Fortifying wine

[adamsko]

Does anyone know what to add to gooseberry wine to fortify it? ie.brandy, whiskey etc?

 

[GreginND]

You will get lots of debate in this as it is very much a preference thing. Typical ports are fortified with high proof brandy not the same 40% brandy you buy to drink. A high proof spirit will dilute the wine less. Brandy also has flavord which match well with ports but I'm not sure it would match well with gooseberry especially if you have to add a lot to bring your alcohol level up.

This is my opinion. If it was my wine I would use something high proof and with neutral flavors so the gooseberry flavors can shine. Around here I can buy 95% everclear which is almost pure alcohol. That's what I would use. Minimal dilution and less alteration of the gooseberry flavor.

 

[vacuumpumpman]

Yes I totally agree with GreginND ^^^ I also mentioned the same exact thing in the other similiar post
as well

 

[seth8530]

Yeah, I would say with most fruit wines you would want to use a neutral alcohol.

 

[spaniel]

For a fruit wine, just use Everclear (95% ABV). I did, it works fine. For those who are not licensed to run a still, it is hard to do it any other way.

 

[saramc]

If you want to add even more gooseberry flavor, make a gooseberry liqueur but use pure grain instead of vodka. It is a sweet liqueur, but you could skip the sugar if you wanted to. I made this a few years ago & it was fabulous. Sadly, my source killed their shrubs, so I have decided to plant some. http://ewainthegarden.blogspot.com/2009/08/homemade-gooseberry-liqueur-for-mental.html?m=1

 

[adamsko]

Thanks everyone

 

[seth8530]

Yeah, the one exception to this is if you can get ahold of gooseberry brandy.. Ie distilled gooseberry, that would prob be amazing to fortify it with.

 

[adamsko]

I've managed to get some everclear from a relatuve in USA, any ideas if you can buy it in the UK?

 

[seth8530]

Umm, I would not know are there internet sources?