Apple Brandy Recipe
Learn Step-By-Step How To Make Homemade Apple Brandy
In this recipe, we’re going to walk you through, step-by-step how to make apple brandy from fresh apples or apple juice. All of the supplies you’ll need for making your own homemade apple brandy can be found in our shop. If you want to use other fruit other than apples, then check out our distilling guides such as how to make banana brandy or how to make raspberry moonshine.
At Mile Hi Distilling, we enjoy assisting individuals who are enthusiastic about spirits by offering helpful guides, recipes, and premium-quality moonshine stills and supplies. Making an excellent batch of apple brandy requires careful attention to detail. Thus, it’s crucial to plan carefully and execute diligently to produce the finest brandy. Are you ready to begin? Let’s get started!
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Apple Brandy Ingredients
Apple Brandy Recipe
Additional Tips
Conclusion
Apple Brandy Ingredients:
Materials
- 144 Red Delicious Apples (enough to yield 5.5 gallons of fresh squeezed apple juice) or just fresh apple juice because that’s A LOT of apples
- 3 scoops of pure cane sugar
- Yeast nutrient
- Turbo clear (according to instructions)
- Brew Pot
- Long Spoon
- Fermentation Bucket
- Heat Source
- Hydrometer
- Cheese Cloth or Strainer (whichever you prefer)
Apple Brandy Recipe
- Clean the apples thoroughly and remove any stems, leaves or rotten spots. Cut them into smaller pieces that can fit into your juicer.
- Juice the apples and collect the juice in a large pot or container. You should have about 5.5 gallons of juice.
- Heat the juice to boiling point and let it simmer for 10 minutes. This will kill any wild yeast or bacteria that could spoil your brandy.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool down to about 70°F (21°C). You can use a thermometer to check the temperature.
- Aerate the mash by stirring it vigorously with a sanitized spoon or paddle. This will help to introduce oxygen and promote healthy yeast growth.
- Use a hydrometer to measure the specific gravity of the juice. This will give you an idea of the potential alcohol content of your brandy. The target reading is 1.065.
- If the potential ABV is too low, you can add pure cane sugar to increase the alcohol content. Make sure to dissolve the sugar completely before taking another reading.
- Add yeast nutrient to the mash to provide essential nutrients for the yeast to thrive.
- Aerate the mash again four more times between buckets to ensure oxygen supply for yeast growth.
- Hydrate two packets of yeast according to the instructions on the package.
- Add the hydrated yeast to the mash and stir well to distribute the yeast evenly.
- Put on a lid and airlock to prevent contamination and let the mash ferment until completed. This can take up to 2-3 weeks, depending on the temperature and yeast strain used.
- Check the potential ABV with a hydrometer after fermentation is complete. It should be around 9-10% ABV.
- Put in turbo clear per instructions to clarify the liquid.
- Syphon the fermented juice into a still through cheese cloth to remove any remaining solids or impurities.
- Distill the brandy according to your still manufacturer’s instructions. Collect the distillate in a sanitized container.
- Age the brandy in a sanitized oak barrel for at least 6 months to give it a smooth and complex flavor.
Check out this great video walkthrough from our friends at Still It detailing How Homemade Apple Brandy is made. Check it out below!
Additional Tips On Making Apple Brandy:
- Choose the right type of apples: The type of apples you use will greatly affect the flavor of your brandy. Red Delicious apples are a good choice, but you can also experiment with other varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji. Just make sure to choose apples that are sweet, flavorful, and not too tart.
- Use high-quality equipment: To make the best apple brandy possible, it’s important to use high-quality equipment. This includes a good juicer, a hydrometer, a fermenting vessel with an airlock, and a still. Make sure to sanitize all your equipment before use to prevent contamination.
- Monitor the fermentation temperature: The temperature at which you ferment your apple juice can greatly affect the flavor of your brandy. Ideally, you should ferment at a temperature between 60-70°F (15-21°C). If the temperature is too high, the yeast may produce off-flavors and aromas, while a temperature that is too low can slow down the fermentation process. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature and make adjustments as needed.
Conclusion
Great job! You’ve successfully made a batch of delicious homemade Apple Brandy. We’re glad that this recipe was helpful and that you’ve produced a high-quality batch. Now, it’s time for cleanup. Be sure to thoroughly wash all equipment to maintain the quality of your future batches. Disassemble your equipment and store it in a cool, dry place to keep it in good condition.
Thank you for stopping by Mile Hi Distilling, your go-to destination for all your moonshine still and distilling product requirements. Don’t forget to browse through our shop for any supplies or equipment you may need for your future recipes or distillations. We hope you had a great time learning how to make apple brandy using fresh apple juice.
If you enjoyed this recipe on how to make apple brandy, check out our other recipes including our baby step bourbon recipe.
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