StillSmart

Hi, yes I think so anyway! I did my first run into one bucket, throwing the first 200ml. Then cut to 30%ABV then ran it again but making cuts.

Yes, you have got it sussed.
Have a few more goes and discover that initial trepidations are foundless.
Read what you can, do what you can.
Have fun.

Robert.

I'm very much a novice too, coming to the T500 after the Airstill. However, I wasn't disappointed with the AS results because I found this forum first and double distilled making the cuts as advised. So why get a T500? Because it took about 3 nights to distill the 24 litres!
But I still use the AS for making gin with botanicals and I think it's a brilliant piece of kit used in conjunction with the T500 so I definitely won't be getting rid of mine.

My last wash was a Vodka Star made with 5kg of sugar. It fermented in a week with no nasty after tastes and I didn't add any of the carbon junk to it, but I did use Turbo Klar finings to clear it.

I double distill so on my "stripping" run I got 3.4 litres at 91% abv. This I diluted (using filtered water) to 30% and did a spirit run discarding the first 150ml of fores. I then collected 5 x 100ml of heads (the last 100ml being blended back into the hearts after airing. I also collected 200ml of "tails" in 50ml pots but couldn't detect any real difference to the hearts so I blended these back in. Result was 2.6 litres @ 94% abv making 6.5litres at 38% (miscalculated the dilution slightly) to which I added 1/2 litre of previous neutral. Ran the whole lot through EZ filter just to see what difference filtering made. I don't think it was really necessary but it did seem to polish the neutral a bit making it slightly smoother.

Of the 7 litres I ended up with, so far I've used 2.2 litres (+800ml of filtered water) to make a dry gin in the Air Still (the rest is awaiting the next gin runs). I drank the first 50ml (so as to prevent any louching of the final product) and collected down to 40%. This gave me a total of 960 ml at 65% which I diluted with 0.49 litres of filtered water to give me 2 x 700ml bottles of gin at 45% abv. The gin tastes fantastic not only to me, but to friends as well. I think it's easily comparable to some of the craft gins out there which, as a total novice to this distilling lark, I find totally amazing. However, I would not have got there without the help and advice of the guys on this forum, so a big thank you to all of you.

I'm keen now to add the alembic setup to my T500 and to try making whiskey and rum.

Cracking field report! Well done.
Unfortunately I don't foresee she who must be obeyed approving an alembic for me anytime soon! >:(

Dont tell her just buy one mate.
she may not notice, if like mine not
really interested either.

Without wishin' to diss your SHMBO,
Have you tried pointing out that your very clean spirit plus a bottle of essence could produce her favourite tipple at a fraction of the cost?

Why should you not play with an Alembic head and try for real flavours from your washes?

Just sayin'

Robert.

There have to be some advantages to being divorced, I guess

I think that there are many...
I've tried it a couple of times.

There are maybe some disadvantages too.

Robert.

Easydrinker wrote:I think that there are many...
I've tried it a couple of times.

There are maybe some disadvantages too.

Robert.

LOL. It's easier for you than some of us. After all, you are good with your hands

That has to be subtlest way of calling someone a Wanker that I have ever encountered!

Robert,

It was intended as a compliment >:D

Easydrinker wrote:That has to be subtlest way of calling someone a Wanker that I have ever encountered!

Robert,

With some of the questions you encounter here I'm sure you'll be able to slip it in when needed.....