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Caramel Apple Bochet

A dessert-style bochet built on caramelized honey with apple juice and cinnamon. The caramelized honey provides toffee and caramel notes; apple juice adds a familiar autumn sweetness. Targets 13% ABV with a semi-sweet finish. 5-gallon batch.

By Modern MazerPublished Version 1.0.0

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Batch size

5 gallons

Target ABV

13%

Fermentation

5–7 weeks

Conditioning

4–8 months

Responsible use: These recipes produce alcoholic beverages. Ferment and consume responsibly. Verify all quantities, equipment, and safety procedures before beginning. Consult local regulations regarding home fermentation.

Ingredients

  • 12 lbsClover or wildflower honey

    Will be caramelized.

  • 2 gallonsFresh-pressed apple juice (no preservatives)

    Add after caramelizing honey. Must be preservative-free.

  • 2.5 gallonsFiltered water
  • 2 eachCinnamon sticks

    Add in secondary.

  • 10 gFermaid-O
  • 5 gFermaid-K

Yeast

Lalvin Lalvin EC-1118 — 1 packets

Handles caramelized must.

Nutrient schedule

TimingNutrientQtyNotes
Day 0 (pitch)Fermaid-O2.5 g
24 hoursFermaid-O2.5 g
48 hoursFermaid-O2.5 g
1/3 sugar breakFermaid-O2.5 g
Day 0 (pitch)Fermaid-K5 g

Process

  1. Caramelize the honey

    Heat honey in a large stainless steel pot over medium heat. Stir constantly. Heat to 300–320°F until deep amber.

    CAUTION: Caramelizing honey is extremely dangerous. See safety notes.

  2. Add apple juice and water

    Remove from heat. Slowly add apple juice and water. Mixture will foam. Stir to combine. Cool to below 80°F.

  3. Build must

    Transfer to fermenter. Top up to 5.5 gallons if needed.

  4. Take OG reading

    Record original gravity. Target approximately 1.098.

  5. Pitch yeast and nutrients

    Pitch EC-1118. Add Day 0 nutrients. Ferment at 65–72°F.

  6. Staggered nutrient additions

    Follow TOSNA schedule. Degas before each addition.

  7. Monitor fermentation

    Check gravity every few days. Fermentation typically completes in 5–7 weeks.

  8. Add cinnamon in secondary

    Rack. Add cinnamon sticks. Allow 1–2 weeks of contact. Taste regularly.

  9. Remove cinnamon and condition

    Remove cinnamon. Condition for 4–8 months.

  10. Package

    Bottle or keg.

Packaging

Ensure fermentation is fully complete before packaging.

Safety notes

  • CAUTION: Caramelizing honey is extremely dangerous. Honey can reach temperatures above 300°F (149°C).
  • Use a candy thermometer and never leave caramelizing honey unattended.
  • Keep a lid nearby to smother any flames.
  • Never use a non-stick pot for caramelizing honey.
  • Adding liquid to hot honey causes violent foaming — add slowly and stand back.
  • Apple juice must be preservative-free.
  • Never bottle a mead that has not fully finished fermenting.
  • Sanitize all equipment that contacts the must or finished mead.

Scaling notes

Honey, apple juice, and water scale linearly. Spice additions do NOT scale linearly. Nutrient additions do NOT scale linearly.

Batch Scaling Calculator

Enter your desired finished batch size to scale ingredient quantities. Press Enter or tap away to apply.

Target ABV

13%

Original gravity

1.098

Final gravity

1.005

Sweetness

semi sweet

Finished volume

5 gallons

Gross starting volume

5.5 gallons

Expected loss

0.5 gallons(9%)

Ingredient quantities at original batch size
IngredientQuantityUnitScaling notes
Clover or wildflower honey12lbs
Fresh-pressed apple juice (no preservatives)2gallons
Filtered water2.5gallons
Cinnamon sticks2each⚠ review
Fermaid-O10g⚠ review
Fermaid-K5g⚠ review

⚠ Ingredients requiring review

  • Cinnamon sticks: Ingredient "Cinnamon sticks" (id: cinnamon) requires manual review before scaling. The original quantity is shown — do not use without recalculating.
  • Fermaid-O: Ingredient "Fermaid-O" (id: fermaid-o) requires manual review before scaling. The original quantity is shown — do not use without recalculating.
  • Fermaid-K: Ingredient "Fermaid-K" (id: fermaid-k) requires manual review before scaling. The original quantity is shown — do not use without recalculating.
Scaled quantities are mathematical estimates. Fermentation performance, yeast requirements, nutrient schedules, vessel headspace, temperature control, and legal requirements must be reviewed for the target batch size.

References & sources

Version history

  • v1.0.0— Modern Mazer

    Initial record. Phase 4C Batch 5.