StillSmart

Yup we'll all do it differently.

We all found our own way.

And the path meanders off all over the place.

Me... I am still planning whiskey from grain. Getting closer ever everyday

Another newby here benefiting from the collected wisdom of this site. Started off in the usual manner following the instructions that came with the Airstill. Wondered what magic was afoot when there was no mention of heads, tails etc. but gave it a go with the usual result. Thought there had to be a better way and sure enough there is! A quick sniff of foreshots should be more than enough to persuade anyone to ditch the original instructions. Many thanks to all who contribute their wisdom and experience here.

Now making drinkable gin with my home made sputnik and thinking about converting some excess cider to calvados.

Excess cider to calvados + it makes a good base for more Gin.

well may i say guys ive just had my first run (strip) first 350 ml 70%
second 55% third 30% slung the rest in the sink and started the next.. what i can say is that the first tasted not too bad but had an awful chesty throaty bite that most get when slinging tequila.. you know that horrible face people pull... by the 3rd its not so bad but the smell in my ktchen is just awful
i would say that the raw ferment smelt like that white lightning cider i used to drink but the smell in my kitchen was like boiling potatoes but rancid potatoes.. lol
however i am Proud of my achievement in running my first alcohol
i will play about with the heads hearts and tails when i do the second run which i think is called the "spirit run" is that so guys ??

Brave men and fools taste the strip!
It will all get better with the spirit run and then when you have made some cuts to get to the good stuff.

Robert.

Easydrinker wrote:Brave men and fools taste the strip!
It will all get better with the spirit run and then when you have made some cuts to get to the good stuff.

Robert.

lol im a brave man and a fool then... im batching up the differing volumes to do the "spirit" run maybe thats the best policy as ive read.. simply put im an eager beaver and couldn't wait to taste my result.. vile is an understatement, but at least it had some resemblance to alcohol

Hi all!

Newbie here.Readed so much this and other forums.At last purchased airstill and voltage regulator.
Doned simple sugarwash:6kg white sugar,25litres water and packet of power super yeast.
wash fermented about 15%.

Striping run
wattage 750w
50ml throwed away
1200ml about 40%

Doned that twice, then diluted striped stuff to 30% and
started spirit run.

Spirit run
wattage 750w on start of run ,untill first drip, then i
dropped wattage to 300w

50ml throwed away
250ml 73% (heads)
500ml 70%
750ml 65%
1000ml 56%
1225ml 43%(started to smell little bad and goes little oily)


Question is, if mix 500ml+750ml+1000ml "is that stuff safe to drink?"
Tried to burn those cuts all burns blue with little yellow on top.
All of those cuts "burns" mouth and throat and taste is rough.Can't remember what moonshine taste,because so many years when i tasted last.
Can that taste be caused by turbo yeast?Not runned stuff through active carbon.
I have brita filter but readed "bad" things about that.If put carbon straight in bottle,how much carbon?

Question 2

If i do cornflakes wash,what is best yeast for that?Somebody says bread yeast,some says wine yeast....is those turbos allways bad choice?

and sorry for bad language...

I am interested as to why you are using a voltage regulator?

.. and what setting did you have it on?

Hi!

I use regulator because my still is 750w model. I use that, because readed slower drop rate is better.With that regulator i can adjust voltage what goes to heat element.Fan get power on line.

Hi Firestarter, and welcome.
I understand your use of voltage regulator.

Your first question.
OK, you do not need to discard anything on a strip run.
Discarding first 50ml on a turbo spirit run is probably not needed either,but why not?, it tastes like shit.

Your suggested volumes will be safe to drink, once diluted.
You would be better to collect in smaller quantities.
Unless you dllute the collected spirit, it will "burn".
In the days before I had an Essencia filter, I found a couple of Tablespoons of activated charcoal in a litre of 40% spirit, shaken many times a day,for several days and then rested in the freezer for 24 hours before pouring off, worked pretty good.
Have you read this?
download/file.php?id=326

Question 2.
I use bread yeast for everything.
Some people are very happy with Turbos.
Personal choice

Bad language?

Robert.

Firestarter wrote:Hi!

I use regulator because my still is 750w model. I use that, because readed slower drop rate is better.With that regulator i can adjust voltage what goes to heat element.Fan get power on line.

Got it.

I use bread yeast. Much better in my opinion. I think its a decision that answers itself. I prefer to do slower ferments with better quality and keep a bit of stock. If you don't have the space, or perhaps want to crack on maybe turbo's are for you. Other people rate vodka star yeast.

No best way..

Thanks for all answers =)
Diluted that stuff to 45% and brita filtered that stuff because wanna know what happens.
(maybe we can do other faults too....like smoke gigarette or do unsave sex...)
After 3time,smell goes "neutral" maybe very little turpentine.
When i tasted it ,little "burn"on mouth but maybe because turbo and so many years when tasted
moonshine.
Now doned all bran wash with little modifications.That wash goes so wild and smells so awesome.
Doned that with bread yeast =)If smell can say something that must be so good...but only if i do good cuts.Robert i have readed that "cut" book earlier but with that first test so lazy =)

"Question is, if mix 500ml+750ml+1000ml "is that stuff safe to drink?""

Yes safe to drink.

"Tried to burn those cuts all burns blue with little yellow on top."

Anything over 50% abv (I think) will burn. The different colours suggest you still have different alcohols in there. My wife loves that I give her the stuff like that (for fire, not to drink )

"All of those cuts "burns" mouth and throat and taste is rough.Can't remember what moonshine taste,because so many years when i tasted last."

Biggest part of the "burn" will be from heads. Biggest part of rough taste after is tails. Use smaller jars and amounts in each for cuts until you find your best way that you are happy with. Maybe 200ml per jar?

"Can that taste be caused by turbo yeast?Not runned stuff through active carbon."

Yes. Better ingredients and more, smaller jars will help a lot.