How To Make Vodka From Sugar

Which Yeast To Pitch

Now, as youve probably read in our guide on moonshine yeast, theres a wide variety of options available when it comes to fermenting a vodka mash.

The most popular are bakers yeast, distillers yeast and champagne yeast. Selecting which one to go with depends partially on the availability of each particular yeast type, but theres more to it than that.

Depending on the mash type youve chosen, a different type of yeast may be recommended for obtaining the best results.

For example, a mash based on fruits will benefit from champagne, wine and distillers yeast, since these strains are best suited for converting fructose found in fruits.

A mash heavy on grains and malt is a great fit for brewers yeast because it is particularly suited for processing maltose found in most grains.

A potato-based mash will benefit the most from using distillers or bakers yeast.

You Can Sip Homemade Lemon Vodka With Soda Water Or Fresh Fruit Juices Or On The Rocks Here’s How To Make It

Together, weve made strawberry vodka. Now, were ready to try lemon vodka! Its even easier than the strawberry versionif you can believe thatand goes with almost all mixers.

Choosing Your Ingredients

As you know, the best ingredients make the best final product. Were using Titos vodka because it makes a mean drink and the freshest lemons available.

Choose The Right Fermentation Vessel

A fermentation vessel is among the essential things one will require when making alcohol. It is crucial to know that not every vessel will be suitable to use. Remember, there will be various reactions to take place before the alcohol becomes ready. Therefore the best-recommended vessel to use should be safe for consumption. Things such as metallic vessels are not appropriate. You can choose to use things such as plastic or glass vessels. Therefore depending on the quantity of vodka you want to make, you can choose vessels with varying volumes.

• Always ensure you leave extra room for the fermentation process

Having chosen the best vessel to use, now you need to know that after preparing everything required, you should leave some extra room in your vessels. Many people make a mistake of preparing alcohol that occupies all the volume of the vessel. It is crucial to leave some extra room. The extra room allows foam and gases to form during the fermentation process. Remember, if you do not leave some extra room on top of your solution, the pressure generated during fermentation will pop the lid away and create room for contamination.

• Prepare the lid and clean the equipment

• Determine the right amount of sugar to ferment

• Dissolve the sugar

For cleaner alcohol, it is essential to use purified water. Using a separate pot, you need to mix the sugar using warm water with about 32 °C.

• Pour the solution on the vessel

• Add yeast

• Allow the solution to sit for a day

• Fix the lid

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Why Sugar Cane Vodka Tastes Better

Traditionally, vodka has been made from potatoes, wheat or other starchy grains. Recently, some popular vodka has been made from corn. These raw materials are emulsified, cooked, then mixed with enzymes to convert the starches into fermentable sugars then fermented as described above.

However, when converting the grains into sugars, this process also results in the production of other substances and impurities, such as methyl alcohol, esters, acetone and other undesirable compounds. These byproducts are sometimes called congeners. The undesirable elements or congeners that are created from using grains require multiple distillations to produce a pure ethyl alcohol or vodka.

Cane sugar is inherently fermentable is its current state and does not require the addition of enzymes or added chemicals, it is virtually pure sucrose right from the start. Sugar vodka therefore does not produce nearly as many congeners as grain fermentation. Sugar vodka is a cleaner and more efficient way of making vodka.

Making Vodka From Sugar

Making sugar moonshine is a traditional moonshining recipe. There are many other sugar wash recipes and distilling methods out there, but for beginners, I recommend to follow this recipe in order to prevent spoiling precious raw materials at home. Youâll be able to make a beverage that is much better than any store-bought vodka. Letâs learn all of the nuances in full detail.

First, make sure that all of the containers and vessels used are squeaky clean. Wash them with hot water and wipe dry with a clean cloth. Many novice moonshiners neglect sterility and then complain about odd smell and flavor.

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Malted Wheat Or Barley Mash

Malted barley or malted wheat are another popular option for making vodka. And its only natural, since malted grains have all the enzymes necessary for converting the starches contained in them.

Its common, however, to have a mix of both malted and unmalted grains in a vodka mash since this drives down the cost of raw materials considerably.

The $64000 Question: Is There Any Sugar In Sugar Cane Vodka

No! There is zero sugar in vodka. All of the sugar content is consumed in the fermentation process.

Technically, all alcohol requires a base of sugar substances . Ethyl alcohol is the result of yeast feeding on sugars which produces ethyl and CO2. When brought into contact with sucrose at the appropriate temperature, yeast will literally begin to eat the sugars, the ethyl and CO2 is literally a byproduct of this process. This is the process of fermentation. The fermented liquid is referred to as a wash.

As the yeast produces alcohol in the sealed fermentation tank, the level of alcohol in the tank begins to rise. Eventually, the alcohollevel rises to a point where it actually kills-off the yeast, that is the end of the fermentation process. This usually occurs at 14%-20% alcohol by volume, depending on the yeast strain. At this point, the fermentation wash is distilled to separate the alcohol from the wash.

