cedar brandy

Wood is the most primitive fuel used for cooking, yet no matter how high-tech our appliances and techniques become, there is nothing that can replicate the flavor of food cooked over a wood fire or in a wood-burning oven.

Wood also does wonderful things to wine and spirits. During the Roman Empire, winemakers discovered that storing wine in wooden barrels had a profound effect on flavor, color and texture. Further down the timeline, it was noted that oak had the best compatibility with wine and that toasting or charring the inside of oak barrels added favorable characteristics. Today, we know that heating the oak causes the simple sugars (hemicellulose) to break down. These wood sugars transform the body of the wine, softens tannins, enhances flavor with toasty and caramelized organoleptics, and deepens the color of spirits.

Because of the resins in cedar, it has been found to produce off-flavors in wine and it is used almost exclusively in the production of sake. It's curious that brandy is often described as having the aroma of cedar– when it has been aged in oak– and that the aroma of toasted cedar is reminiscent of brandy. These two were destined to be together.

I'm always on the lookout for unique service pieces. These searches sometimes turn up items that could be put to use for purposes that they were not intended for. For instance, this votive holder captured my imagination when viewed as a cup with a hollow bottom–a fun place to hide an unexpected surprise.

Upon lifting the cup to sip cedar-infused brandy, a wisp of cedar smoke is released and the experience is heightened and amplified.

Or, for an added treat: a cedar-infused brandy bonbon with a cedar ice cream center

8 thoughts on “cedar brandy”

Beautiful

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I honestly could not keep myself from smiling. I mean this is the first time i’ve actually posted anything here but holy hell, when i saw that bonbon and then realized you filled the inside, wow.

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very very cool. How did you make the bon bon?

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The bonbon is cedar brandy with agar and gelatin. It is made in a custom silicone mold that resembles a hollow cup. The hollow is filled with a plug of ice cream, then topped off with more gel.

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