#potion project

I was watching 'how to drink' again today (an excellent show - I watch it even tho I don't/can't drink) and I was reminded for once while I was AT HOME that I started trying to make bitters and had set up extraction jars like....over a year ago 😬😬😬

'Lost' a few that started to look funky. I know that using everclear as the spirit would keep most anything bad from growing but when stuff looks like this:

I don't want to try it! (That *was* cacao nib)

So, the lost are:

Walnut, cacao nib, blueberry, strawberry, gentian root.

The blueberry and strawberry were both sweetened, so I wonder if that's what made them go funny. I guess this is is why you're supposed to check on them every day (which I don't). Will this teach me to do so?

Probably not tbh - too scatterbrained.

I have decanted some of them, using a *very* scientific method (aka 'does it smell more like the thing than alcohol')

So far we've got thyme, green cardamom, anise, b&w peppercorn, and orange peel. So uh, not really anything I want to be mixing together yet.

We've got a messload still working.

From the first group:

Dried cranberry, juniper, rosemary, (and technically) apricot.

From the second batch: wild cherry bark, marshmallow root, cherry, licorice root, burdock root, dandelion root, dandelion leaf, basil, fennel, wormword, angelica root, bay leaf, black walnut leaf, ginger. (I think that's it?)

And a third batch started today: (rinsed) cacao nib, prune, gentian root attempt #2, earl grey tea (2 tea bags).

I want to try basil and black pepper with cucumber water, and I'm hoping the earl grey turns out so I can attempt a lemon & earl grey cake again.

Idk maybe I should try making a cucumber one too! I'll try blueberry again with fresh cause I'm not sure how frozen would do. Not sure what other inspiration will hit - I've been resisting mushroom since the beginning and been wondering about celery. I know I should probably dial in some flavours to go with what I already have, but idk what half of them taste like yet cause they're still brewing.

Dandelion root

Burdock root

Licorice root

Wormwood

Angelica root

Gentian root

Each has about 2 oz of ec (licorice has a tad more), but I don't have exact measurements for the roots. I believe that most have about 1/4 oz, except for the licorice and wormwood. They were both shredded/cut fluffier than the rest, so measuring them was difficult. (I just guessed, lol)

All the different roots had interesting smells so I'm really looking forward to seeing how they turn out.

The orange smells quite nice, which makes sense cause its a pretty common one.

Most of the dried herbs are doing ok - getting stronger. Spilled some rosemary on my hand and its quite nice! Lol

I somehow tightened the lids on the strawberry and cranberry too much and will need assistance getting them open orz

The walnut is cloudy and i am suspicious of it. I might have to dump it.

The green cardamom is STRONG, like overpowering the smell of the alcohol strong. I might pull it soon just because holy shit. The juniper and anise are ok. Orange peel is peely. The cocao nibs look...weird. I'll have to investigate those soon.

The dried apricot had a very light taste to it - it was very pleasant so I decided to turn it into a bigger batch. (I fuckin' love apricots)

I added maybe 2 more tablespoons of my 'regular' apricots, (this timeI split them before I chopped them to increase contact with all that tasty interior apricot goo) and maybe another ounce of everclear to be sure it was all covered. It's gonna need a hell of a lot more time so I figured I might as well upgrade it now while it's still in the early stages, instead of getting done and having to start a brand new batch for more.

Into quarter pint mason jars I put approximately 1 tablespoon of:

Dried cranberry

Walnut

Dried strawberry (sweetened)

Green cardamom

Thyme

Dried apricot (the weird coloured ones I have a hard time eating straight because my brain insists they're spoiled)

Cacoa nibs

Rosemary

Black and white peppercorn mix

Dried/fresh orange peel

Juniper

Anise

The walnuts and all of the dried fruits except the cranberries got a rough chop (the cranberries were already the right size and squashed open). The strawberries were sweetened cause that's how they came out of the packet.

The larger/harder dried herbs (cardamom, anise, peppercorns, juniper) got a quick visit to the mortar to crack at least some of them open.

To those I added about 2 oz of everclear and gave them all a good shake.

Gonna call this the 'potion project'.

Why am I trying to make my own bitters instead of just buying them?

Well, I learned that you can add a few drops of bitters to water or soda water and have a nice little non-soda without a shitload of sugar. I happily purchased a bottle of angostura bitters only to discover that it contains cinnamon, which I can't have.

Yes I know, I should have done more research but to be fair most EVERYTHING I read just said 'spices' and 'proprietary mix' without any flavour notes, just that it was good on its own in tiny doses and could also really elevate cocktails/cocktails and it sounded so good, and it was but I can't risk the allergic reaction *cries*.

So! Making my own. So then I know for sure what's in it and can make whatever my little mechanical heart desires. Including perhaps something approximating the flavours of gin and perhaps jager without the proof for my beloved.