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So Why Use Grains Or Potatoes To Make Vodka

The best answer to this question is that wheat, potatoes and other cereal grains were traditionally the only products available to the people who originally started making vodka. Vodka was created in Poland and Russia. There was no cane sugar grown in these climates or even available to these early purveyors of the spirit. Even if the inventors of vodka had access to large quantities of cane sugar, back then sugar was an exotic luxury and was very expensive.

That tradition has survived into modern times for several reasons. The main reason is that potatoes and cereal grains are growth and produced on a massive scale and, mostly from genetically altered plants. They are cheap, abundant and most of all, almost always subsidized by governments. Distilleries that use certain government-mandated agricultural products are often granted tax incentives or subsidies. These factors ensure that vodka-makers will cling to the use of these products, even though they are not ideally suited for making vodka.

There are many quality vodkas that made from grains or potatoes. In fact, over 95% of vodkas are made this way. However, we feel that sugar vodka is simply better from a purity, smoothness and drink-ability standpoint. This is due to the absence of impurities and congeners found in grain and potato-based vodkas.

This is why we are seeing a trend in ultra-premium vodka brands emerging that use sugar or sugar-rich fruits to produce vodka instead of cereal grains.

Expert Tips For Using Mixers With Vodka

• The best part about making simple mixed drinks is that you can alter the ingredients to your preference. If you want a strong drink use a small amount of mixer. For a lighter drink add 1.5 ounces of vodka to 1 cup of juice.

• Use quality ingredients for the best cocktails, like organic juice and fresh-squeezed citrus. There are even healthier options for a soda like Olipop!

• Shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice to create a balanced drink thats chilled and ready for sipping!

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How Many Calories Are In Smirnoff Sugar Free Vodka

Approximately 72 calories per serving are packed into each of these new Zero Sugar Infusions. There are no carbohydrates, no fat, and no sugar in a 5 ounce serving. Nevertheless, they boast a wide range of exciting flavors, as well as Smirnoff Vodka, which is beloved by consumers all over the country.

Add Yeast To The Fermentable Medium

Hydrate the appropriate amount of dried distillers or other desired yeast and add it to the liquid. Stir with a clean, sanitized spoon to evenly disperse the yeast.

If using an airlock, the airlock will bubble during active fermentation, and the bubbling will slow dramatically or cease altogether as the liquid becomes completely fermented. Keep the fermenting liquid in a room that is about 80° 85° F to facilitate good, efficient fermentation. Alternately, use a heating belt in cold areas.

• Distillers yeast will ferment cleanly, produce a high amount of alcohol , and produce a relatively low amount of unwanted compounds such as alcohols other than ethanol. The amount of yeast used will depend on the specific brand or type of yeast used.

• Nutrients may be included with the yeast in the yeast packet. Yeast nutrients are needed when fermenting a medium that is low in nutrients, such as sugar solutions, but they can also improve fermentations when used with nutrient-rich mediums such as those made from grains.

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How To Ferment Your Potato Mash

1. The first thing youll need to do is make your yeast starter.

First, sterilize a glass jar.

Then heat 4 oz of water to 110 and pour it into the container.

Add 2 tsp of sugar and stir well.

Add the yeast

Stir again.

Let the mixture stand for 20 minutes.

2. Now, you will transfer ONLY the liquid from your potato mash into the sterilized fermentation bucket, leaving any sediment behind. You can do this with a strainer. Try to make as much splash as you can without losing any liquid, as this will help to aerate the mixture.

3. Next, its time to add the yeast starter to the fermentation bucket and put on the airlock.

4. Now comes the easy part where you leave your mash to ferment for two weeks at room temperature.

5. After the two weeks is up, youll want to check your mixture to be sure fermentation is complete. One way of doing this is with iodine. Just take a sample of the liquid from your bucket and put it on a white plate. Add the iodine.

If the mixture turns blue, it means that starches are still present and that the fermentation process is not complete. In that case, leave the mixture to ferment a few more days and then perform the test again.

6. Once fermentation is complete, youll need to remove any solid material in your wash . You can use a cheesecloth and a new sterilized container to do this.

Check The Alcohol Content And Purity Of The Distillate

Cool a sample of the distillate to 68° F and use a hydrometer to measure the percentage of alcohol of the distillate. The distillate may be too dilute to serve as acceptable vodka , or may be more concentrated than desired . Vodka is usually diluted before bottling, so the distillate may have a very high alcohol content. The distillate may also be too flavorful and aromatic and require additional distillations or carbon filtering.

