StillSmart

I know someone who works in a lab and has offered to get me a big bottle of 100% Ethanol very cheap and it got me wondering is there a reason I couldn't water it down to 40% and stick in the Airstill for an infusion run??? I'm presuming no need for a stripping run or a spirit run, it would just be ready to go.

Well for starters it wouldn't be higher than 95.63%, (azeotrope), as your mate ought to know.
If it is the real deal then there is no reason that you cannot do as you state.
Most "Craft Gin" made in the UK is bought in neutral spirit and then merely rectified.

Robert.

Easydrinker wrote:Well for starters it wouldn't be higher than 95.63%, (azeotrope), as your mate ought to know.
If it is the real deal then there is no reason that you cannot do as you state.
Most "Craft Gin" made in the UK is bought in neutral spirit and then merely rectified.

Robert.

Yeah, I thought that and just googled it, but it would seem labs do sometimes use 100% Ethanol but you need a licence to order it in, they are able to remove all water by adding chemicals or something. I've no idea whether those chemicals are safe. Might have to check what he means and go for something slightly lower grade that is just ethanol and water. Ordering in Ethanol through him would add about £2 per bottle to my current overall cost.

Just want to see the difference in flavour of the final gin compared to making my own ethanol and running it through an essencia filter. I'll always continue to make washes regardless, but might be useful to have that option if ever I need some neutral and haven't got time to make a wash.

Is it safe? Not sure all stuff labelled alcohol is for drinking. Thinking denatured, isopropyl, wood etc?

Mash wrote:Is it safe? Not sure all stuff labelled alcohol is for drinking. Thinking denatured, isopropyl, wood etc?

Exactly why I made the post in the first place. I'll clarify with him what he means today. He was pretty drunk when he made the offer

You can get 100% ethanol. It has been de-hydrated typically with benzene that they then remove. You can NOT distill it to 100% but there are ways to remove the last bit of water.

It is much more expensive and it does not stay as 100% for long. As soon as you expose it to air it starts to suck up moisture.

Not much point using it for booze when you can get 95% to 96% very easily.

Clarification from him, he was referring to the 96% stuff and it's the same as stuff as the big containers stacked up behind the still in the bar/distillery we were drinking in. He recognised them from the lab he works in.

Just as an aside here.
I have always had faith in the Stevenson Reeves Spirit hydrometers.
Until last night when I needed to use a newly purchased one, after being Mr. Clumsy.
I was highly delighted to find my column running at 97%.
And then reality dawned.
My cheaper Chinese model informed me that the reading was actually 94%.
Query temps. and meniscus at your peril.

+1 for Chinaland.

Robert.

captainfog wrote:Clarification from him, he was referring to the 96% stuff and it's the same as stuff as the big containers stacked up behind the still in the bar/distillery we were drinking in. He recognised them from the lab he works in.

So provenance assured. The answer is yes, it will make fine neutral for say gin. Probably better than you will be able to make yourself.

Robert, are you calibrating your hydrometers?

Klunk wrote:Robert, are you calibrating your hydrometers?

For temps. at 20°C, yes.

Robert.