StillSmart

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-09T12:57:16+00:00

I accept that it may be fusel oils, but I haven't added any water..

I'm pushing a spirit run through now just to see what happens - foreshots were clear and heads are too. I'll update this post over the next couple of hours.

Update 1

3 x 100ml jars of potential heads
500ml taken as hearts
3 x 100ml jars of hearts / tails for cuts - currently down to 55% ABV

no perceptible haze in any of the above

Update 2

3 x 100ml jars additional to the above, last jar down to 30% ABV.

The second to last jar has a perceptible haze in it, and the last is clearly discoloured.

Conclusion

An interesting experiment - I'll let it all air overnight and make careful cuts tomorrow.

This was a lot of work and worry for not a great yield, and I have to say that IMHO Mash's Wonderful Wheat Wash is several steps above FFV. I have enough wheat bran left to have another go at some point, but I think my next recipe will be the dreaded kale!

Cheers, and thanks for all the advice

Hampk

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Sat Jan 09, 2016 12:57 pm

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-09T04:04:47+00:00

Your persistent haze is from fusel oils, that came across because you collected longer than you should have. The collection probably looked OK, but when you added water to lower the ABV%, it turned cloudy.

This situation has confused many a distiller, including many on this site. It has also been asked and answered many a time on this site @EasyD.

It may not come out the best, but add plenty of water and rerun. Look at Anavrin's posted charts under "Cachaca Rum"/Recipes and get an understanding how toward the end of a run it can all go pearshaped very quickly as temp climbs and quality drops.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Sat Jan 09, 2016 4:04 am

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-09T01:02:38+00:00

I would spirit run too.
You cannot win if you do not play..

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sat Jan 09, 2016 1:02 am

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T22:23:28+00:00

I'd spirit run it, see what happens.

Statistics: Posted by chill — Fri Jan 08, 2016 10:23 pm

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T21:06:27+00:00

I don't think for one minute it was a puke - the demijohn contains the results of three separate strip runs and they all came out the same. Three pukes? Hmm..

Fusel oils maybe - it looks oily.

Any more input before I toss it? Or is it worth a spirit run just to see what comes out. Scientific curiosity may get the better of me, but I may well not drink the end result!

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Fri Jan 08, 2016 9:06 pm

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T19:59:49+00:00

That does not look blue to me, that look like your still puked from running a cloudy wash or you have a lot of fusel oils in it. My best guess is that the original wash got infected with something and the result had a different composition from a normal wash. Perhaps with more fusel oils or something else. What does it smell like? Have a small taste? Does it seem like something that will distill out OK, or it is drain cleaner? I recall having an infection once and sniffing the jar of strip was like snorting battery acid. I literally fell on the floor gasping and choking. I did a spirt run, had a sip, and cleaned the drain with it. To this day, I have no idea what happened but it was nasty.

Chuck

Statistics: Posted by chill — Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:59 pm

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T19:29:50+00:00

Ok, here's a couple of images that give the general idea..

If I swirl the demijohn, the cloudiness moves almost separately to the liquid it's in, if that makes sense. I can't really capture that in a still image!

I'm becoming increasingly convinced Chill is right - presumably if I do a spirit run and make careful cuts, I can rescue some decent hearts out of this?

Cheers

Hampk

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:29 pm

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T19:05:46+00:00

@Chill I've read that thread before a while back but you reposting it is very timely - thanks. It's a low-res pic, but it does look similar to what I'm afflicted with. I've got some photos on my phone - as soon as they sync to the PC I'll up them and you can see what you think.

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:05 pm

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T18:47:10+00:00

It is sounding more like you went too deep into tails and got a lot of fusel oils. Here is another "blue distillate" link for some pictures: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 16&t=19850

Statistics: Posted by chill — Fri Jan 08, 2016 6:47 pm

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T12:05:01+00:00

Mash wrote:
.. Is your camera broke?

No, but I'm not sure it's going to be easy to portray.. I'll have a bash tonight. I'm not going to waste the effort on a spirit run until the final decision is made, so a piccy is worth a punt!

Cheers

Hampk

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Fri Jan 08, 2016 12:05 pm

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T08:01:55+00:00

Do not bin it.

We need to understand this.
I certainly think it is recoverable.

.. Is your camera broke?

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Fri Jan 08, 2016 8:01 am

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T07:19:13+00:00

I quite like Tangerine Dream's version of Purple Haze, and the Waterboys did a good'un as well - two of my favourite bands mentioned in one breath!

Now back to my haze..

First, I've made no cuts at all yet - I've only completed a strip run.

That link was an interesting read - I'm going to take half a litre of the blue stuff and add citric to see what happens.

But I fear this lot may be away down the plug hole

EDIT

A half litre sample is now sitting with a teaspoon of citric dissolved in it. (Shaken, not stirred!). My blue-white description was probably inaccurate - it's more like a pale white cloud floating around inside the low wines. Easier to see in small volumes. It looks blue-ish when you catch it round the edges. Almost oily, but I'd expect two immiscible liquids to separate over time, and these aren't. All very odd - I wish I could post a photograph of it!

Any final thoughts, anyone, before I consign it to the sewer?

Statistics: Posted by hampk — Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:19 am

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T03:20:53+00:00

Not sure if that is what it is, but I would feel extra cautious myself

chill wrote:Blue. That sounds bad. Read this:
http://distillique.co.za/distilling_sho ... correct-it

Not sure if that is what it is, but I would feel extra cautious myself.

[/quote]

Well that was an interesting read Chuck

I promise that I am going to bed after this post.
Night all.

Jimi Hendrix – Purple Haze Lyrics

Purple haze, all in my brain
Lately things they don't seem the same
Actin' funny, but I don't know why
Excuse me while I kiss the sky

Purple haze, all around
Don't know if I'm comin' up or down
Am I happy or in misery?
What ever it is, that girl put a spell on me

Help me
Help me
Oh, no, no

Ooo, ahhh
Ooo, ahhh
Ooo, ahhh
Ooo, ahhh, yeah!

Purple haze all in my eyes
Don't know if it's day or night
You got me blowin', blowin' my mind
Is it tomorrow, or just the end of time?

Ooo
Help me
Ahh, yea-yeah, purple haze
Oh, no, oh
Oh, help me
Tell me, tell me, purple haze
I can't go on like this
Purple haze
You're makin' me blow my mind
Purple haze, n-no, nooo
Purple haze

Robert.

NB,PS,Whatever;
Purple Haze is/was a strain of Cannabis.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Fri Jan 08, 2016 3:20 am

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T01:02:39+00:00

@ Hampk: Fusil oils. Make you final cut sooner, rather than trying to maximize your return.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Fri Jan 08, 2016 1:02 am

Re: Persistent haze

2016-01-08T00:58:52+00:00

Blue. That sounds bad. Read this:
http://distillique.co.za/distilling_sho ... correct-it

Not sure if that is what it is, but I would feel extra cautious myself.

Statistics: Posted by chill — Fri Jan 08, 2016 12:58 am