StillSmart

Hi everybody,
I'm a newbie just about to get started with distilling. Have looked around the web at a few forums but keep coming back to this one as it seems most friendly, non critical and open. I hope to be making meaningful contributions as I get into it but hope you don't mind me drawing on your expertise in the short term while I get going?
I have been researching stills on the sites. As I don't have the knowledge yet to make my own, the first one (there is already a roadmap ) is going to be a commercially available unit. For the UK that seems to be the Air Still or T500. I have to say I was definitely going towards the T500 initially, especially when I found it available as a 'super kit' with copper condenser column and a separate Alembic dome set up (so easy to sell yourself up!)
But there has been so much good work done on here about the Air Still that I am now edging towards that as a starting point. Its simplicity, without the need to worry about water flow etc. Etc. In my mind would give me a clearer focus on learning about getting clean washes, and understanding more about heads, hearts and tails.
I have also seen some stainless set ups on eBay that come from Eastern Europe but can't find much out about them.
I will keep looking in the meantime and will get a wash going in the next few weeks.
A purchase is imminent.

Hi & welcome to the forum Magic... your in the best place if you are thinking of an Airstill/T500.

MagicH2o wrote:Hi everybody,
Have looked around the web at a few forums but keep coming back to this one as it seems most friendly, non critical and open.

Well said...now your on our good side..

I started off with the Aitstill but did find it time consuming when it came to a 25 litre wash. That's when the T500 turned up on my doorstep some 6/7 months later..now a 25 L runs a strip wash in around 4/5 hours give or take a cuppa/bacon buttie...

Let us know when you've made your mind up, and any Q's just shout that's what it's all about.

BJ.

Welcome aboard magic.
3 words. Kale wash airstill.

The time consuming argument depends on your view. I measure time by how much I have to be there, not elapsed time.
For me 25l is 5 airstill runs which take 10 mins max to setup I then leave it on a timer. So 50 mins but 2 perhaps 3 days elapsed.

25l on a t500 is 1 run - 4 hours and I believe you need to be there for all of that time (give or take) to fiddle with knobs and leavers.

I have also proved recently the airstill is a robust bit of kit. But even in good hands timers breed complacency.


Your money your choice at the end of the day. Perhaps also think about how much spirit you do get through?

We are not a bad bunch. Ask away!

And also think about what you want to make. The base T500 is really best for neutral to be drunk as vodka or used with essences to make approximations of flavoured spirits. As a pot still, the AirStill also makes rum, whiskey, and rather excellent gin as well as passable neutral (after carbon filtering). You can get extra heads for the T500, but then that is more cost. They make sense if you have a T500 already, but as you don't looking at some of the StillDragon line might make sense if you want a bigger still and want to make rum, whiskey/whisky, gin etc. They make some nice, modular equipment that you give you flexibility, but at a price.

Chuck

Thanks for the welcome, Icefever, mash and chill. I've looked at a lot of the posts on here about Airstill and T500 and I had intended to purchase a bit later this year. However the more I read the sooner I am going to buy i know it. The situation is this: The Boss has consented to a purchase (cost has been kept purposely vague ) I don't want to go back into another round of negotiations before at least several months of successful production have sweetened the deal. So from that point of view I can get either the Air Still or the T500 with maybe the reflux column and the alembic head. But there are a few questions perhaps you could help me with. I have read lots of posts but it is not always as easy to get them all in order in my head. First If I tell you what we drink and what i am currently interested in working towards making your responses and input would be most welcome.
In order we tend to drink Gin ( and I would like to experiment with proper gin using botanicals rather than essence) Rum, dark and white but prefer dark, and brandy (but I like a nice XO so would want to experiment with ageing eventually). We can't stand Whiskey and no one I would give drink to drinks it either. We like Vodka but only as a mixer.
1. If I get the Air still I will need good filtration and from what I see on here the Escentia is the way to go and that is close to a ton on top of the Airstill. Do I need that to filter everything I make in the Airstill I want to drink or only neutral spirit?
2. I love the idea of botanicals in the air still having read about the sputnik and the success that is showing.
3. Volume is not a major consideration, contrary to everything above I am not a huge drinker but I would like to make a good variety of Gins and quality over quantity every time.
4. I want to make better than mainstream commercial so do either of these stills, with the right attention and care produce that sort of quality?

I think my purchase date has just moved forward again even whilst writing this post, so let me know your thoughts.
Thanks guys.

My advice: get the AirStill, learn the craft, and then make a larger investment, or a decision to build, from a solid base of knowledge and experience.

1. You only want to carbon filter what will be neutral. Which for you will be base for your gin, or vodka. Carbon filtering rum or brandy will produce... expensive vodka. The Escencia is the best filter going but is not required, at least IMO. I use a large chemically resistant funnel (stainless would be better, but costs more and is harder to find) with cotton wool hammed into the next and two cups of carbon sitting on that. I put it on top of a 2L mason jar to filter. It is good enough.

2. You can make really, really good and very interesting gin in an AirStill.

3. er, that wasn't a question, was it?

