StillSmart

I have noticed that if you add water to heads they go cloudy - it is a good test?

'Cos Hearts don't seem to do it ?

That is not a reliable way to detect heads. Different ferments may carry through essential oils during distillation which may louche (go cloudy) when water is added. These may appear in the heads or hearts. Also tails are often cloudy.

I would recommend collecting in jars in small increments and after airing for 24 - 48 hours making cuts by taste/ smell/ feel.

Phill.

Thanks.

I have to say finding the spot where to split is quite hard, but very rewarding.

I have just put another wash on to have a practice ...

Diluting it with very hot water makes it easier to taste when the transition happens.

For a 5.5Kg sugar in 24L of water wash, I expect at least the first 450-550ml to be contaminated.

Chill. That's a good piece of info Thanks.

I toss 50ml fores, then next 250ml goes directly into the heads jar, then I start collecting in 100ml jars. I am not really sure why as jars 1 and 2 and usually three also end up in the heads jar. I should make my life easier and just direct the first 500ml to the heads jar. I recycle my heads so it is not a loss, just deferred results.

chill wrote:I toss 50ml fores, then next 250ml goes directly into the heads jar, then I start collecting in 100ml jars. I am not really sure why as jars 1 and 2 and usually three also end up in the heads jar. I should make my life easier and just direct the first 500ml to the heads jar.

It is because you are an optimist my friend,like me you foolishly hope for better results than we can hope to attain.
C'est la vie say the Old Folks..........

Robert.

But I learn! Tonight I did cuts on some heads collected from some mostly-grain bourbon to bulk up the meagre yield. I tasted the "hearts" before adding it to the jug and... tasted heads! I transitioned to the hearts jar too soon. A younger me might have added to the jug, but I binned it into the heads container. Better three bottles of good than five bottles of foul.

Okaaaay
Tasting - can anyone have a punt at a tasters guide pleeeeeeze ?

Fore tastes of .....
Heads tastes of .....
Heart tastes of .....
Tails tastes of .....

mashy wrote:Okaaaay
Tasting - can anyone have a punt at a tasters guide pleeeeeeze ?

Fore tastes of .....
Heads tastes of .....
Heart tastes of .....
Tails tastes of .....

in my view but others may say differant

fores smells and taste of nail varnish remover and hot like taste
heads smells perfumery
hearts no smell and clean
tails smells like wet cardboard or wet dog

And heads burn your tongue. Hearts burn your throat. Heads to me has an "artificial flavour" taste to it. This is what you are tasting for: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethyl_acetate