StillSmart

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-29T19:58:03+00:00

I agree Ronbo - guys, let\'s keep this thread for discussing the Triple Still and start another one if we want to branch off - I\'m all for a bit of debate but it helps keep things readable if we stay on topic. Personally I\'m grateful for people taking the time to let us know about how different products and methods work so cheers all.
Besides, tight wads or not, it costs you nothing to start a new thread!

Statistics: Posted by Jimmy — Tue Jun 29, 2010 7:58 pm

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-29T19:34:32+00:00

Not sure this thread is going quite where I originally intended.

If any-one is interested, I have done two runs of the Alcotec TRIPLE STILL.

I have to say that the single distilled product is no better than any other I have tried.

The alcohol percentage collected is much lower than, say the 48Hour stuff. The wash looks incredibly clear -- just like water -- but so what?

Please bear in mind that I am using the table-top air-still.

So, this lot will get double distilled as usual.

Will try the Vodka star next.

Ciao guys.

Statistics: Posted by Ronbo — Tue Jun 29, 2010 7:34 pm

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-29T11:29:51+00:00

You are making good cheap alcohol so why try to cut corners and spoil the result to save a few pennies?

Thats what i agree on.

I get that if you are making your own booze,it is obviously cheaper than buying store bought.

Sorry if i stepped on toes,take it as it comes.I do.

Statistics: Posted by marc83 — Tue Jun 29, 2010 11:29 am

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-29T02:09:34+00:00

I\'m wondering if Phantom has been at the spirit..or maybe its because I have sampled a full bottle of Raspberry rum that I am a bit too far down the wobbly road myself.

The carbon has always been added to the triple distilled yeast to help clean up the wash before fermenting. remember that it was meant solely for the Smart Still which (bless its little stainless steel bits) isn\'t the most efficient still in the family. So a cleaner wash will make for a better distilate from it.

I still say dextrose x 7kg is the same as 6kg granulated but can\'t say I\'ve ever measured the sg at the start - mainly because it is what it is and isn\'t worth worrying about. As long as I get close to 60% at distilling stage I\'m happy.

Now pricing is a minefield. and brew shops are apt to think of a number and double it then add vat...

My local brew shop sells Still Spirits just a bit dearer than I sell Alcotec TD yeasts but although I buy the essences off them (and very grateful I am too as they are sooper people) I don\'t see the point in having the SS yeasts as I can buy Alcotec direct.

Your figures on tax levels, Mr P. make interesting reading. I know we are being ripped off but its nice to know they have a set strategy for doing so. It just makes being a brew shop owner all the more attractive although I have to say the practice of the tight wads being true to form does make me a bit mad. You are making good cheap alcohol so why try to cut corners and spoil the result to save a few pennies?

and if I have missed the plot I\'m sorry...it was very nice Raspberry rum and it really is past my beddiebyes time.

Statistics: Posted by Ellie-Claire — Tue Jun 29, 2010 2:09 am

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-29T01:18:51+00:00

It's all the pricing crap that confuses me........
If you look at sites that sell the SS stuff, then it's about the Â£3/Â£3.50 for the SS triple distilled, about Â£1.20 or so for a pack of liquid carbon and whatever it is for the 2 part finings.
The local HBS now sells all 3 together for about Â£5.50
I've tried vodka star as well, which if brewed without carbon works out cheaper.
So, with that in mind, when making a "sugar turbo", whats the actual point of putting the liquid carbon in at the ferment stage ? Anyone know ?
I, like everyone else, seem to want to save as much on the pennies as possible, though whether that makes me a tight wad or not, I don't know (just don't like wasting stuff where it's not necessary).
And for marc83, if you're not in the UK, then mate, you have no idea about how much we save making our own hooch. It\'s a lot.......
So here's a slightly out of date guide.......
2 "budgets ago" (when it was still "monobrow" the child molester, setting the numbers), I believe I read correctly, that spirits were charged at Â£22.64 per 1% alcohol, per 100 litres. Hence if made at the "industry standard" 40% ABV, then there was Â£905.60 in excise duty. Plus, while food here doesn't normally attract sales/value added tax, spirits are considered as "luxury food" (and there's some shit about 0% VAT on sugar, but once it's processed into something else, etc etc) so it attracts sales tax/VAT at 17.5% on the end price as well.
So as you can see, because of the government "tax strategy", the taxation is huge.....
Oh, and I understood, that while Ellie-Claire has glucose/dextrose down at 91%, I understood that it's actually 87% as sweet/sugary, as table sugar. When I tried it, to get the same gravity as 6kg of table sugar (can't remember whether it was T&L or whitworths - it was "cane" sugar), I needed something like 8kg of dextrose/glucose/brewing sugar to get the same numbers........
I'm still no better off knowledge wise......
whether the best deal is SS triple distilled, SS triple distilled with liquid carbon, Vodka Star, Vodka Star with liquid carbon, or one of the other turbos out there, with or without carbon.
I have noticed that places that keep the HB (Alcotec) products, are very, very expensive when you see liquid carbon mentioned........
If anyone can clarify this a bit, that'd be brilliant.

