StillSmart

First Tipple from my new still

2008-12-21T21:23:25+00:00

If you ever HAVE to drink cheap bottled vodka, don't forget you can carbon filter that to improve it too!

I might next time, I have bought two bottles in the past and ended up giving them away, tasted awful even in cocktails.

Statistics: Posted by HangOver — Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:23 pm

First Tipple from my new still

2008-12-21T21:21:51+00:00

I made my own filter basically a blocked of piece of copper pipe with a small hole.
I got a length of copper pipe 25mm x 600mm, (too short though i'm going to make it longer manybe twice that at least) blanked of one end with a compresion fitting, (solder uses lead, not good to drink) and drilled a small hole in the blanking cap maybe a mil or so in diameter. Before you mention yes I filed off any burs.

I cut a circle of coffee filter paper and put it in the cap and screwed it to the end of the pipe. Put about 200g-ish of carbon in the pipe and filled it with spirit.

As it takes a long time to drip through I forced a large-ish funnel into the top end of the pipe and just topped that up and went to bed.
pros: cheap to make if you can scrounge the pipe, i did
Cons: it takes ages, overnight to drip about 500ml through, but i suppose the longer the better so the carbon can absorb the nasties.
Top Tip: DONT buy the essencia or smartstill carbon, here its about $10 per 200g because its in a nice pack with a pretty label. Go to the local brew shop and ask about spirit carbon by the kilo. I got x2 kilos for $20!

Statistics: Posted by HangOver — Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:21 pm

First Tipple from my new still

2008-12-21T05:14:06+00:00

"BUT ITS BLOODY AWSOME, homestly i'm really pleased and impressed after the filtering. I feel like a kid with a new toy and just got the batteries "
Nice one Hangover, I've not tried charcoal filtering yet, what kind of filter did you use?
Regards, Q

Statistics: Posted by quietman — Sun Dec 21, 2008 5:14 am

First Tipple from my new still

2008-12-21T02:19:32+00:00

Anybody know whats in these turbo yeasts,??
Can they be replicated using our own ingredients, or is it too expensive to try?

There must be a way of finding out, come on Jimmy use your special powers to enlighten us, where we to may know the knowledge... the complex ingredients must be able to be brought out sometime......... It is my quest for 2009 to find the truth.......

Statistics: Posted by pi55ed — Sun Dec 21, 2008 2:19 am

First Tipple from my new still

2008-12-20T21:07:11+00:00

Told you the filtering was worth doing, especially with a turbo! I'm really pleased for you, now there will be no stopping you! I find that commercial vodkas often have a bit of a meths taste which I presume is a result of their process (they use constant distillation rather than in batches so they don't take off heads like we do). If you ever HAVE to drink cheap bottled vodka, don't forget you can carbon filter that to improve it too!

Statistics: Posted by Jimmy — Sat Dec 20, 2008 9:07 pm

First Tipple from my new still

2008-12-20T20:24:31+00:00

All them people who think you are nuts will be either helping you to drink it, or enquiring where you get one from,......

Statistics: Posted by pi55ed — Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:24 pm

First Tipple from my new still

2008-12-20T20:20:06+00:00

When I distilled my first batch I was dissapointed it tasted awful, so I diluted it and distilled it again it came out about twice as good but still on a scle of 1-10 hmmm maybe 2+
Anyhow I decided to carbon filter it and if it was still poor dilute and redistill again.
BUT ITS BLOODY AWSOME, homestly i'm really pleased and impressed after the filtering. I feel like a kid with a new toy and just got the batteries
I only ever drink spirits, mostly smirnoff occasionally bison and as I type this I am sipping the spirit straight it tastes so good.

If I was one to brag I would say better than smirnoff.
Just wanted to tell someone as everyone else I know thinks im nuts lol.
Signed

Happy Chap

Statistics: Posted by HangOver — Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:20 pm