StillSmart

Smelly spirit

2011-03-29T11:23:37+00:00

Hey guys what\'s your take on leaving the neutral spirit to \'air\' for 24-48 hours before filtering/flavouring etc in order to remove smell? FRANK

Statistics: Posted by Frank — Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:23 am

Smelly spirit

2010-11-06T22:56:54+00:00

spoke to a home brew shop owner and he gave me a tip.

1) the small holder and "teabag" filter system doesn\'t work!!

2) the solution is to use a long pipe or in my case a long plastic hydrometer jar, drill a hole in the bottom, put filter paper in the bottom. fill it 3/4 full of activated carbon granules and wash through with water a few times, place this under the still and place the collector below it.
I have found that the spirit is much nicer

Do both. That\'s what I do with my smart still, though I just use a "Z filter" (a commercial version of "tube full of carbon") if the spirit comes from my reflux still.
The problem with the "teabag" filters, is that it\'s only gonna work with 1 batch of wash with any efficiency, whereas, if you use a tube type filter, you can use it for a couple of 25 litre batches and then "rinse out" the carbon with boiling water (you do that 5 times) and then dry the carbon in the oven set on low - it reduces the cost of replacing the carbon and you just top up any losses incurred during the "cleaning" process..... Seems to work fine for me......

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:56 pm

Smelly spirit

2010-05-21T23:44:01+00:00

Essencia carbon filter system,no complaints here,easy to use.Carbon filter does 45L

of 40%abv spirit before it needs replacing(im getting a bit more from mine though).

Statistics: Posted by marc83 — Fri May 21, 2010 11:44 pm

Smelly spirit

2010-05-21T23:00:52+00:00

Oh for teabags! I have got those stupid carbon disc things that clamp between 2 foam washers!! Not only are they blocked solid part of the time but they work out quite expensive. Filtering is next on the list.

I was considering a rechargeable caravan water filter. Given they are good for 4000L of water I am guessing they will do quite a lot of spirit and the refill pack is a fiver.
Any views?

http://www.filtapac.co.uk/econoflo.htm

Statistics: Posted by lyonacre — Fri May 21, 2010 11:00 pm

Smelly spirit

2010-05-21T21:15:15+00:00

You will also notice a big difference if you get a largish funnel, some coffee filters, and a bag of activated carbon. Wash the carbon to get rid of the dust and filter through that and the coffee filter instead of the silly plastic thingy. Probably the cheapest improvement you could make at this stage, obviously fancy filters and homemade pipes are better yet but that\'s cheap and easy for now, those teabags are just too small.

Statistics: Posted by Jimmy — Fri May 21, 2010 9:15 pm

Smelly spirit

2010-05-21T02:04:26+00:00

hi lyonacre,

i always use finings to clear the wash as much as possible, i believe that most of the impurities are tied up in the sediment and if it is in suspension when you distill it will release back into the spirit and affect the smell/taste
hoppin

Statistics: Posted by hoppinmad — Fri May 21, 2010 2:04 am

Smelly spirit

2010-05-20T02:13:01+00:00

Update on Vodka Star.
Hi,
OK I have mad my first Vodka Star batch and the report is as follows:

Fermented out in about 3-4 days kept at a pretty constant 26

ABV was about 12% at end

Smell during fermentation was a lot sweeter.

Wash seemed settled after 7 days but was quite cloudy so stirred it up an put alkoclear in. Didn\'t make much difference so racked it and started anyway.

Air still was fairly quiet and spirit still had a smell, not as bad as triple turbo. ABV was about 68

Ran through silly carbon filter (the one that came with the still) and pretty much all of the smell went.
Fairly pleased with result.
QUESTION - is it worth putting finnings in or should I just have used as was??

Statistics: Posted by lyonacre — Thu May 20, 2010 2:13 am

Smelly spirit

2010-04-17T18:06:09+00:00

Thanks for the info Hoppinmad. Looking forward to the Vodka Star.
Can\'t remember if I posted anywhere but I am use Ellie-Claires brewshop on Ebay. Her prices seem OK and she is really helpful. If it\'s not listed drop her an email and she gets it - still seems cheap too

Statistics: Posted by lyonacre — Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:06 pm

Smelly spirit

2010-04-17T14:12:46+00:00

Yeah i thought i had done well,trying to hit 90%,will be content when i do.You may have misunderstood what i meant,was meaning do you put your distillate cut down to 40% back into your cleaned out Still?So it is just water and your distillate,not the old wash.

I may try spring water to cut the spirit down though.using the Essencia carbon filter it says its not necessary as it filters the water as well as the spirit.

Cheers for your thoughts hoppinmad

Statistics: Posted by marc83 — Sat Apr 17, 2010 2:12 pm

Smelly spirit

2010-04-17T14:01:18+00:00

Hi marc83 and welcome,

Personally I add spring water to my distillate in a clean measuring jug, I wouldn\'t put it back in the still as you may pick up some of the nasties you\'re trying to get rid of. Excellent ABV tho
Cheers, hoppin

Statistics: Posted by hoppinmad — Sat Apr 17, 2010 2:01 pm

Smelly spirit

2010-04-17T13:36:32+00:00

Hi all,new to this forum,great info.Just a quick question,When re-distilling do you add your for example 7-8l of 40% spirit back to the still and top up to mark with water?Have only made 3 batches and only distilled and filtered them once each time,getting 3.5-3.8L @ 89%abv using SS turbo classic and 7kg dextrose.I have an Essencia Express Still and an Essencia Filter setup.

Statistics: Posted by marc83 — Sat Apr 17, 2010 1:36 pm

Smelly spirit

2010-04-17T12:53:14+00:00

Hi andy,
I completely agree with bluecap and you can get your vodka star on ebay easy enough
Cheers, hoppin

Statistics: Posted by hoppinmad — Sat Apr 17, 2010 12:53 pm

Smelly spirit

2010-04-17T12:19:18+00:00

Thanks bluecap, I figured it would be ok.

Its just my local brew shop doesnt normally carry the Alcotec stuff, he has ordered the Vodka Star as a favor.

Statistics: Posted by Andy — Sat Apr 17, 2010 12:19 pm

Smelly spirit

2010-04-17T09:06:39+00:00

Hi Andy I will answer you question because Iâ€™m here anyway, I found still spirits not quite as good as Alcotec finings but more than adequate, it will do the job donâ€™t worry.

Statistics: Posted by bluecap — Sat Apr 17, 2010 9:06 am

Smelly spirit

2010-04-17T06:58:08+00:00

@hoppinmad, do you think using the Still Spirits Turbo clear would pose any problems??

Statistics: Posted by Andy — Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:58 am