StillSmart

So I was very happy with the spirit that came out of the first run.....ditched the first 150Ml just to be sure and the rest was 3.2 litres at 93%. Sounds good, but after watering and filtering the spirit did have a rather burning sensation on the way down....does it mellow if you let it sit for a while? If so, how long should it "mature"?

mikew41 wrote:So I was very happy with the spirit that came out of the first run.....

This reads like you've done 1 run and then watered back and had a drink???..so we need a little more info.

Did you do a strip then spirit run??
If it was a spirit run how did you collect?? 100mml a time?

The "burning sensation" is the "nasties" the crap you don't want...but it's a learning curve stick with it you'll get there...(keep it to yourself I did the same when I started)...

I just did the one run. After watching the videos on Youtube I was under the impression that the boil temp and reflux action worked to stop all that stuff getting out, except for the fores which I dumped. So would you recommend doing 2 runs? Do you just dilute the 90% back to 25L and rerun?

Sorry to be a donut on this one.

Ok Mike...back to basics mate....you need to do a double distill...do a search on double distill on the forum....it's where you run a wash, collect everything down to say 20%.
Then you start all over again....but this time you take what you've collected from the first run, cut it back with water down to 30%...put this back in the boiler and start on the 2nd run...the spirit run


This is were reading up on the spirit run comes home.....you collect in jars at 100ml each....this is the "Cuts" it'll all drop into place in time....by doing this, you'll learn by smell and taste...

Thanks Ice, I'll give it a go.

Take a look at the vids ...Here may help

I do single runs with the T500. 6Kg sugar and Vodka Star. Pressure relief valve, or summat that gives constant water pressure, is near enough a must have.

A bit too much water flow at first until the top is hot but no product. 15 mins later, increase the temp to 42'C. Collect 500ml and either junk it or use for anything but drinking.

Collect 3L of hearts. This will take a long time. I now up the temp to 52'C half way through collecting the hearts. Turn off still, recycling tails is a pita, why bother.

Nobody that has tried my (diluted to 40%) spirit has complained about off tastes but the same people made lots of negative comments about my airstill product.

I bought a Essencia filter when I did one run as per SS videos, as Icefever says a stripping run then a spirit run make a much better product than one run then filtering.

But if you are happy with one run,then filtering thats fine its just down to personal taste. I also throw away the first 250mil on the first run and 250mil on the second, then put the next 750mil in three separate glasses to taste next day.Quality over volume ever time!

Hi Mike in case you dont know when people mentioned double distilling, the strip run is done through a pot still head while the neutral run is done through the reflux.

I had the same experience as you several years ago with my first T500 run. The tips John51 is giving you should fix things for you. Maintain lower temps than those recommend ( it does take a lot longer) and dump more of the heads and tails and you should get a better product. 5 mls of glycerine per litre in the finished product helps too.

Getting a pot still to attach to your lid and boiler will open up a whole new world to you. With one you can move away from turbo yeast/sugar washes and move on to a whole lot better washes, brandies whiskies and rums.

always excellent advice, I will be using the hints/tricks on my new t500 and reflux condenser

So I was bouncing around other forums, trying to find the best way to to a stripping run using my new T500 and SS reflux condensor. do I remove the copper and SS saddles and run it ? planning on doing a TPW as my first run with it

Kerry not sure but think i read the t500 gets too hot for strip runs damaging the plastic fittings.but you could do a double reflux run by distilling two washes diluting them both to 30abv and rerun.
Hope this helps
Cheers

That works, just put 2 TPW on last night will give it a go in a week or so

I built a pot head for my Tea Urn and it changed everything. Strip with the pot head and then slow run with the reflux. Happy days.

Build here
http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2814

looks like a winter project. and a good way to make better rum,