Grow Your Own Magazine

Go Back   The Grapevine > In the Kitchen > Juicy Gossip
   Grow Your Own Sponsor
Juicy Gossip Wine, cider, beer, cordial – homemade beverages are hard to beat


Welcome to the The Grapevine forums.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our FREE community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, create your own online journal with our blogs, upload content and access many other special features.

Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 22-10-2006, 08:13 PM
Sprouter
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: garstang,lancashire
Posts: 184
Default Pochene??

Not sure how to spell but am looking for some recipes or help on making this great potato drink,all other searches come to nothing but am sure someone on here will have the know how!!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 22-10-2006, 08:14 PM
nick the grief's Avatar
Gardening Guru
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sunny Nunny, Warwickshire
Posts: 5,835
Default

I'm sure they have AT but I don't know if you'll get it
__________________
ntg
Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic


http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/
==================================================
The All New Home page of Hartshill Allotments full of useful bits
http://www.hags.btik.com
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 22-10-2006, 09:00 PM
Seedling
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Jersey C.I.
Posts: 34
Default

Is that like moonshine? Isn't it ilegal or was .We certainly drank Eau de Vie in France , and as far as I know only certain landholders had the right to make it .
__________________
A Bientot
Jerseybean
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 22-10-2006, 09:13 PM
Early Fruiter
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: North Cheshire and sometimes in Normandy (61) France
Posts: 4,070
Default

Try e-mailing Brewer...he might be able to help you
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 22-10-2006, 10:39 PM
Alice's Avatar
Early Fruiter
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Perthshire, Scotland.
Posts: 4,646
Default

Hello Annie, I don't know how to spell it either, what I can tell you is that it is an illegal distillation to turn potatoes into spirits. I don't doubt some of our Irish friends can provide the spelling then you can Google for the recipe. If it's any good, do share it with us.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 22-10-2006, 10:43 PM
Seedling
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Posts: 47
Default

I think is spelt potcheen but I am not certain whether I have seen it written as this or a just imagining it.

Tried some many years ago when I lived in Northern Ireland.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 22-10-2006, 10:48 PM
Seedling
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 36
Default

Not a distilled drink but found potato wine recipes as follows:

Ingredients.
4 lb OLD potatoes, 1lb Wheat*, 1 Lb raisins/sultanas, 2 lb dark sugar, 2 lb white sugar, 4 oranges.---plus usual adjuncts, HAT yeast, yeast nutrient, acid, tannin, Vit B1, Pectic enzyme, Amalyse Enzyme ( Harris Super Enzyme contains both ).
*Either whole or cracked preferably.
Method.
Wash sultanas in hot water, mince/chop up, , wash skin of oranges and "peel/zest" skin, discarding white pith, place peeling in saucepan covered with 1 pt water bring to boil removing scum, wash/scrub OLD potatoes removing eyes black spots infected cuts, bad flesh--DO NOT PEEL-- chop up place in saucepan cover with 3 pt waterslowly bring to boil for 5-8 mins removing scum watching they don't get mushy !! Strain hot liquor onto 2 lb dark sugar in bucket, stir to dissolve, add liquor from zest, juice and flesh of oranges, minced sultanas and cracked wheat, stir to mix thoroughly, add 3 pints boiled water, allow to cool, check gravity about 1.090 ferment in bucket 5 days, strain off under airlock, S.G below 1.015, add 4 oz white sugar, after 7 days S.G below 1.015 add 4 oz W/sugar, after 10 days S.G below 1.015 add 4oz W/sugar allow to fall to 1.000 then continue to add W/sugar in 2 oz till yeast exhausted don't go above 1.005, ideally finishing 0.998-1.000 after several weeks, rack stabalise and set aside for 6 months.

There was also another version, take a look here

The site has loads of great recipes
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 22-10-2006, 10:52 PM
rustylady's Avatar
Early Fruiter
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 3,202
Default

Potcheen is how I remember the spelling. It is spirit distilled from potatoes, and while you can make as much wine as you like, it is (as far as I know) illegal to distill spirits.

It also involves quite a bit of equipment, never used it myself, but I remember seeing pictures of lots of curly tubing - I think you have to heat the brew, the steam (and alcohol) goes up the tubes, then cools and drips down into a container.

