My First Aging-The Great God Father

I started my first aging two days before Christmas 2013. I did a Godfather, I'm calling the Great Godfather.  I put a lot of thought into what the first cocktail I would chose to age.  Then it hit me...my best friends favorite drink and the fact that I am the godfather to his son, made the godfather all too fitting.

As always, I have to put my own twist on things so I halved the amaretto with pure vanilla extract.

Although I made sure I cured the barrel well, it leaked a great deal. And what it leaked was pure vanillaish, oaky nectar.  The smell was so amazing, that when I wiped the barrel down, I saved the tissue in a zip lock bag and took it to a friend so he could smell,  At first he was hesitant of sniffing a rag in a zip lock bag. Who wouldn't be? Soon he was addicted to the fumes. This experience on a pleasure and moral level, is far greater than sniffing and glue.

Bottled Great Godfather

Recipe

Amount	Ingredient	Notes
1.5	Wasmund's Rye Spirits	Cask Strength 124 proof
.25	Disaronno
.25	Pure Vanilla Extract

Preparation

Mix ingredient and barrel. Used barrel for first time. I sealed it with old zinfandel. Barreled in Medu Mage

Aging Notes

Date	Notes
23 Dec 2013	Casked Cocktail and stored cool.
23 Jan 2014	4 Week taste.  Over proof of rye is still dominant. Light Brown color
25 Jan 2014	Moved barrel in front of heat. Agitate and turn barrel daily.  Significant leaking. Smell of leaked liquid is a rich, oaky vanilla...superb!
30 Jan 2014	Pulled sample and tasted with Jonathan Canedo. Paired well with cigars. Strong oak was balanced by the sweetness.  Still strong alcohol from the white dog whiskey.
1 Feb 2014 02:18 PM	Botted.  Much darker, almost aged rum color.

Tasting Notes

After bottling, the oak notes toned down. Their is still the overwhelming aroma of vanilla.  It is very sweet with strong alcohol bite.  "Booze Candy," someone called it.