StillSmart

General Chat • Damn! I managed to get into the forums again.......

2019-02-02T09:43:21+00:00

Amazing that I managed to get back in - but I think that lack of access was more about me forgetting the password and also some local connection issues I'm having.......

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Sat Feb 02, 2019 9:43 am — Replies 1 — Views 16

General Chat • GROWING SUGAR.

2019-01-31T22:29:54+00:00

I have seeds for both sugar beet and sugar cane which I intend tto sow very soon.

My facilities at this time of year include an indoor gro-light facility and a frost free greenhouse.

If anybody has had any experience in growing either of these, any advice, based on such experience would be appreciated.

I am not asking for comments as to should I, or not, try this, rather pragmatic advice based on experience of growing these plants.

Statistics: Posted by Toper — Thu Jan 31, 2019 10:29 pm — Replies 12 — Views 83

General Chat • Big Question

2019-01-28T23:37:32+00:00

So, here is a question for existing members that are currently able to post.
Accepting that this forum is currently in the last months of it's life, mainly due to it's lack of activity and the impossibility of accepting new members, and fearing the loss of all the good information archived here...
IF...

A new forum very much like this one was started, would you join it?
A forum that strived to be as friendly and shaped as this one, but with more of a future?
A forum not owned by, nor even moderated by myself,- I would support it,- but I will care-take this one to the bitter end.
I think the intention could/should be to "mirror" the format here.
Sadly, all the posts here would be left behind.
Any volunteers to grab a topic, from here, read it start to end and cut and paste any worthwhile parts to an archive section on a new site?
To keep the information available....
Any volunteers to make a donation for server costs?
This is all hypothetical. Someone would need to step up and take it on, and figure how we would not end up in the same mess again.
The way I see it, my duty is to this forum, not Jimmy, wherever he has gone.
I don't think that he would object to me saying this.
I don't see any time for commitee style chat here.
I could be saying, very quietly, goodbye to you all soon,
Just a simple question - are you interested?

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Mon Jan 28, 2019 11:37 pm — Replies 9 — Views 138

General Chat • Not Going Quietly...

2019-01-26T23:00:39+00:00

So, I (sadly) accept the fact that but for Jimmy being found somewhere with amnesia and making a recovery, this forum is going to dissappear.
I have tried a few times to get people talking and active again.
Here is another attempt.
You can just sit and watch an injured body become a corpse, or you can keep talking to it...
I know that new members, that we can no longer, currently accept, sorta keep a forum chatting with daftish questions.
Here is one from me..
Don't any of the existing members wish to keep talking?
There were 72 users online at onetime last October, where the fuck have they all gone?
Just askin'
Don't waste time asking how we can keep the site active - we can't beyond it's expiry date.
Anyone want to talk about the other stuff?

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sat Jan 26, 2019 11:00 pm — Replies 6 — Views 136

Recipes • Benchmarks

2019-01-26T00:50:18+00:00

I'll set mine..
Just about any Islay malt with an age statement - 10
Famous Grouse - 5
Johnnie walker - 2

My Sloe Gin last year -10
My Damson vodka -7
My gins oscillate from 2 to 7

I didn't do much new in 2018 apart from essences, which is where this forum was when it started .
Prestige Bootleg Baileys (Irish Cream) gets only a 9 because of the need of a daily shake.
The rest of their stuff varies between 5 and 7 for me.
Beware their Jamaica Rum, and maybe halve the concentrate?
Although I cut back on all of them.

For those pondering the phrase "age Statement" , Scotch is now in such high demand worldwide that distilleries are now bottling and selling malt far short of the traditional 10 years in a cask.
You really can taste the difference.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sat Jan 26, 2019 12:50 am — Replies 3 — Views 131

General Chat • Home thoughts from abroad

2019-01-24T22:46:18+00:00

There are several forums/sites that I joined over the years concerned with home distillation.
I have allowed a couple to slide, one purely because it did not allow me, as a "member" to log in anonymously, I wish them well.
Another went off on a technical tangent, In which I had no interest, I wish them well also.
A couple of others appear to have the moderators from hell. I don't visit very often.
The thought occurred to me this evening as I logged in here, looking for activity,--we did have fun, while it lasted.
I am sorry that this epoch appears to have ended; sorry that others couldn't join us to chew the fat.
Without the sometimes banale/trivial questions from new members, any forum will dry up, as evinced here.
Other forums are available; but this one while being mostly very friendly does also have a wealth of information available for those with the time to look.
By my reckoning there is about 14 months of server 'up' time to read the archives here before they are lost.
New readers get busy, Regular ones, as you were, you did it already. Maybe.
Just sayin'.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Thu Jan 24, 2019 10:46 pm — Replies 9 — Views 116

SmartStill, AirStill and EasyStill • Rum with an Airstill

2018-12-31T18:03:07+00:00

I have a horse molasses/demerara sugar brew on the go hoping to make rum through my Airstill. I usually follow the guide on here to produce neutral for gin runs which works well for me. Would following the same procedure be OK for white rum?

I don't have the climate or facilities for running a dunder pit but wondered about using some of the residue from the stripping runs (backset?) to produce a rum flavour essence after boiling it down. That won't produce the esters etc. that a dunder pit does but would give me colour. Is that worthwhile or would sticking to a commercial essence be a better bet. I intend nuking some of the white rum with JD chips to get a bit of colour and flavour but I guess I would need some essence to get a dark navy style rum.

Advice gratefully received.

Statistics: Posted by Flump — Mon Dec 31, 2018 6:03 pm — Replies 1 — Views 335

Food • A New use for left over Turkey,

2018-12-30T23:18:48+00:00

For what it is worth I will share an accident.
We have dined on the traditional Goose and Turkey for the last week.
Under many guises, - I am told to recommend and cook again Sesame stir fried sprouts.....
Tonight,sick of xmas food I decided to make onion Bhajees/Bhajis.
I made the Bhajis and had batter left over.
Dipped some sliced Turkey breast and fried it.
TOTALLY Wonderlicious!

Try it maybe?
With sweet chilli sauce?
Don't forget the usual Bhagi flavours in the batter...

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sun Dec 30, 2018 11:18 pm — Replies 1 — Views 293

General Chat • Kale wash stuck!

2018-12-28T09:34:41+00:00

Hi I've had a kale wash on the go for 2 weeks sg 1070 5kg t&l suger and 500ml kale juice temp been around 28°© now i think is stuck it's on 1030 and not moved in a week and I've gave it a good beating any ideas lads thanks.

Statistics: Posted by Robbo12 — Fri Dec 28, 2018 9:34 am — Replies 20 — Views 329

Fermentation • Fermipan

2018-12-21T09:43:08+00:00

Merry Christmas tidings and all that

I've been using Allinsons up to now but read lots of positives regarding Fermipan. I bought some off Fleabay for a ridiculous £6 for 500g. At the time it was the cheapest I could find. Not used it yet but plan to next week, so before I do I have a couple of easy questions for you.

1. I currently use 50g Allinsons in my 23ltr Sugar/Kale wash. Would I use a different amount of Fermipan?

2. Cheapest place to buy this stuff as online I have found it very expensive. I can buy a box of ten Allinsons Dried Active from Mozzas or Spazda for about a tenner.

Cheers,
Klunk

Statistics: Posted by Klunk — Fri Dec 21, 2018 9:43 am — Replies 6 — Views 590