How to remove the flavor from whisky stones?
I made the mistake of buying these awesome whisky stones (soapstone) to chill my drinks. Besides the fact that they don't cool the drink down a lot, they acquire a freezer taste and ruin the flavor of the beverage.
How can I eliminate this taste? I tried to wash them with soap and water, but I can still taste them.
Best Answer
To eliminate any off flavors that may have been absorbed, soak them in warm water for a few hours. Be sure the stones are covered by at least a couple of inches, so that there's plenty of volume to absorb flavors. Agitate them every now and again as well.
When you place them back in the freezer, be sure they're dry (any surface moisture will more readily absorb flavors) and keep them in a sealed bag or container.
For what it's worth, it sounds like your sub-par experience is similar to that of many whiskey nerds and my own. There's really not much need for these things. You can get a similar amount of chilling by using a thick-bottomed glass placed in the freezer for at least 15 minutes or so.
Pictures about "How to remove the flavor from whisky stones?"
Quick Answer about "How to remove the flavor from whisky stones?"
Kill bacteria on your stones and prevent the buildup of residue by rinsing them in warm water and dish soap. Soak stones in a mixture of water and vodka to remove flavors that have been absorbed by the stones while stored in the freezer. Alternatively, remove absorbed flavors in the stones by baking them in your oven.Do whiskey stones change taste?
Whiskey stones are unlikely to affect the taste of the whisky. Of course, if you opt for a stone that is made of poor quality materials you are likely to impact the purity of the dram. We recommend stainless steel or quality soapstone stones.Can you wash whiskey stones?
Clean your whiskey stones would require washing them in dish soap and warm water. Set the stones in your hand and roll them under warm water from a faucet. Place a few drops of dish soap on them and lather up the stones. Rinse them thoroughly.Can you dishwash whiskey stones?
Simple steps can be taken to clean our whiskey stones. Unlike any other dish, they can be safely washed in the dishwasher. Wash them by hand with dish soap, or you can use a dishwasher.Do whiskey stones go in fridge or freezer?
These stones, available in a variety of sizes, are designed to be stored in the freezer, and added to straight shots of whiskey, bourbon, or scotch, in order to chill them without the risk of diluting the drink. The best whiskey stones for keeping drinks ice cold however, are the ones that are made of stainless steel.Are Whisky Stones Any Good? YES! . . . . And No
More answers regarding how to remove the flavor from whisky stones?
Answer 2
If your "whisk(e)y stones" are actually stones, they are pourous all the way through. You'll need the thouroughly saturate them with water and a bit of vodka to rid yourself of the water- and alcohol-soluble flavors that have been absorbed.
If you don't have the patience for the repeated soakings that will be required, I had good luck putting mine through a self-cleaning cycle in my oven. You have to make sure that they're completely dried out or they'll crack/explode.
Answer 3
Soapstone whiskey rocks are a thing of the past. There are much better whiskey stones out there that have a much better cooling power and have no taste. I love my whiskey, but I love it cool. I have tried whisky rocks made of soapstone and to tell you the truth, they are terrible. I have also tried the glass and granite ones and those also do not provide much cooling power.
The stainless steel ones are by far the best I have ever tried, but it is important to make sure they are not just a plated version, also the majority of them are only 3/4 of an inch, but those are still too small to give the desired outcome, the best ones to use are 1 inch cubes.
The best ones I have ever tried are called Great White Ice whiskey stones. They are 1 inch cubes and are pure stainless steel with a liquid cooling gel in their centers, are smooth and highly polished and they will never scratch anything. They remain colder way longer then any other type I have tried, and the best part is, they only have to be frozen from 1-2 hours. They can also be used in any other type of drink, I also use them in my wine. They have no taste and they will never break or rust. Trust me you will never use soapstone whiskey rocks again after trying these!
You can get them on Amazon. Here is the link [http://www.amazon.com/Great-White-Ice-Whiskey-Stones/dp/B00CIXQ5C4][1]
Answer 4
Your experience and other answers are very different from my experience; for me, they work well to temper a wee dram. :) If they're made of proper soapstone (a common material for whisky stones), you should be in good shape. If it's something absorbent like limestone or something (which is sometimes used for coasters, and inappropriate for putting in anything) you've got the wrong substance to start with.
Here's my thoughts, if it's soapstone:
- Good quality soapstone is essentially non-porous and generally resilient/resistant to staining/smell on its own.
- If you think the smell/taste is in the water/ice that has condensed on the outside, give it a quick rinse in cold water after removing from the freezer and before putting in your glass. This will rinse off the ice crystals and not meaningfully warm the cube.
- Soapstone is rather soft (perhaps 4 on the Mohs scale for good quality stuff), and can be polished using conventional methods. You can scrape and polish off some of the surface with stuff like green scrub pads (e.g., "Scotch Brite"), regular cheap sandpaper, and maybe steel wool or so. If you think some bits are clinging to the outside, polish them off. Finish with really fine grit to polish smooth. Best not to breathe the dust...
This is how I treat my soapstone. I find that they don't even absorb stuff like bitters. They work for me, and I like them!
Answer 5
Tried soaking my whisky rocks (which I think are soapstone) in lemon juice sealed in a Tupperware container. Seems to have worked so far. Gonna dry them out & keep them inside a container in the fridge. Fingers crossed.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Any Lane, Dziana Hasanbekava, Dziana Hasanbekava, Dziana Hasanbekava