Seems like a lot of bother to me. I do make homebrew wines, but never even thought about going in for spirits.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 22-10-2006, 11:22 PM
Earthbabe's Avatar
Early Fruiter
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Southampton, nearly in the water (ok docks!)
Posts: 2,314
Default

I think you need a special licence to distill spirits from anything and then there is tax involved. The licence is from Customs and Excise. Vigo do a very small but working still for £190
__________________
Bright Blessings
Earthbabe

If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 23-10-2006, 12:46 AM
Early Fruiter
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3,843
Default

If anyone finds a recipe for Potcheen please do NOT post it.
__________________
[
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old 23-10-2006, 12:05 PM
Sprouter
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 219
Default

Not only is distilling illegal it's potentially harmfull to the drinker,you can end up poisoning yourself.It is quite a skilled trade , my local distillery at Fettercairn told me it takes years to perfect even when someone who knows what they are doing is helping.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 23-10-2006, 12:54 PM
Alison's Avatar
Early Fruiter
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Warrington, Cheshire
Posts: 2,371
Default

Ah but he would tell yout that as they wouldn't want everybody to find out if it was easy as we'd all get in on the act and they'd have nobody to sell to! Seriously though, after my failed atempts at wine making can't imagine I'd be able to do anything more complicated, especially if it needs lots of fancy kit!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old 23-10-2006, 01:02 PM
Birdie Wife's Avatar
Cropper
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Forsinard, Sutherland
Posts: 1,366
Default

Distilling spirit is ridiculously easy, in fact too easy, it's so easy that people end up with such pure alcohol that they end up in hospital having poisoned themselves. Not funny, and that's why it's illegal.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old 23-10-2006, 09:09 PM
Cropper
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Dublin, Ireland. East Coast.
Posts: 1,478
Default

The spelling is Poteen.As already said its distilled from potatoes, needs a lot of equipment, i do believe its made using copper piping, its illegal and its clear like water in colour.
My father was given a present of a bottle some years ago and i remember having some with hot water and sugar in when i had flu.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #15 (permalink)  
Old 23-10-2006, 09:55 PM
nick the grief's Avatar
Gardening Guru
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sunny Nunny, Warwickshire
Posts: 5,835
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bramble View Post
The spelling is Poteen.As already said its distilled from potatoes, needs a lot of equipment, i do believe its made using copper piping, its illegal and its clear like water in colour.
My father was given a present of a bottle some years ago and i remember having some with hot water and sugar in when i had flu.
Do you remember anything else Bramble
__________________
ntg
Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic


http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/
==================================================
The All New Home page of Hartshill Allotments full of useful bits
http://www.hags.btik.com
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #16 (permalink)  
Old 23-10-2006, 09:57 PM
Alice's Avatar
Early Fruiter
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Perthshire, Scotland.
Posts: 4,646
Default

I don't think anybody is seriously talking about distilling spirits from potatoes - but we are allowed a little fantasy, are we not.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #17 (permalink)  
Old 23-10-2006, 10:17 PM
Slug's Avatar
Rooter
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Waterford, South East Ireland
Posts: 282
Default

If you look on Wikipedia under Poitín you'll find a bit of info. You can also google it as I found some recipes - can't say I'd recommend it though.... it has a dangerous reputation!!!

My OH said his gran used to own a pub and used to have some for cleaning with

She told him not to EVER touch it.... and if he did that she wouldn't have to bother coming after him to kill him as the drink would do it to him...

Needless to say he never ever tried it...!!!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #18 (permalink)  
Old 23-10-2006, 10:25 PM
rustylady's Avatar
Early Fruiter
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 3,202
Default

I think we've all decided it's not a good idea to try distilling your own spirits. Not only is it illegal, it obviously carries some real health hazards (apart from getting very drunk very quickly)

Why not try home brewed wine? Most veggies and fruits can be used and the results, although variable, are not likely to cause you any real harm
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #19 (permalink)  
Old 23-10-2006, 10:28 PM
Mrs Dobby's Avatar
Early Fruiter
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Partington, Manchester, UK
Posts: 2,676
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rustylady View Post
I think we've all decided it's not a good idea to try distilling your own spirits. Not only is it illegal, it obviously carries some real health hazards (apart from getting very drunk very quickly)

Why not try home brewed wine? Most veggies and fruits can be used and the results, although variable, are not likely to cause you any real harm

I'm not so sure about that rustylady, it may not be permanent harm, but I know I've been harmed by homebrewed wine a few friends have made once or twice in my life! Its when you wake up the next morning with no memory of the previous night, a mouth that feels like chucks have been using it as a lavatory and a head that feels like its split wide open! Lol!
__________________
Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated - 4th July 2008 - Balance sheet + new piccies!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #20 (permalink)  
Old 23-10-2006, 10:30 PM
Alison's Avatar
Early Fruiter