Still Spirits nailed it: a smooth vanilla twist made distillers whisper, “Where’s that been?”

August 6, 2025

Add a Smooth Vanilla Finish to Your Spirits Without a Barrel in Sight

There’s a certain beauty in restraint—and in the world of home distilling, that means knowing when to dial in just a hint of sweetness. Not sugary. Not obvious. Just enough to smooth the rough edges and round out the finish. That’s the quiet magic of Still Spirits Sweet Vanillin.

It's Not the Star of the Show—It's the Part That Makes the Whole Better

Barrel-aged whiskies and bourbons earn their mellow vanilla notes from time served in oak. But not everyone has a spare decade—or a toasted oak barrel—hanging around the shed. That’s where Sweet Vanillin steps in. No waiting. No heavy-handed flavour that hijacks your blend. Just a warm, sweet undercurrent that ties it all together.

Whether you’re refining a sharp white whiskey or adding roundness to a rum, this essence is the not-so-secret ingredient that turns your spirit from decent into downright drinkable. And for those hunting for that elusive, lingering smoothness—this is where the trail leads.

What Exactly Is Sweet Vanillin?

Not to be confused with supermarket vanilla extract, Still Spirits Sweet Vanillin is a spirit flavouring concentrate. It’s designed for use in homemade spirits—especially whiskies and bourbons—to replicate the soft vanilla notes that come from barrel aging.

This isn’t just about flavour, it’s about feel. That mellow, rounded mouthfeel. The clean finish that lingers. You get all that in a measured mix-and-go formula that’s shockingly easy to use:

Shake the 50ml bottle well before use
Measure out your desired amount based on spirit type
Add it after distillation, during your usual flavouring step
Let it rest for a day or so—it’s even better when it settles

It might only take 30 seconds to add, but the result? Tastes like you put in years.

Before: Harsh, Flat Spirit. After: Clean, Soft Finish Worth Sharing.

Don’t just take it from us. A regular customer—long-time still user, quiet legend in his own shed—once pulled us aside during a visit. Said his bourbon was always decent, but it never hit the sweet spot. Somewhere between hot and hollow. Too sharp on the aftertaste. He tried Sweet Vanillin on a mate’s recommendation. Next batch, he poured a dram, took a sip, and just nodded.

“I wouldn’t say it changed everything. I’d say it finished what I was trying to build.”

That's the difference. It doesn’t dominate—it completes. When you’ve cracked your recipe and just want to fine-tune the finish, this is the tool.

Good Spirits Deserve Good Company—And the Right Additions

If you’ve already been playing with Still Spirits flavourings, you know the range gives you full control. From whiskey and rum base kits to specialty additives and oak chips, it’s all about custom tasting, your way.

Add Sweet Vanillin to your bench and suddenly:

Your young spirits mellow out
Your aged blends get a touch more polish
Your flavoured experiments feel more balanced and pro

And unlike some overly artificial vanillas, this one doesn’t scream. It just slips in quietly and does its job.

So Who’s It For?

If you’ve got a whiskey that’s almost there—but something’s missing. If you’ve made a liqueur that’s sharp on the swallow. If you’re proud of what you pour, but chasing “smoother” without using sugar or syrup.

Then it’s for you.

Sweet Vanillin Isn't a Shortcut—It’s the Finishing Touch

It doesn’t cover mistakes. It doesn’t replace quality ingredients or a clean run. It simply rounds out what’s already good. Smells inviting. Tastes like something worth pouring a second round of. And if you’re into oak-infused complexity, it's one of the cleanest ways to suggest barrel time—without the bulk, cost, or months of waiting.

So next time you're bottling up a batch, ask yourself:

Is this spirit done—or just nearly done?

Because a few drops might be all that’s standing between “good enough” and “how’d you get it this smooth?”

Cheers to the quiet achievers, the perfectionists, and the sippers who like their finish warm and round. Your spirit’s last step might just be its best one.

— Candeece