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Zymurgy bob — do you mind if I quote you in an article??

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This should be the last question. I have been reading that I should remove the oak cubes after 3 months. The calvados already has a rich vanilla scent and is much less brash. Should I take the cubes out and just leave it in the bottle to mellow on its own?

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Just a quick update. I bought French oak cubes and soaked about 10 in a bit of cider and a blend of 50-100 year old madeira (only a few tablespoons). I had read that great calvados spent time in old madeira casks and cider casks. The cubes have been in the bottle with my mix for a few weeks now and already the scent is a wonder. I got a full 750m bottle out of my distillation. I could have done more (the left-over mix still smelled of alcohol), but I stopped short when the alcohol output dropped a good deal. I don’t know how I can wait 3 years to use it let alone 6 but I have to say, I am pretty happy with the result

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So I guess I will check it tomorrow, then close it for a few weeks before distilling if it stays around 1000. I am soaking the French oak cubes in old madeira. I thought it would give my calvados a sophisticated depth.

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DOn’t know what the starting gravity was. The jar has a lot of sediment at the bottom and the bulk of the liquid is clearing.
I used English cider yeast.

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Thanks so much. As I said in an earlier question, it measures 1000, has no alcohol taste — sort of like beer now. So do I close it and wait??

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Another question, when the hydrometer hits the right mark, do I close up the jar and let it sit for 2 weeks before distilling with the calvados?

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Ok, measured with hydrometer. It reads 1000. I tasted it and it tastes yeasty but not alcoholic. the sugar is mostly gone. smells more like bear than apples. Is that right? I wonder if I should put a pinch of fresh cider in when I distill for apple accent?

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OK, still not sure about the answer. Do I leave the jar open or closed. At the moment I have the cider in half gallon mason jars with paper towels over the top. Should I close the jars? I thought the yeast needed oxygen?

I do have a hydrometer.

thanks for all the help, everyone!

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Ok here’s another one. Do I leave the fermenting jars open the whole 2 weeks? I have a paper towel loosely draped over the jar tops. They have been fermenting for 6 days.

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