A (safe) additive to whiskey
February 25, 2011 7:26 AM Subscribe
Little rock-like addition to whiskey - what was it?
Years ago I bought in a supermarket a jar of white pebble-sized irregularly shaped "things" that I added to whiskey (scotch I think). They dissolved in the bottle or glass and I remember it made it taste very smooth and thick and (maybe) a bit sweet. I have never seen or used them since. What was it?
Years ago I bought in a supermarket a jar of white pebble-sized irregularly shaped "things" that I added to whiskey (scotch I think). They dissolved in the bottle or glass and I remember it made it taste very smooth and thick and (maybe) a bit sweet. I have never seen or used them since. What was it?
Best answer: Adding rock candy to rye whiskey is a tradition hundreds of years old in the US. Maybe you added it to Scotch, which, whatever SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND. You can do it again; with the resurgence in rye's popularity, rock candy is available in most larger liquor stores. Or in candy stores. Or on the Internets.
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:12 AM on February 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:12 AM on February 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
You can just use granulated sugar. It dissolves faster and more completely than rock sugar (but it doesn't look as cool).
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:13 AM on February 25, 2011
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:13 AM on February 25, 2011
And you know what dissolves even faster than granulated sugar? Maple syrup. That's what I use, and it is delicious.
posted by grizzled at 8:15 AM on February 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by grizzled at 8:15 AM on February 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Please don't put maple syrup in Scotch, though. Go to the store and buy some rye if you're going to do that.
I am not just saying this because I'm a purist (though I am a purist). The flavors of Scotch and rye are different. Scotch plus maple syrup = syrupy; rye plus maple syrup=delightfully complex.
I WITHDRAW MY EARLIER PERMISSION TO SHINE ON
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:45 AM on February 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
I am not just saying this because I'm a purist (though I am a purist). The flavors of Scotch and rye are different. Scotch plus maple syrup = syrupy; rye plus maple syrup=delightfully complex.
I WITHDRAW MY EARLIER PERMISSION TO SHINE ON
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:45 AM on February 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
A pinch of brown sugar does wonders for cheap rum (though molasses, which you'd think would work, doesn't really).
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:47 AM on February 25, 2011
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:47 AM on February 25, 2011
though molasses, which you'd think would work, doesn't really
Doubly hysterical because most rum is made from molasses.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:06 AM on February 25, 2011
Doubly hysterical because most rum is made from molasses.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:06 AM on February 25, 2011
Response by poster: Sorry - but what's rock candy?
posted by feelinggood at 12:52 PM on February 25, 2011
posted by feelinggood at 12:52 PM on February 25, 2011
Best answer: Rock candy is basically large sugar crystals. Sometimes you can buy it--as you probably did--where it's been polished and had its edges smoothed; more commonly, it's sold in chunks or on sticks or stings, with large, sharp-edged crystals around the stick.
You can make rock candy at home by dissolving table sugar in water, then pouring the sugar-water into a jar. Dunk a string in the sugar water, roll the string in sugar, and then suspend the string over the jar so that it's hanging into the water. Leave it sit for a week, then remove the string, and like magic, you've got rock candy.
posted by MeghanC at 1:46 PM on February 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
You can make rock candy at home by dissolving table sugar in water, then pouring the sugar-water into a jar. Dunk a string in the sugar water, roll the string in sugar, and then suspend the string over the jar so that it's hanging into the water. Leave it sit for a week, then remove the string, and like magic, you've got rock candy.
posted by MeghanC at 1:46 PM on February 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Or if your lazy and will to pay, you can get it from Amazon here
posted by rtimmel at 1:59 PM on February 25, 2011
posted by rtimmel at 1:59 PM on February 25, 2011
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posted by fixedgear at 7:47 AM on February 25, 2011