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:18 am

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-29T00:24:10+00:00

Give the turbo clear a few days,i know it says it will work in 24hrs but a few days makes a difference.

Statistics: Posted by marc83 — Tue Jun 29, 2010 12:24 am

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-28T15:58:33+00:00

Took a final reading last night of just above 1.000 (13.5%) and racked off.

Put the turbo clear in and it was almost clear after a couple of hours -- most impressed. This morning it looks like water but with bits of carbon floating around which look like they are not going to settle out.

Will probably run it through a coffee filter into the still. Smells very clean and neutral.

Will let you know what the first run is like.

Ciao.

Statistics: Posted by Ronbo — Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:58 pm

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-26T02:20:41+00:00

Ahhh,that makes more sense.

Statistics: Posted by marc83 — Sat Jun 26, 2010 2:20 am

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-25T19:16:31+00:00

Sri, that was a typo it should read 1.003 NOT 1.1003>

Statistics: Posted by Ronbo — Fri Jun 25, 2010 7:16 pm

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-25T16:38:59+00:00

Sg seems quite high for day 7,should at least be under 1000 by now.That yeast should only produce up to 14%max correct me if i am wrong.

I have never taken starting SG readings with turbo yeasts,only SG readings to determine if its finished or not.A SG of 1103 dropping down to 1100 is not a huge change.

Do you have a spirit % hydrometer you could drop in to check Alc % also?i use mine to check before i charge the still.

Statistics: Posted by marc83 — Fri Jun 25, 2010 4:38 pm

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-25T15:30:45+00:00

Day seven.

Just took a SG measurement. It started out 1.103 (7kG Sugar) and is now 1.1003. That is about 13.2% ABV However it is still fizzing away quite well, so my intention is to leave it and try again in two days time.

Couldn\'t agree more about the black sludge, it is a b**ger to clean out afterwards, but does result in cleaner spirit.

Ciao.

Statistics: Posted by Ronbo — Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:30 pm

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-25T04:13:43+00:00

I have used the turbo carbon with a SS Triple i used before,cleanest wash i ever had,the distillate collected was pretty good also.Havent used the Alcotec triple though.

The cleanup afterwards isnt so bad,no more than you would normally do,puts some people off for some reason.

Yes Ellie some distillers ARE tight-arse\'s!!until they cut one too many corners i suspect!!For the sake of a couple of dollars,hell youre making cheap booze already.haha

Statistics: Posted by marc83 — Fri Jun 25, 2010 4:13 am

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-25T03:15:11+00:00

any excuse to play with stunningly fabby toy (thats my Smart Still before you start thinking....)

ok i thought it ...... i am bad

Statistics: Posted by foRUM warrior — Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:15 am

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-25T02:57:59+00:00

I usually use the Alcotec brand of Triple distilled as its cheaper to buy (are all distillers tight wads?) and its the one I sell for the same reason. The Still Spirits and the Alcotec come from the same factory (or blending house) and the Still Spirits is the better quality although they both do the job.
The difference in sugar - 6kg and 7kg will be down to the fact that the Still Spirits reccomend dextrose which is 91% sugar and 9% water and the more canny Swedes use normal domestic sugar. So you need an extra kg to up the fermentables content.
I\'m also going to stock the Vodkastar after testing it - any excuse to play with stunningly fabby toy (thats my Smart Still before you start thinking....) but the supplier is out of stock for a few weeks. Do any of you guys use a carbon sachet with it?

Statistics: Posted by Ellie-Claire — Fri Jun 25, 2010 2:57 am

Alcotec TRIPLE STILL

2010-06-24T21:44:04+00:00

Six days now and it is starting to slow down. Wash temp is 24.5C ambient is 24C

Hi Lyonacre, yes I did ask at the local HB for Vodka Star but they did not stock it, so they have ordered me some which I will use next time.

Will probably take a SG measure tomorrow to see where it\'s at!

Ciao guys.

Statistics: Posted by Ronbo — Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:44 pm