Update

[Ali99]

First of all thanx guys for all the helpful tips and advice

Just thought I would update, aka brag, as my first ever batch of vodka is ready and well too drinkable as is lol - amazed though as despite my best efforts last night, no ridiculously bad hangover appeared this am - result

Only a few minor hiccups along the way (2 massive ones from SS which resulted in me cleaning the kitchen 2 nights in a row at approx 2am with a rather amused hubby watching, I mean helping, in his own way!!
And a discovery that I am not the patient person I thought I was lol - waiting for the carbon filter to do its magic was torture lol

Anyway the bug has well and truly been caught - off to the shops now to buy the ridiculously overpriced sugar to start batch 2!

Once again thanks guys your initial advice and the contents of the forum have been a great help to a complete newbie

[Phantom]

Ha! you'll discover that if you take high strength spirit and throw it around the kitchen, it cleans stuff like no other detergent can.

Of course, if it's in the still and it "burps" (or over boils, think of it how you want), then don't get in the way. Lucky for me, when it happened, I learned that hot, high strength alcohol loses temperature very quickly, so what hit me as I was trying to turn the still off, only gave me like a scald like moderate sunburn, which went away in a day or so.

But the kitchen was bloody spotless >:D

[Ali99]

Yea Phantom,
luckily it didnt hit anyone as it wooshed across the kitchen - although the cats thought it had hissed at them an freaked looking for the other cat in the room!!
An that was a funny episode of Mr Bean Aidanmac - although brushing his teeth with the windscreen washers of the car has to be my fav moment from the show (not tried it myself though!)
Ali