StillSmart

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-27T16:29:36+00:00

Thanks Mashy.

Tap water is lovely down here in the South West, so it will save me a trip to the supermarket.

Cheers

Statistics: Posted by Still Brewing — Wed May 27, 2015 4:29 pm

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-27T14:05:18+00:00

If you can drink your tap water it's OK.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Wed May 27, 2015 2:05 pm

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-27T13:36:33+00:00

Quick question

I'm taking AidenMac's advice by adding water to bulk up the low wines to 12 litres.

Is normal tap water ok to use, or is it better to use supermarket water in the 5 litre plastic square bottles.

Cheers

Statistics: Posted by Still Brewing — Wed May 27, 2015 1:36 pm

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-26T20:01:18+00:00

Excellent advice once again, thankyou.

Had a bad day today so the low wines have stayed in various glass jars and bottles since last night. Found some glass demijohns in the shed earlier so going to give them a scrub and bring em back to new to hold any distilled wash.

I will now start looking at the pdf's mentioned and maybe start the second part of the process tomorrow.

Thanks all.

Statistics: Posted by Still Brewing — Tue May 26, 2015 8:01 pm

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-26T07:08:10+00:00

Go the the Resources topic, "Distilling Booklets" thread and download the "Spirit Cuts for Beginners" booklet. You should gat all your collected distillate into a single container and bring the volume up to 12 litres so you can do three runs.

I know this would generally be considered a mortal sin but, throw 3 litres of water into a fermenter then the 9 litres of low wines you have and mix well. Your low wines will all be of the same strength to facilitate consistent cuts. You then return the 12 litres to glass containers for safe storage. A few minutes in a plastic fermenter won't do any harm. It's worth considering getting a suitable glass or Stainless Steel container for this purpose as you will need it again and again. A second hand Cornelius Keg is ideal and can be had fairly cheaply too.

The diagram in the Airstill Guide gives a visual indication of a spirit run and the Spirit Cuts booklet will give you more specific information to allow you progress the next stage.

If at anytime you are not happy with your progress making cuts just turn off the power,let the Airstill cool a little then toss what you've collected back into the still and start again - no problems!

AidanMac

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Tue May 26, 2015 7:08 am

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-26T00:30:01+00:00

OK,you have done OK so far,stop sweating!
Your results sound good so far.
You may have become confused with what you have been told here,or read here.
It is not all collected in 100Ml portions.
Read the link below,your stuff is safe until you know what to do next,any questions,just ask.

Robert.

download/file.php?id=320

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Tue May 26, 2015 12:30 am

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-25T23:48:11+00:00

Thanks for all the replies gents, much appreciated.

Finally managed to finish my last stripping run this evening. Can't remember or find the post I followed at the moment but I took 1.5 litres each time from the original 4 litres of wash.

I now have 9 litres of spirit with an ABV of 34% stored in various jars and bottles, all of which are glass, compared to my first mistake of keeping the first runnings in plastic. For a first timer does this ABV sound about right or have I messed up from the start.

Now comes the part that I have been dreading in parts. I can't seem to get my head around the heads, hearts and tails part, especially when you have to collect 100ml at a time.

I think I will continue reading more before I attempt the next stages.

Statistics: Posted by Still Brewing — Mon May 25, 2015 11:48 pm

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-25T07:17:53+00:00

Easydrinker wrote:
.....
Ex'ing a Turbo supplier,(try and resist it,lentil,[TP,or many others] is cheaper and cleaner).

+1 lentil or a wheat wash [my fave] are much better.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Mon May 25, 2015 7:17 am

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-25T07:12:04+00:00

Still Brewing wrote:
I'm surprised the still didn't blow up all over the kitchen.

They are perfectly safe, BUT they will blister exposing the inner metal core.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Mon May 25, 2015 7:12 am

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-25T06:46:28+00:00

You're welcome

AidanMac

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Mon May 25, 2015 6:46 am

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-25T01:44:31+00:00

Still Brewing wrote:
Turns out we now have 163 pennies which are copper. Is this enough for the air still or do we need any more before I continue with my third stripping wash.

Just seen your post about the spirit run Ade. I have only really glanced at the way it is done but just to clarify, is nothing added to the still on the spirit run.

Cheers

I know that I am a little late responding,but that is many pennies,you have to leave some room for the strip in there!
Your pennies will come out of there nice and clean,rinse them and add them to the spirit run,they will come out of that dirty,having collected Sulphites.
Put them with some Citric acid to clean them up again.
Aidan has answered your other points,so I will leave those.
Ex'ing a Turbo supplier,(try and resist it,lentil,[TP,or many others] is cheaper and cleaner).If you don't have a local HB shop,you could do worse than here http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/ellie-claire? ... 1543.l2754
ATB

Robert.

Sorry,my ISP is messing around again tonight,and I seemingly can't post links,so that is a copy and paste jobby to your address bar.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Mon May 25, 2015 1:44 am

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-24T19:52:58+00:00

If you use Vodka Star you won't need the carbon in the wash - bloody awful stuff anyway The Lentil wash recipe is cheap, simple and clean for making neutral spirits.

For clearing agents you could use Turbo Klar, most of the online HBS stock it, such as http://www.lovebrewing.co.uk/turbo-clear/ or http://www.creativewinemaking.co.uk/spi ... at_16.html Alternatively you could try getting Sparkolloid (best of all IMHO) which I buy from here http://www.brewhaus.com/Clearing-Agent- ... -P853.aspx

Most agree here that it's best to strive for quality rather than quantity so 6Kg is probably the upper end of the scale. I personally use 5kg in my 25Lt Lentil Washes. Fast and dry finishing. High sugar levels stress the yeast and can produce less than ideal results.

It's worthwhile remembering that we end up making a standard bottle of spirits for less than £2 so don't worry too much about you recipe costs. You'll still be saving a bundle

AidanMac

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Sun May 24, 2015 7:52 pm

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-24T17:50:18+00:00

Thanks guys.

Third strip is now half way through. Bottles and jars of stripped wash now decorate the kitchen worktops but the wife doesn't even batter an eyelid.

I'm reading up as much as I can for the next stage so no doubt there will be more questions to follow once the wash is completely stripped.

While I remeber, where do you all buy your Vodka Star yeast and clearing agent from. Do you also use the packets of activated carbon from Still Spirits in your wash or is it a waste of time. I want to get another wash going asap so I obviously want to keep the costs down as much as I can.

Also, is there any real advantage in adding more sugar to the wash compared to the 6kg that I have been using previously.

Statistics: Posted by Still Brewing — Sun May 24, 2015 5:50 pm

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-24T17:09:14+00:00

That should be enough pennies. I only have a small handful in mine (along with some crushed granite pieces). The non-magnetic ones won't cause a problem but as they only have a thin cover of coppers will soon become ineffective.

Statistics: Posted by chill — Sun May 24, 2015 5:09 pm

Re: Distilation Has Begun At Last

2015-05-24T16:16:51+00:00

I will not correct the anti-juking typo - else this thread might become unreadable.

It is superheating that causes pukes.
The science behind the effect is that a thin membrane of boiling liquid underneath the coin - heats up and in doing so tips the coin slightly when the bubbles escape. It is this movement, which ripples through the liquid, that stops superheating of an otherwise stationary fluid. Saddles and bits of copper pipe also do this, but in a less effective way due to the reduced surface area.

Perhaps I should have said is that by bending the coins you reduce their effectiveness.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun May 24, 2015 4:16 pm