StillSmart

I started off only wanting to make Neutral, started building my Boka, kept reading now I am thinking "maybe I would like to try ............"?

I am still only thinking but I am now starting to modify my build to give me other options in the future.

I am in the process of adding slip joints to my column so that the central packed length can be removed to run it as a pot still / stripper.

I like gin. I have heard of gin baskets but have never seen one.

Could a gin basket be added in place of the central piece of column?

Is there anything that I should be doing now to allow for the inclusion of a gin basket in the future?

How big does a gin basket need to be?

Is it worth bothering about or are the Gin concentrates good enough?

Here is how I do it.





i wouldn't want condensed distillate running through it though, which will give you a bit of a problem with a LM column.

You don't need to vapour infuse though, you can macerate for a few days in neutral then distill it.

One picture is worth a thousand words - Thanks for two.

Your words of caution about using a basket with the LM are well taken. I have lots to learn and try, including your other option of maceration, before I get there. I will put 300mm of 2" pipe to one side to allow for it in the future.

I am also thinking of ways to ensure that the slant plates can ensure 100% take off and 0% reflux in the pot still mode.

All I wanted to to was build a still. I am now researching, Electrical Control, Static Switching, Fluid Mechanics, Pressure Switches, Structural Engineering, Steam Safety Devices and the effects of lead content in brass. - It's great and I am loving every minute of it.

"most" gins I used to buy are macerated and distilled - so its not an inferior way of doing it by any means.
The gin basket there is only half full when I do a 10L batch with a big list of botanicals - so it could be smaller.

If you do want to vapour infuse with the LM - Old Dog from HD just hung the botanicals in a cotton bag in the head space of the boiler - works well apparently.

You can also make a perfectly good gin purely by infusion for a week, it's straw coloured but tastes fine - I know you're a fan of engineering but I have heard that once you make gin in a still then everything will taste of it for the forseeable future! Just a thought.

Jimmy, I have not found that to be the case since moving on from the t500.
The ceramic saddles really hold on to flavours, stainless steel packing didn't seem to.
If running a column, a long equalisation will remove anything from the previous run in the heads.

Jimmy, Capt'n

Thanks for the thoughts, I am sure I will be giving all three options a go, once I am up and running.

I can see that I will have to get a bigger booze cupboard to keep all of the variations in. I have never had three types of Gin to choose from in my life and I am looking forward to it.

I know you've almost certainly seen this already but in case anyone hasn't a good primer on Gin and the botanicals:

http://homedistiller.org/gin.htm

Jimmy

Thanks for the link and as it happens - No, I have not seen this article before - I have not really done mush research into recipes other than vodka infussions and clones made from concentrates.

But the more I think about it the more I like the idea of making Gin from botanicals rather than addding a premixed essence, the Olefactory experience is quite appealing.

Now that I have made my slip joints I can easily remove the central 1.0m length of column complete with the reflux packing and add a gin basket in its place. I appreciate that the slant plate reflux head that I have built will not guarantee that all the distillate is removed from the column and some of it will make its way back down the column.

However I reckon that if I add a by-pass with an additional set of plates as shown here then it should work - Capt'n, what do you reckon? I have enough bits left over so I will have a go at making one.

This is another interesting link :

http://www.gjgreenall.co.uk/botanicals/

I think that would work, but i have a few questions.

i take it that since you want reflux to be returning to the column (as per your drawing) that you would be running in LM mode - still charged with wash rather than low wines?

If you were planning on charging with low-wines - so would be running in pot mode - ideally not wanting any reflux returning - then why not just have a second take off with a vapour lock "loop" in it - nothing returning to the column.

Also remember if doing an infusion - you will be wanting to run the still like a pot, much less power than when doing a full out strip. With my T500 boiler that I use when infusing gin, I start taking off running at about 500w and will work up to near 900-1000w by the end of the run - your going to be pushing mush less vapour up the column that when running in LM mode - where you'll be looking for around 1500w to keep the vapour speed in the low 20's inch/s.

Your plate might be alright? Whats your thoughts?

I was anticipating running this set up in pot still mode with low wines, I do not know why but to me it seems a "Cleaner" method. I have space limitations, infusions & macerations seemm to me to need more equipment / space.

The bypass loop on the Gin Basket was just a precaution incase the normal take off point did not get all the condensate and the top set of slant plates over flowed or there was some condensation on the walls of the column, hopefully the will not be needed much.

The other alternative / modification I am thinking of making is another cassete with a larger take off to garauntee 100% take off and 0% reflux

Capt'n I've been thinking again.

Another alternative would be to simply close the upper take-off needle valve and only use the bottom 1/2" take-off point that you describe - that would garauntee no reflux, without having to change what I have already made. - I like that a lot.

Deleted this one it was a daft idea