5 Ways to Customize Your Whiskey with Distillers Caramel & Peat Smoke

April 15, 2025

Smooth, Smoky, and Stylish: How to Personalise Your Whiskey with Distillers Caramel and Peat Smoke

You know that feeling when you finally get a batch just right? That golden glass of whiskey you've crafted with your own hands—strong yet smooth, warm yet layered. Now imagine taking it to the next level with rich colour and smoky character that doesn’t mess with the integrity of your flavour. Let’s talk about five ways to fine-tune your spirit using Still Spirits Distillers Caramel 50ml and a little trick called peat smoke. These two additions turn a good whiskey into your signature drop—complex, classy, and completely yours.

1. Add Richness Without Changing Flavour

The first thing most people notice when they pour a whiskey is the colour. You might have nailed your mash bill, your fermentation might be rock steady, but if the colour looks weak, folks think the flavour is too. That’s where Still Spirits Distillers Caramel shines. It brings a rich amber tone to your whiskey without adding sweetness or altering your flavour profile. A few drops in your finished spirit is usually all you’ll need to lift the look from “meh” to masterful.

This stuff isn’t just for looks—it creates expectations. People drink with their eyes first. A darker hue often screams “aged” or “bold” even before the first sip. Perfect for those who want their whiskey to look as good as it tastes, especially when presenting your creation at a BBQ or with mates on a chilly night in.

2. Create Batch Consistency

Have you ever pulled a bottle out of your cupboard and thought, “Wait, this one looks different from the last”? Batch variation in colour happens, and it bugs brewers as much as drinkers. With Distillers Caramel, you can balance that and achieve a uniform look across every bottle you fill. It doesn’t take much—just blend it slowly and stop when you like what you see. It brings an extra shot of professionalism to your craft. People will ask if you’ve started bottling commercially (seriously, it’s that good).

3. Add a Touch of Smoke Without the Burn

If you’re chasing that bold, smoky Scotch whisky style but aren’t ready to fire up a peat kiln out back, no worries! Most experienced home distillers use subtle smoke flavours to build depth. Sometimes it’s through peat-infused malts or smoke-flavoured essences, but if you want even more character, pairing that with the caramel can create an illusion of greater age and complexity. Try just a drop a Still Spirits Peat Smoke to enhance the smokiness

Use the colour to create warmth, and balance that with your favourite smoked infusion. You’ll find that the burnt sugars and smoke tones play very well together—neither dominates, they just enhance each other. Much like grilling, it’s the harmony between sear and sauce.

4. Mock the Maturation Without the Wait

Let’s be real—most of us don’t have the ten years to age something in oak out in the shed. But what if you could suggest those years in just minutes? With caramel, you get that deep, warm finish you’d associate with long-term barrel storage. And when paired with hints of smoke, you get the subtle message of time, patience, and care—even if your whiskey’s only been sitting for a few weeks.

This is ideal for gifting. Nothing’s more impressive than handing over a bottle of your own whiskey that looks and smells like it’s been sitting in someone’s man-cave since the 90s.

5. Express Your Personal Style

Brewing is part creative, part science, and a whole lot of personal pride. Adjusting your whiskey’s final colour gives you full freedom to put your personal stamp on it. Want that deep maple look with a slightly warmer tone? Add more caramel. Going for something lighter and smoky? Use just a hint and more peatiness. Think of these little touches as your signature—your subtle “made by me” marker.

You don’t have to be an expert chemist or have all the bells and whistles. A spirit can be made with basic gear, but finished like a five-star masterpiece. That’s the magic everyone’s chasing. Let Still Spirits Distillers Caramel help you pull it off with no extra hassle. Honestly, once you've tried it, it becomes a staple next to your hydrometer and thermometer.

Whether you're into traditional bourbon builds or experimenting with hybrid blends, a few drops of caramel blended with light peat notes make it unmistakably yours. And your mates? They'll be knocking on your shed door to see what you’ve cooked up this time.

Cheers to better brews, more confidence in your craft, and building spirits you’re proud to share 🍻

Catch you around the brew table,
Candeece