 degrees fahrenheit.

[Minnesota]

Well, I started the freeze process yesterday.
we have our first cold stap...should last 4 days.
it is -9 degrees F this morning.

this is 11 gallons of fermented dry Apple Cider.
to each jug (about 2.5 gallons) I added 2 quarts of unfermented Apple Cider
to sweeten it as it reduces.

sorry I didn't do the metric conversions for you,
we are really old school here in the USA, huh.

[Carltonian Man]

Minus 9 degrees F. Snow on the ground, and you've got nothing on your feet. My mum would have a fit

[frozenthunderbolt]

you could also try running it through an activated charcoal filter to remove the nasties

[Minnesota]

Yeah, I have a hot feet problem.
Doctors don't have a clue except to say eczema.
but there is no visual evidence of that.
anyway, my feet are always hot, I hate to wear shoes.
I never wear shoes, unless I have to...work, restaurants, grocery shopping.
I can walk in the snow for at least five minutes before
I start to feel the cold, and it feels good to feel the cold.
but then of course it's a fine line,
when they start to feel real cold, frost bite starts to set in.

[gdb]

I never knew it got so cold up that ways.

We've barely seen freezing over here so far this winter. And no snow to speak of!

As to Apple Jack - cant help. I've heard of it but I had no idea what it was. Sounds (and looks) good!

[Gert]

I Like the sound of this Apple Jack stuff.

[suziq]

<nurse hat on>
do you have any pain in your feet?
is there a bigger gap between your toes 2/3 3/4 than the rest?
<nurse hat off>

looks fabby!

[Minnesota]

suziq
thanks fo putting your nurse hat on.
there is a toe gap between #3 and #4 (if Big toe is #1).
no gap between other toes.
no pain, just the feeling of heat, sometimes it turns into a burning and iching sensation if I am wearing shoes/boots for several hours.
The weird part is (while wearing shoes/boots) if I'm active and/or walking the problem is much less, but if I am not active, just standing around or sitting, the burning and iching is the worst. Also, my feet swell when iching and burning is at the worst.

[Minnesota]

here is the results from freeze #2.
and how I deal with the freezen cider.

[Minnesota]

these two 5 gallon carboys (each half full) are what is left after two freezes.
they are awaiting the below zero F temps
that we are forecast to get tonight and tomorrow night.
the last two nights have been warm...around 20 to 28 deg F

[suziq]

sometimes hot feet can be related to a morton's neuroma, a nerve growth between the toes, not serious. maybe consider orthotics, always worth consulting a podiatrist

whole cider thing looks really interesting,not sure what you are trying to acheive, feelfree to enlighten me!