StillSmart

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-23T05:25:24+00:00

This is what this hobby of ours is all about.. keep up the good work.

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Sat Apr 23, 2016 5:25 am

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-23T04:48:55+00:00

The new batch of vodka turned out to be nice after filtering. I got 6 quarts of hearts at close to 190 proof. I didn't think it was possible with the T500, but the hydrometer is consistently reading 190 proof. I watered down some of it to 90 proof for filtering.

Vodka is supposed to be flavorless, but there's always at least a hint of an aftertaste. It's fun learning the different tastes. This batch is distinctively difrerent from my other vodka batches.

Statistics: Posted by m314 — Sat Apr 23, 2016 4:48 am

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-22T04:19:03+00:00

http://imgur.com/AL7S3Ja

My new batch of rum. I'm going to age some jars with medium toast oak chips and some with heavy toast oak chips. Some with no oak chips.

It's kinda off topic for this thread. It would be a shame to lose that rich molasses flavor with filtering. It's just a little strong and harsh brand new.

Statistics: Posted by m314 — Fri Apr 22, 2016 4:19 am

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-22T04:12:49+00:00

http://imgur.com/0wfZJfo

I'm distilling more vodka tonight. I've had 5 gallons of Birdwatchers low wines sitting around for months now. A basic sugar / tomato paste wash. I hope this turns out well after filtering.

I don't taste tomato, exactly, but it seems a little harsh so far at 190ish proof. My wheat germ / sugar vodka came off the still smooth and with a pleasantly grainy aftertaste. I'm already fermenting 32 gallons of wheat germ / sugar wash for flavored "whiskey". I should start a new batch specifically for vodka this weekend.

Statistics: Posted by m314 — Fri Apr 22, 2016 4:12 am

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-22T04:00:34+00:00

Buccaneer Bob's rum recipe calls for double distillation and using dunder (backset, leftovers from the still from the stripping runs) in starting the next generation. It also mentions adding clarified dunder directly to the results from the spirit run for a richer and fuller flavor. I highly recommend trying it.

I got carried away with the last batch and used too much molasses. It has a seriously strong molasses flavor after 2 distillations. It kinda grows on you after a while. I have 19 quarts of it, so I hope it mellows out a little with aging.

Statistics: Posted by m314 — Fri Apr 22, 2016 4:00 am

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-18T00:04:06+00:00

Pleased for you that the vodka hits the spot.
A little unsure what you are saying regards the rum, my advice, don't strip it.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Mon Apr 18, 2016 12:04 am

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-17T19:07:01+00:00

My new rum batch came out a little strong. I might have used too much molasses and dunder from the previous batch. It's brand new, so hopefully it will mellow out a little with aging. I'll think about filtering it at some point.

I finally got around to filtering my wheat germ vodka this weekend. This is the first premium vodka I've made. It has pretty much no taste and no burn at 80 proof. I've tried so many batches of vodka so far. This is the first time I got it right, with the help of the Essencia filter.

Statistics: Posted by m314 — Sun Apr 17, 2016 7:07 pm

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-12T05:52:04+00:00

I've even put aged Rum through mine to take the colour away, it still kept a nice rum flavour and came out clear, having only otherwise tried white rum essences, this was the best white rum I've ever made :-)

You do need to change the carbon though, my next batch of neutral had a slight hint of rum to it!

It's quite possibly the most useful but of kit I've bought so far, like others say though, I believe 50% spirt is the absolute max you can use, and it will shorten the usefull life of the filters, Essencia recommend changing the carbon one after 40 litres at 40%, cant remember off the top of my head but it's much lower at 50%.

Statistics: Posted by Anavrin — Tue Apr 12, 2016 5:52 am

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-12T00:47:19+00:00

The instructions mentioned using a dinner plate instead of the regular plastic lid if filtering something over 80 proof. I've only done the one big lentil batch so far at 80 proof. I'll probably just stick with 80 to 90 proof.

I was busy working on rum over the weekend, so I let this batch take its time and finish slowly. I'll try the suggestions here next weekend with my wheat germ batch. Soaking the ceramic filter upside down in spirit, tapping to get the air bubbles out, that sounds like it would work.

Even with the slow speed, I love the quality from the first batch. The lentil vodka turned out smoother and better tasting after 1 run through the filter. Before this I was used to doing multiple runs through a Britta pitcher with less dramatic results.

Statistics: Posted by m314 — Tue Apr 12, 2016 12:47 am

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-12T00:18:58+00:00

Earth to m314,
Please acknowledge receipt of instruction not to run spirit above 45% through Essencia, unless having a laugh.
One life, Live it.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Tue Apr 12, 2016 12:18 am

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter,

2016-04-11T02:29:58+00:00

Anavrin has it right, air can be a pain getting trapped in there.
Be careful with running anything stronger than 45% ABV through the filter, the charcoal won't do what it is there for.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Mon Apr 11, 2016 2:29 am

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-10T21:42:18+00:00

If your essencia is slow it's probably got air trapped in the ceramic filter, I find if you take it out and soak it upside down in some already filtered spirit tapping it down releases little air bubbles out of the hole in the bottom.

Eventually it will sink and you know all the airs gone, you could also clean the outside of the ceramic dome with a sponge to remove anything clogging the pores.

Statistics: Posted by Anavrin — Sun Apr 10, 2016 9:42 pm

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-10T17:37:05+00:00

My vodka batches come off the stil at around 185 proof. I watered this lentil batch down to 80 proof according to the instructions that came with the filter.

I might try a higher proof with the next batch.

Statistics: Posted by m314 — Sun Apr 10, 2016 5:37 pm

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-10T17:10:03+00:00

Blimey that is slow. I thought my ez filter was slow 5 litres is about 8 hours.

There is a thread about this on here somewhere and I am sure there is a benefit to running higher proof.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun Apr 10, 2016 5:10 pm

Re: Essencia Carbon Filter

2016-04-10T16:26:51+00:00

"Drinking rum before 11am doesn't make you an alcoholic,it makes you a Pirate"

I never knew I was a pirate. I shouldn't be drinking rum and coke at 9 am, but the UFC is on. I'm trying to finish distilling this batch of rum today.

I love the quality of the vodka coming out of my Essencia filter, but it's taking forever. It has filtered about 3 liters at 80 proof over the last day and a half.

Statistics: Posted by m314 — Sun Apr 10, 2016 4:26 pm