StillSmart

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-09-18T01:30:58+00:00

Make your final cut earlier. Trying to get the most out of your still will get you more fusil alcohols coming across and they will cloud your product when you add water to bring down the ABV.

Aim for quality and not quantity. The little extra bit can stuff an otherwise good run.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Thu Sep 18, 2014 1:30 am

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-17T01:28:06+00:00

Nice one,thanks for posting that.
Feel I've learned something usefull.
Now,how long can I remember that?
Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sun Aug 17, 2014 1:28 am

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-16T20:08:07+00:00

I just found this while reading on

http://www.allaboutspirits.com/alcohol

An interesting property of alcohol is it dissolves organic oils and fats. On the other hand oils and water do not mix well. You should realize that if pure alcohol was mixed with nuts it probably dissolved some oils, yet the alcohol solution is clear. We would normally make such a solution weaker by adding some water. When water is added, the alcohol may be diluted to such a degree that it can no longer hold the oil in solution. The problem may not be immediately noticeable, but in a few days the product may become cloudy. A good example is the preparation of the French aperitif Pernod. Star anise oil is diluted in 40% alcohol (vodka), forming a clear, yellow solution. When people add water to the drink a whitish emulsion of small undissolved oil drops suddenly appear making Pernod look like yellowish milk.

Statistics: Posted by Anavrin — Sat Aug 16, 2014 8:08 pm

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-16T19:54:44+00:00

Thanks for the replies, boiled water unfortunately produced cloudy spirit, I'll try to buy some RO water from an aquarium shop.

Its strange as the water in Wales is supposed to be soft when I last distilled around 5-6 years ago and just used tap water to dilute I never had any cloudy issues.

Regards

Jon

Statistics: Posted by jonnyboy40 — Sat Aug 16, 2014 7:54 pm

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-16T09:25:41+00:00

You can usually get RO water from an aquarium shop.

Statistics: Posted by John51 — Sat Aug 16, 2014 9:25 am

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-16T00:24:26+00:00

packapoo wrote:
I think Jon I'd rather try a boiled water solution then trust dehumidified, even if passed through a coffee filter.This thought stems purely from situations I see dehumidifiers generally used in.

Yes,
I have only ever used a de-humidifier in places where mould,of some sort,was already growing on the walls.
Maybe simple Penicillin,maybe something worse.
Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sat Aug 16, 2014 12:24 am

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-16T00:09:25+00:00

I think Jon I'd rather try a boiled water solution then trust dehumidified, even if passed through a coffee filter.This thought stems purely from situations I see dehumidifiers generally used in.

Statistics: Posted by packapoo — Sat Aug 16, 2014 12:09 am

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-15T11:27:49+00:00

jonnyboy40 wrote:
Thanks for all the replies.

I tried using distilled water from the dehumidifier yesterday and the result is completely clear, so it is the water. Thanks for the tip about boiled water Ill also try that.

Is water from a dehumidifier safe to add to spirit and drink? I filtered the water through coffee filters.

Regards

Jon

Hi,I may be talking rubbish,but if the water from the dehumidifier is being drawn from the air,may it not also contain any pathogens present?
For sure adding it to high percentage alcohol may sort them out.
I guess it depends upon the air space the dehumidifier is working in.
Or I may be talking rubbish.
Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Fri Aug 15, 2014 11:27 am

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-15T10:16:49+00:00

Easydrinker wrote:
Believe me it is not rocket science.
And all you need to know can be found on this forum.
Dip your toes,or jump in,you probably will not regret it.
Robert.

I'm tempted to get an easystill and go for it. The calculations for the volumes and heads/tails/hearts are what is putting me off just now - I can find malted barley pretty easily to make the mash...

Statistics: Posted by scotstill — Fri Aug 15, 2014 10:16 am

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-15T05:29:49+00:00

Thanks for all the replies.

I tried using distilled water from the dehumidifier yesterday and the result is completely clear, so it is the water. Thanks for the tip about boiled water Ill also try that.

Is water from a dehumidifier safe to add to spirit and drink? I filtered the water through coffee filters.

Regards

Jon

Statistics: Posted by jonnyboy40 — Fri Aug 15, 2014 5:29 am

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-15T00:11:46+00:00

Believe me it is not rocket science.
And all you need to know can be found on this forum.
Dip your toes,or jump in,you probably will not regret it.
Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Fri Aug 15, 2014 12:11 am

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-14T23:14:51+00:00

Easydrinker wrote:
scotstill wrote:I wouldn't worry too much. High strength, un-chill filtered single malt whisky does the same.

Have a look here:

http://www.maltmaniacs.net/E-pistles/Ma ... whisky.pdf

Almost misssed you there,in the flow of the thread.
WELCOME to the forum.
Nice username.

Robert.

Thanks! Not sure I'm quite ready to DIY distill yet, but interested in the process and reading up. I'm familiar with the way commercial distilleries do it, but not at home...

Statistics: Posted by scotstill — Thu Aug 14, 2014 11:14 pm

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-14T22:59:04+00:00

scotstill wrote:
I wouldn't worry too much. High strength, un-chill filtered single malt whisky does the same.

Have a look here:

http://www.maltmaniacs.net/E-pistles/Ma ... whisky.pdf

Almost misssed you there,in the flow of the thread.
WELCOME to the forum.
Nice username.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Thu Aug 14, 2014 10:59 pm

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-14T22:48:08+00:00

Sounds like an easy way of de-chlorinating and de-mineralising tap water to me,good on you,but what do I know?
Robert.

as much as me mate

cheers B_D

Statistics: Posted by Blue_Duck — Thu Aug 14, 2014 10:48 pm

Re: Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

2014-08-14T22:39:40+00:00

Blue_Duck wrote:
I may be lucky or whatever, i dont experience the cloudy product, what i do and have done for a long time now,is when i have a cuppa,i pour the excess of the kettle into a 5ltr spring water bottle after its cooled,topping up all the time and that way iv'e always got what i consider is clean water for dilution.it works for me.

cheers B_D

Sounds like an easy way of de-chlorinating and de-mineralising tap water to me,good on you,but what do I know?
Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Thu Aug 14, 2014 10:39 pm