A decadent bochet built on deeply caramelized honey with cacao nibs added in secondary. The caramelized honey provides toffee and chocolate notes; cacao nibs add depth and a roasted bitterness. Targets 14% ABV with a semi-sweet finish. 5-gallon batch.
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Batch size
5 gallons
Target ABV
14%
Fermentation
6–8 weeks
Conditioning
6–12 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.
Will be caramelized to deep amber.
Add in secondary in a sanitized muslin bag. Allow 1–2 weeks of contact.
Optional. Add with cacao nibs in secondary.
Yeast
Lalvin Lalvin EC-1118 — 1 packets
Handles high-gravity caramelized must.
| Timing | Nutrient | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 0 (pitch) | Fermaid-O | 2.5 g | |
| 24 hours | Fermaid-O | 2.5 g | |
| 48 hours | Fermaid-O | 2.5 g | |
| 1/3 sugar break | Fermaid-O | 2.5 g | |
| Day 0 (pitch) | Fermaid-K | 5 g |
Heat honey in a large stainless steel pot over medium heat. Stir constantly. Heat to 300–320°F (149–160°C) until deep amber. Takes 30–60 minutes.
CAUTION: Caramelizing honey is extremely dangerous. See safety notes.
Remove from heat. Slowly add 1 gallon of cold water. Mixture will foam violently. Stir to combine. Cool to below 80°F.
Transfer to fermenter. Add remaining water to 5.5 gallons.
Record original gravity. Target approximately 1.106.
Pitch EC-1118. Add Day 0 nutrients. Ferment at 65–72°F.
Follow TOSNA schedule. Degas before each addition.
Check gravity every few days. Fermentation typically completes in 6–8 weeks.
Rack onto cacao nibs (and vanilla bean if using) in a sanitized muslin bag. Allow 1–2 weeks of contact. Taste regularly.
Remove muslin bag. Condition for 6–12 months.
Bottle or keg.
Ensure fermentation is fully complete before packaging.
Honey and water scale linearly. Cacao nibs do NOT scale linearly — adjust to taste. Nutrient additions do NOT scale linearly.
Enter your desired finished batch size to scale ingredient quantities. Press Enter or tap away to apply.
Target ABV
14%
Original gravity
1.106
Final gravity
1.006
Sweetness
semi sweet
Finished volume
5 gallons
Gross starting volume
5.5 gallons
Expected loss
0.5 gallons(9%)
| Ingredient | Quantity | Unit | Scaling notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clover or wildflower honey | 15 | lbs | |
| Filtered water | 4.5 | gallons | |
| Raw cacao nibs | 4 | oz | ⚠ review |
| Vanilla bean, split(optional) | 1 | each | fixed |
| Fermaid-O | 10 | g | ⚠ review |
| Fermaid-K | 5 | g | ⚠ review |
⚠ Ingredients requiring review
Initial record. Phase 4C Batch 5.
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