Here's the eating report for cooked recipe #12:
1) My wife and I both agree that this recipe is to be placed within our top 3. But it is not #1.
2) At 27.5 grams, there was not enough Salt. This was a plus for my wife, and a minus for me.
3) 5 grams of White Pepper didn't taste very different from 3 grams of White plus 2 grams of Black Pepper. Again, plus for my Wife, and minus for me.
4) Lowering the Allspice and supplanting it with Clove and Nutmeg ended up being pretty much a wash. Not much difference to speak about.
5) There was noticeably too much of everything flavor wise (sans Salt and Pepper) and a 32 ounce bag compliant recipe would be better balanced.
6) Perhaps a touch of Cayenne Pepper would have been a plus. My wife does not agree with this.
7) There is a hint of the all important 'note', but not as much as my #1 recipe, which remains cooked recipe #4.
8) This time around the Star-Anise was potentially a plus, and it was at a 1/3 reduction from my last use of it. It certainly wasn't a negative.
9) The Oregano at a reduced quantity vs. Marjoram seems to be a wash. At a 40% reduction from the last time I used it things seem just fine. The last time I used it, the Oregano taste was over the top. But at this level I think I'll stick with Oregano.
10) Clove was somewhat less effective in my opinion at bringing forth the note than is Allspice. And as for most of the H&S flavors, it was too much.
11) As stated, many things could be reduced, but the Nutmeg particularly seemed to be a bit over the top, and definitely needs a reduction.
12) I don't believe the Dextrose, Maltodextrin, or Bread Yeast were contributing as net positives. My advice 'for now' is to leave them out.
13) Once again, we did not brine or marinate. Perhaps this needs to be explored if Salt is to remain at 27.5 grams in 200 grams of Cake Flour.
14) It's not the same with Sage pumped to the top of the H&S list (just below Pepper), and with Savory sitting it out. Advice is: Sage down, Thyme down, and Savory back in.
15) I can't see how it is going to be possible to keep things at or near 11 H&S. Savory and Black Pepper additions would bump it up by 2.
Bottom line: Very good Deep Fried Chicken overall, but simply not KFC_OR_Like in quality as to the coating. End of the 40 ounce bag experiment. 32 ounce seems way more promising to me now.