Whats the ingredients in vials or bottles of floating gold leaf?

Question

Hi, i want to find out the exact liquid used in vials or bottles of floating gold leaf. The type sold as novelties in gold rush towns. I have been told that it's a mixture of glycerine and alcohol. If this is correct i would really like to know the mixture ratio used. Thanks :)

Answer 1

Addition of glycerin could boost floatation of gold leaves.

If you want it for decoration only, you could test out several mixtures of ethanol and glycerin till you`ve got the concentration you like most. The solvents don`t damage the expensive gold flakes, so they can be removed by sieving. Start with 10% glycerin in ethanol/water 90%.

A recipe for liqueur with floating gold leaves:

Goldwasser - zlota woda

Ingredients for 1 litre of liqueur.

35 ml 'Goldwasser Essence'

450 g sugar

25 ml cognac

430 ml alcohol 95%bv

60 g water

'Goldwasser Essence'

5 g star anise

2 g cinnamon

3 g nutmeg

1 g cloves

1 g cardamon

4 g coriander

4 g melissa

4 g peppermint

1 g rosemary

6 g lemon peel

8 g orange peel

500 ml alcohol 55%bv

Dilute 300 ml 95%bv alcohol with 210 ml water, making 500 ml alcohol 55%bv. Place botanicals in a jar, add alcohol and macerate for 2-3 weeks. Strain and keep in a warm place. Add sugar dissolved in the water, to essence. Add cognac and alcohol 95%bv. Add water to make 1 litre and leave for 4-6 months. Filter and add 22 or 24 carat gold flakes.

You see, there is no glycerin used in this one. In some cream-liqueurs glycerin is added as stabilizer.