Spirit Recipe Kits

Spirit recipe kits

A recipe kit is a step up from a plain essence. An essence gives you a flavour to add to a base spirit. A recipe kit gives you the components and the method for a particular style, so what comes out the other end is a considered drink rather than a flavoured one.

The practical difference is in the detail. Recipe kits handle the things that separate a good home spirit from a rough one, and they are matched to a stated batch volume rather than left to you to work out.

What is in the range

• Kentucky and Tennessee bourbon styles. The bulk of the range. Kentucky bourbon is the sweeter, corn-forward, vanilla and caramel end. Tennessee is the sour mash style, drier and a little smoother.
• Rye and premium bourbon styles. Rye brings a peppery, spicier character than corn does. The premium kits sit at larger batch sizes.
• Irish whiskey. Lighter and smoother than the American styles, and the easiest of them to drink young.
• Spiced rum. Vanilla and warm spice over a molasses base. The one non-whiskey style here, and consistently the most popular.
• Limited edition kits. The Still Spirits Batch 89 Reserve bourbon and gold rum kits. Limited means limited, so they come and go.

Choosing one

Batch size is the first thing to check, because the kits are not all the same. They run from 3 litres up to 6, and the size is in each product title. A 3 litre kit is a sensible first attempt. A 6 litre kit is for someone who already knows they like the style and would rather not repeat the work.

Beyond that, pick by what you actually drink. A bourbon drinker will not be won over by an Irish whiskey kit, and the reverse is just as true.

Ships Australia-wide from our Melbourne store. If you have not made a spirit from a recipe kit before, ring us and we will talk you through what the process actually involves before you buy.