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Selecting Proper Yeast For Sugar Wash

Every strain of yeast has a specific tolerance to alcohol content in the wash. The type of yeast you use will determine the amount of sugar that will ferment in the wash and the % of alcohol in your final product. The Yeast you choose to use in your sugar wash will determine the amount of Sugar you can add to your wash. For example simple brewers yeast for making beer can usually produce a wash to an alcohol content of around 12% where some turbo yeast can withstand alcohol concentrations of up to 23%. These turbo yeast allow you to use much more sugar and also get a larger volume of alcohol from the same volume of wash. If your interested in learning more about yeast selection have a read trough this article : Yeast selection for fermentation of sugar, grain and fruit.

Dos And Donts For Diabetics

These alcohol consumption rules should be followed by diabetics who drink vodka:

• If youre a man, dont drink more than two drinks in one day. If youre a woman, dont drink more than one drink.
• Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation with food.
• Slowly drink your beverage.
• Drink sugary mixed beverages, sweet wines, and cordials in moderation.
• Combine liquor with water, club soda, or diet soft drinks to make a cocktail.
• Always check your blood sugar level which will help in finding that you have diabetes or not.

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How To Make Homemade Vodka Using Potatoes

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Vodka, comrades. Whether its in a sophisticated Martini, a refreshing Bloody Mary or the all-too-strong Long Island Iced Tea, cocktail hour wouldnt be nearly as much fun without it. If you consider yourself a connoisseur, an expert mixologist or just really, really like vodka, you may want to learn how to make it yourself.

Of course, you should know off the bat that distilling your own alcohol at home is illegal. Yep, despite the plethora of information, stills, equipment and recipes out there, its a no-go with the Feds. So unless youre a licensed distiller, this very real recipe is for theoretical vodka that you can enjoy in your theoretical Cosmopolitans.

That being said, were going to take you through the whole process, including making your own mash, fermenting the mash, distilling the vodka and collecting it. Yes, it is a bit of work. But if you have the time and really enjoy an artisanal cocktail, it could be worth your while.

Lets see how to make vodka from home.

Check The Alcohol Content

Once you have the hearts of your run separated, youll want to cool them to about 68 and use an alcometer to measure the alcohol content. To be considered vodka, the distillate should have an ABV of between 40 to 90% .

If you find the vodka too strong, you can dilute it with filtered water. If the vodka is too weak, you can redistill it to increase the alcohol content. In fact, some premium brands of vodka are distilled 4 or 5 times. However, keep in mind that the foreshots, heads and tails must be discarded in EVERY run.

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Sugar Content In Vodka

Distilled spirits, such as vodka, rum, whiskey, and gin, are carb-free since they solely contain alcohol. If youre keeping track of your carbs, vodka is the way to go. This may seem odd considering that vodka is manufactured from carbohydrates such as wheat and potatoes.

During the fermenting and distillation operations, however, the carbohydrates are eliminated.Some rum products, for example, have added spices and sugar, which alter the flavour as well as the nutritional value. In general, wine and beer have more calories and carbs per serving than vodka.

Comparing vodka carbs and calories with other types of alcohol

• Vanilla
• Cinnamon

Bacon, whipped cream, ginger, mango, and even smoked salmon are among the more exotic infusions. The best part is that, aside from basic vodka, most of the flavoured varieties include no additional calories.Keep in mind that flavour-infused vodka is not to be confused with vodka beverages.

These beverages are created with flavoured sugary syrups added after the fermentation and distillation process. These drinks typically have a lot more calories than infused vodka.Always pay attention to the labels. If the nutrition information on the product label isnt available, look for it on the manufacturers website.

Drinks To Make With Lemon Vodka

Its time to enjoy your concoction! Try a lemon martini, replacing the limoncello with additional lemon vodka. You can also use it in place of plain vodka in such drinks as an Apple Martini, this delightful Spiked Pink Lady or my personal favorite: the Rosemary & Thyme Lemon Cocktail.

Just like with food, the acid in citrus helps balance sweetness and works great with salt . So, play around with your new signature lemon vodka. Trust us, this wont be the last vodka you infuse!

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How Long Does Vodka Take To Ferment

Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast is added to get the fermentation process started. It metabolizes sugars producing ethanol, other alcohols, carbon dioxide and heat.

This yeast is normally added to the mash when it is about 30°C . The best temperature that this yeast functions at is between 23.8-35°C any warmer than that and the yeast will die and fermentation will stop.

The fermentation process usually takes between one day to two weeks, it all depends on the base ingredient. The final product of the fermentation will leave you with a wash, which has a beer-like consistency, with a 7-15%alc/vol. A well controlled fermentation process that is slow will produce a better quality wash with lower levels of fusel and methanol.

When To Serve Mixed Vodka Drinks

These cocktails are simple to make and perfect year-round. Theyre great for happy hour or any special occasion.

We love the idea of creating a DIY station with fresh juice, bottles of vodka, and garnishes so guests can make their own mixed drinks. Similar to our spritzer bar and mix and match garden bar.

Vodka mixed drinks are also great for any of these special occasions:

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