Vinegar

[imark]

Anybody (deliberately) made vinegar?

I'm curious to try make some so would appreciate advice from anyone with experience.

[LordEoin]

I make vinegar with any red wine that comes into the house at Christmas.
I pour it into a liter flip-top jar with the rubber seal removed and add a couple of tablespoons of live vinegar.
The first batch used apple cider vinegar from Holland & Barrett. Just look for one with gunk at the bottom and you should be good.
It turns into a really nice salad vinegar, mild and fruity.

[imark]

How long does it take to turn to vinegar? Do you just taste it to tell when it's ready?

[LordEoin]

I have no idea when it's actually ready. I just do it once a year.
It can probably be done a lot faster, but what would I do with all that vinegar? 

[eanna]

I've had a bottle of cider vinegar on the go for a couple of years. I originally started with the dregs of "Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with The Mother" and topped up with group buy cider in a wine bottle. Then put a paper towel over the top with an elastic band around it to keep flies out.
It takes 4 or 5 months the first time, but since then I just keep it topped up as I go. Taste every couple of weeks. Put a cap on it when it's acidic enough for your liking, it can go too far easily, especially in the summer where the heat makes the reaction a lot faster.
Mostly the vinegar is delicious but the 2016 GB cider did not make nice vinegar.

[LordEoin]

oh yeah, i forgot to say that i throw the next bottle of red in on top of the dregs from the last batch.
It's on the go now for about 4 years

[Fatcontro11er]

I be been making ACV for the last year from a Pericles my mother sent ( she's been making it for a long time) I use apples water and a touch of simple sugar it can be ready in three or four weeks with a good healthy starter I don't take it to 5% acidity like Briggs though!