First Post, First Still!

[RoboStill]

Hi All,

I've been doing a lot of reading on this site, as well as a few others (homedistiller, etc.) and find the topic of distillation fascinating! I've been a beer and wine brewer for a long time, so have a pretty good handle on the fermentation side of things, and have experimented with a lot of high OG brews with champagne yeasts. I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I can confidently make a batch of beer or wine that tastes the way I intended, and all my buddies will happily consume.

Finally broke into distilling after seeing the AirStill at my LHBS, and making an impulse buy. While many people on those "other" sites will tear it down, I find the AirStill a perfect introduction into the hobby, and a great way to learn.

My first foray, I actually started with a Turbo, and a sh!tload of sugar. After one run in the still, even after carbon filtering, tasted awful. At that point, I wasn't familiar with 'stripping runs'. Eventually I took some of it and ran it through again, and did the whole run (1.5L) into 125ml jars, so I could clearly see the cuts between heads, hearts, and tails. Definitely the most educational experience I've had yet! I could clearly tell the difference between the cuts in such small quantities. After my tastings were done, I blended Hearts and some Tails, put half on heavy-toast oak, and have been tasting and adjusting since then.

Now when I compare the cuts to the commercial vodkas I have (4 or 5 from bargain to Grey Goose), I feel like I can tell the difference in the quality of each, and why some taste "harsh" or "hot", while others are smooth, and even "sweet".

My most recent production has been a mostly blackstrap molasses rum, with a champagne yeast, double distilled through the AirStill; turned out quite nice! I'll have a post in the new Recipe section to elaborate.

Well that's all for now, I look forward to many more runs and many more posts! Next up on my list is a VodkaStar neutral run, and maybe split half of it off for Gin...

-RoboStill.

[Magnu420]

hi welcome to still smart

if i was you i wouldn't use the ss turbo yeast
and carbon too messy to use where as vs is
nice and clean

enjoy the forums

[chill]

Welcome RS. Like you I also started with (and still use) an AirStill. It is a good way to get introduced to the hobby and learn some of the nuts and bolts. After making several things, I tried some commercial Bourbon and was surprised at the amount of heads that I could now taste. Looking forward to your rum postings, rum is a keen interest of mine.

Chuck

[YHB]

RS - Welcome to the forum

The further I go in this hobby the more I believe that brewing is probably the most important part. You seem to have the experience and knowledge for that.

I am sure you will do well.

Brian