Post #637058 by porco on Fri, May 18, 2012 11:20 AM

i know this "guy" that has dabbled in the dark arts. now defining if it's actual "rum"....

it starts with 3 basic ingredients:

15 lbs. of sugar

5.5 gallons of water

one package of this: http://www.store.homebrew4less.com/prodinfo.asp?number=LD2302&variation=

mix together, and at the end of the week you have a 18% a.b.v., clear mash. run through a distillation method of your choice, and out comes the firewater.

now what you do with it from there...charred wood chips, barrel age, straight or cut, is up to you. this is the most straightforward, idiots guide to making alcohol there is. the only variable to watch is the temp of the mash to make sure it ferments correctly, but there's a ton of leeway.

tastes terrible straight, not so bad after being hit with some charred oak for a few months. for the amount of work this "guy" puts into it, you're still a ways off from approaching the quality of the cheapest bottom shelf swill you can buy.

fun? yes. worth it? depends on what you want out of it. this guy was just sick of hearing everybody that "knew a guy", and wanted to BE that guy. he still only drinks what he buys at the store.