Ok, I looked around there website (http://graykangaroo.com) and I do not
like what I see. First off they clam that they have a patent pending, well
I looked for it on USPTO.gov and could not find their names, Esposito or
Radysh, nor anything that is an alcohol filter. The search was for apps not
patents granted. Next they very vaguely explain how it works. The way I
figure it works is like a carbon or zeolite filter not a membrane (like a
coffee filter or a riverce osmosis filter). Reason being that it works
better the more times you filter the mixture through it. So now we are left
with a filter that acts like a sponge. One slight problem, when you are
working with a solution that is about 60% water and 40% alcohol you can
dissolve both polar/ionic and nonpolar compounds into it to a certian
degree. Since they claim that their system reduces the presence of
congeners and that they state that if the liquid is artificially coloured
the system will remove the compounds I would have to say that the system
removes non-polar compounds quite well. ASIDE: [have you ever had ouzo, the
correct way that is, by adding water to it in a 1:1 ratio? you get a cloudy
mixture, just like when you add pinesol to water. What is happening is that
all of the, essential, oils (non-polar) are comming out of suspension,
which shows that 40% is a good non-polar solvent.] This would be in line
with the type of filter they claim they are using.

All in all, I think it could work, it would work out on paper. My personal
bet is that it is just a basic carbon filter. If you feel like it, try
making your own by using a food grade carbon filter and filtering vodka a
few times through it. I would caution you that brittas may not be alcohol
friendly and so you may be better off opening one up and taking some of the
carbon(black)/zeolite(white) out of it and mixing it with the vodka in a
glass glass. Keep stirring for a minute or two then strain though a coffee
filter and try. Worse comes to worse you loose the price of a britta filter
and the vodka.

Just to let you know, the britta idea is just that an idea, I don't drink
vodka and would have little use for this system. The principals are sound
(to my knowledge) and it should work, to a point.

Anyone else have an opinion/thought?

If you try it and it works, or not, please let me know.

Rob

A B wrote:

> I'm sorry for posting at a wine group, but I figured this group would be
> more knowledgable about alteration and clarification than others. I came
> across a site about something called the "Grey Kangeroo," and it claims
> to be able to make cheaper spirits (including low brands of vodka and
> whiskey) more palatable while maintaining the same amount of alcohol.
> Does anyone know if this is possible, and what type of filtration
> equipment would be needed to "clarify" the impurities in cheap spirits
> as the product promises?