Collection
Make it yourself
Making whisky in the sense of distilling it is not permitted at home in the Netherlands without a licence, but with the sets in this collection you can give an existing whisky your own flavour. With the Craftly infusion kits you steep wood, herbs and spices in your whisky, and with the smoker sets you add a smoky note to a glass or cocktail. It is a fun way to discover how wood and botanicals create flavour, and an original gift for the curious whisky lover.
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The compact Make your own whisky set contains two kinds of wood chips, two herb blends, a 500 ml bottle, a strainer and labels. The extended Develop your own whisky set goes further, with nine flavourings such as vanilla- or chocolate-flavoured oak, orange peel, cinnamon and coffee beans, two bottles and six whisky stones. All you need to add is a bottle of whisky of your choice. Read more about smoking in Smokers.
Can you make your own whisky at home in the Netherlands?
Distilling whisky at home is not allowed without a licence: in the Netherlands, stills and the production of spirits fall under the Excise Act and the supervision of Dutch Customs. The sets in this collection do not distil anything. You use a whisky you already have and let wood, herbs or smoke work on it. That is flavouring, and you can do it at home without any problem.
What does a whisky infusion kit actually do?
An infusion kit adds flavour to an existing whisky by letting wood chips, herbs or spices steep in the bottle for a while. You then strain the whisky and have your own version, with notes of vanilla, chocolate, orange or chilli, for example. It is not true cask maturation: in a cask, years of time, temperature and oxygen play a role, whereas an infusion mainly adds aromas from the wood and herbs.
How long should wood chips steep in whisky?
It depends on the flavouring, so follow the recipes and instructions included with the Craftly set. A good rule of thumb is to taste along the way, for instance every day. Spices such as chilli and cinnamon release their flavour quickly, and steeping too long can make the whisky bitter or overly woody. Strain the whisky as soon as it suits your taste and keep it in a closed bottle.
Which whisky should you use for an infusion?
Choose an affordable whisky that is not too pronounced, such as a smooth blend or a young bourbon. It gives the added flavours room, and it would be a shame to overpower a complex, older single malt. Whiskies in the Smooth & Fruity or Rich & Sweet styles of the M4W Flavour Compass are a good starting point; a smoky whisky can pair well with coffee or cocoa.
What is the difference between the compact and the extended Craftly set?
The compact Make your own whisky set, with one 500 ml bottle, two woods and two herb blends, is an easy introduction. The extended Develop your own whisky set has nine flavourings, two bottles and six stainless steel whisky stones, so you can make two versions side by side and compare them. With both, you add the whisky yourself.