4. Yes, you can make better than commercial with either of these stills. In fact, it is hard to not make better than commercial, at least in term of impurities. I used to drink Wild Turkey Bourbon. I can't touch it now as all I taste are heads. You WILL have a hard time replicating any commercial drink exactly. You may come to prefer your version. I have yet to make a really great dark rum or brandy. A lot of the flavour is from the toasted/charred wood you use. I have been toasting my own and doing poorly at it, apparently. The Oak from StillDragon is probably worth the cost. I'd buy some but the shipping to Canada is quite painful.

There is my personal opinion. Now over to the rest for some other viewpoints.

Chuck

The essence gins are good. If you have a look round and don't mind getting the essence packs in, then you just make your neutral as and when, then bingo.......

Part of the fun is the experimentation. You can play to your heart's desire.

I started with an air/easy/smart still, a good, easy and convenient piece of kit (still use mine) for starting on a budget. My T500 is better in a lot of ways and while it needs a bit more setting up/sorting out, it's convenient for different reasons (the ability to run a whole 25 litre batch of wash in one go, higher strength, better purity in a single run, etc etc).

If I had my time over, I'd go straight for a T500.

But if you prefer discretion, and price is an issue then start with an airstill, but get a timer etc.

Chills comments about carbon filtering are spot on. The essencia one isn't the only one either. I use the "Z" filter I've had for what? 5 or 6 years. A brilliant piece of kit (dunno if they still produce them or not).

For ease of learning, I'd say say focus on neutral/vodka first then use essences (IMO, they do a good impression of the original product but with a lot less effort). Then think on improving stuff as needed.

If you can turn you hand to a bit of fabricating, you can build something for less cost but will work as well as a T500 etc....

If money is no issue, some of the kit that Still Dragon do, is very pretty - real mad scientist looking.......

Three words. Now in caps.

KALE WASH AIRSTILL.

And If you want to experiment smaller 1litre batches are good. Quick turnaround & quick learning.

Build a sputnik. The gin is very good.

Do not buy a carbon filter until you establish if you need one. I have one sitting on my shelf idle.

It is very easy to spend money on more shiney.... Isn't it guys!

Thanks guys,
Phantom, thanks for the advice on the essence. Think I'll try it at the beginning while getting to grips with heads, hearts and tails before trying my own botanicals. T500 could well be on the cards but I might make my own or get someone to make one for me by then ( I have been reading a guys site in the uk on the whiskeyman blog who is making his own stills.)
Chill, good advice thanks. Sorry got carried away with my thoughts and requirements rather than questions with no2 and no.3
Mash - OK I GET THE POINT you have just inspired me to just go for it and I have just started a kale wash! Boom! I took the recipe I saw on the forum from googe, 100g kale, 5kg sugar and bakers yeast. Is that what you use?
I better order the Airstill today so it is here in time to do the first run.
Is the Charcoal filter that comes with it ok for the first runs do you think. Different people say the z filter is fine and other that it is cr*p.
I figure if I make the missus some nice stuff with the airstill with little or no mess around the house and not loads of stuff. Then getting the T500 or other home made/custom made unit later in the year will be a cinch.
Thanks again everyone. Catch you on the other topics going forward. Now to try and get a sputnik sorted. Have a few ideas........

Carbon filtering helps a lot with neutral/vodka.

Flavoured stuff i.e. brandy, whisky etc, you want the flavour so you wouldn't run them through carbon as it strips the flavour out.

Thanks Phantom. Should I filter the heads then before adding the essence as the final step?

Filter the hearts, I think you mean? Hope you mean... IMO, yes as you will end up with a better product. But for your first runs, your probably won't notice. Keep in mind taste is a very subjective thing. Phantom and I clearly have very different tastes. All of the gin essences that I have tried (several) were odious or worse to my tongue. Your opinion is what matters.

The "tea bag"carbon filter that comes with the still is fully useless for our purposes.

Chuck

Chill, sorry yes I meant Hearts. getting myself confused.
The kit I've ordered comes with the filter i think you see on their videos. Its a carbon disc about 2cm thick that screws onto the bottom of the filter pot header tank I believe. Still rubbish??

The "tea bag"carbon filter that comes with the still is fully useless for our purposes.

+1

Its a carbon disc about 2cm thick that screws onto the bottom of the filter pot header tank I believe. Still rubbish??

If that is what I think it is - the upgraded teabag - yup still rubbish (as are the instructions it comes with)

Sorry MagicH2o, I fully intended responding to you yesterday,but a dose of proper Manflue, left me far too miserable.
The other guys have given their advice,and most of it is good.
The point that I wished to offer for your consideration was where you will actually run your still.
Most folk run an Airstill/Smartstill in the kitchen,where it looks a bit like a breadmaker/ coffee machine,or close enough to pass casual scrutiny.Bigger stills tend to be run in sheds and cellars.
Anyway from what I have just read,the airstill is a wise way for you to go,even if you decide on something bigger in the future,it will be ideal for your Gins etc,which is why I will not be parting with mine.

Robert.