Flavouring questions using a Schnapps Base

[Esqulax]

So I picked up some 'Top Shelf' essences and some 'Base' powders.

I'm confused as to how they work -

The instructions say (For the Still Spirit Schnapps Base) -
Add alcohol as indicated on the essence bottle in a large mixing bowl. slowly add pack contents while stirring with a whisk. Add essence and top up to 1.125L with water

& on the essence bottle -
Add essence and 650ml Alcohol @40% to SS Schnapps base (made up as per Schnapps Base Pack instructions Top up to 1.125L with water

The schnapps base bag is 300g and the cream liqueur base is 400g

It seems an awful lot of powder to be adding for just 1.125L, if it's the whole bag.

Am I thinking wrongly about this, or is a whole £4.49 bag required alongside each £3 flavouring? (For the Cream base)

 

[Esqulax]

Just as a re-iteration, I'm doing half-strength spirits, so the 40% needed on the bottle will be closer to 18% - If I want to do a 40% one I will buy a nice vodka.

 

[Moley]

Am I thinking wrongly about this, or is a whole £4.49 bag required alongside each £3 flavouring? (For the Cream base)

I've never heard of these products before so I just had a quick google.

Yes, it sounds like you add a whole bag of powder plus your flavouring essence.

Sounds rather expensive!

And vile :sick:

The base pack contains sugar, maltodextrin, acidity regulator and a thickening agent. I haven't yet found what other artificial junk is in the cream base, can't you just use cream and sugar, and maybe some glycerine?

 

[Esqulax]

I was thinking that, but i thought powdered stuff would have a much longer shelf life.

I read somewhere that standard coffee whitener can be used to thicken it up too.
Im gonna give it a try - If theres one thing I've learnt about homebrew, Its that experimentation is the key to... Well.. its fun :)

I'm wondering though, if its worth making a Baileys flavoured clone with just the brewed spirit, and adding cream 'on the day' as it were?

With the recepie above, I'd fill up to the 1.125L with more spirit, as its half-strength - No need to water it down any more!

::Edit::

Also - 1.125L? What the hell? Why not make it 70cl or 1.4L