Strong and able to "recapture the memory" of the old tincture originated in the XV century in Lithuania, Poland, and a little later in Belarus. It is accepted to consider, that this alcohol pampered herself to know at that time in special cases - the birth of a child, long-awaited victory, conclusion of profitable agreements. The drink itself is very similar to whiskey in terms of manufacturing technology, and that is why his second (unofficial name) is "Soviet whiskey". So Stark was doomed after that, how it gained popularity in the USSR.
The drink has a very peculiar taste, and it may take more than a decade to mature. According to traditional technology, rye wort was distilled twice, poured into strong oak barrels and cleaned at least on 10 years in cool cellars. In some cases, the container was buried in the ground. Unusual shade, the taste and aroma of the drink acquired due to the presence of apple and pear leaves, mixtures of herbs and spices.
Strong and fragrant alcohol is mentioned in many works of art, songs. Example, characters MA. Bulgakov or VS. Vysotsky simply did not remember that after drinking, what happened to them on the eve of the infusion.
Today the old man (tincture is bitter) may well be cooked ??at home, but, few moonshiners are waiting for the drink to fully ripen. The recipe for fragrant strong alcohol has changed greatly over the centuries, but if you follow the recommendations, you can make a similar tincture.
old woman's recipes
Currently, there are several modified ways to prepare a bitter tincture of herbs. Learn our recipes and try to create legendary alcohol with your own hands.
Recipe number 1. A simple version of the drink
The following ingredients are required to make starka in this way:
- moonshine or vodka - 3 l .;
- sugar - 2 h. l .;
- lemon - 1 PC .;
- oak bark - 2-3 Art. l .;
- ground nutmeg -? h. l .;
- vanillin - on the tip of a knife;
- ground coffee beans - 1 h. l.
Lemon cut into small cubes, put in a glass container, add other components and pour alcohol. The future starka in a dark cool place should be insisted not less than one and a half weeks. After this, the drink is passed through a layer of cotton wool several times and distributed in bottles for long-term storage.
Lovers of sweeter alcohol can be advised to add room temperature sugar syrup to the finished drink. You can do it with 150 city. sugar and? glasses of water. It is necessary to add sweetener little by little, periodically trying the resulting solution.
Recipe number 2. "Soviet" old woman
During the Soviet era, another method of cooking starka at home was common
Stark tincture
conditions. The following components were used for the drink, as:
- vodka - 1 l .;
- concentrated alcoholic infusion of apple and pear leaves - 1 a glass;
- fructose or sugar syrup - 1-2 h. l .;
- cognac - 1,5 glasses;
- port -? glasses;
- vanillin - on the tip of a knife.
It is quite easy to prepare an infusion from the leaves of fruit trees. For him take close 40-50 city. apple and 20-30 city. pear leaves, put them in a jar and pour a liter of diluted to 70% alcohol. A week later, the liquid is filtered, then it can be used to make starka.
All components are mixed in a glass jar or bottle, insist for 5-7 days, and then passed through several filters. After that, the drink will be ready to drink.
As you can see for yourself, make a drink, reminiscent of the legendary "Stark", quite real and without prolonged infusion in oak barrels, double distillation of alcohol-based and other difficulties.
Well-chosen ingredients for short-term maturation will help you achieve the same taste and aroma, which differed from the original bitter tincture.