Unexpected louche.

[EvergreenDan]

Dilute 80 proof vodka to about 40 proof. Add a small quantity (<10%) of 192 proof GNS. Poof. Cloudy louche forms. Dilute a bit more with water. Louche persists.

 

Any clue?

[Tri2Cook]

Magic? The green fairy's less colorful cousin, the white fairy? Errr... I have no idea actually.

[nickrey]

Louche comes from oils in the alcohol coming out of suspension. Same thing happens with non-chill filtered spirits when cold water is added. GNS is most likely not filtered at all. Was the water you added at room temperature or taken from the refrigerator?

[lesliec]

What Nick said.

 

I'd expect the louche to go away if you added a bit more high-power alcohol.  I'm led to believe the oils would then go back into suspension.

 

I sometimes get a bit of louching when I'm taking my straight-from-the-still gin (at 70%+) down to 'normal' 43% or so.  It goes away if I mix the gin and water a little more by shaking the bottle a little, but it's quite pretty.

[EvergreenDan]

Water was room temp. So I'm guessing the oils were in the Everclear-type high-proof that I added and they louched when the proof was lowered.