Wow, you guys let your tincture "steep" a long time. I only do a couple days with the jar sealed, and shake it a couple times a day. Then I strain it into a measuring cup (a coffee filter put inside a regular strainer - takes awhile, but works).

Now my measuring cup let me knows how much liquid I started with. (You can draw a line with a sharpie, if you are forgetful - it comes off with alcohol on glass) To get a tincture that doesn't burn, just let the alcohol evaporate on it's own, in the glass measuring cup until it is 1/4 to 1/2 of the volume you started with. Or, even stronger concentration, by letting it sit evaporating for 10 days. Heating it sounds dangerous at that proof! You can leave it out and open, because the alcohol kills bacteria, etc. When you're done, store it in a dark bottle, in a dark place. I keep mine in the fridge.