I’ve had this basil soaking in 190 proof Everclear since last year.
I started trying to clean up the workshop and realized I needed some painkiller to make that happen. I also had some black cherry Kool-Aid.
I cannot recommend this as a taste about beverage. But I can say that the flavors are subtle and complex when mixed together. They’re not unpleasant. I’m pretty sure I could make a stunning cocktail out of this with a bit more sugar.
Why am I cleaning the workshop? Because temperatures are getting warm enough where wood glue works again. And the workshop is a hot mess.
The supermarket booze around here is so crap that at some point I thought about making a little still. Later, I was dissuaded by the facts that: A) that’s apparently illegal here, B) could probably break my lease, and C) IIRC it can actually be a fire hazard, or something.
As an alternative, for a while there I was using a Brita filter to improve my cheap booze. It actually works, I found, altho takes a lot of cycles, like at least seven or so to have a noticeable effect. Also uses up the filters really quick, and they’re not cheap. If I ever try that again, I’ll have to research what a cost effective alternative might be.
One other issue is that during warmer months, fruit flies inevitably get in the apparatus and quickly render it disgusting…
I used to make a lot of beer and wine but never messed with distilling.