StillSmart

The amounts, both botanicals and liquids, are those used for each charge of the Air Still. Having stopped with a parrot reading of 60%abv., the resulting product, at about 70%abv is then diluted down to a more drinkable 40%abv.

Some may use less botanicals but, for me, this recipe gives a fully rounded flavour with marked citrus overtones.

Cheers Toper

I’ve made a note of your AS recipe, I’ve been looking for a new one for a while so I’ll give yours a go.

My bit for what I did today,,,,Well I didn’t actually do anything but I have made a decision to make some all grain vodka, I’m going to pick up maybe 2x25kg sacks of malted barley, I’m going to mash and strip the lot, it will then go through the big still for all grain vodka.

I figured that I’ve spent so much time and money developing my equipment over the years, it’s about time I made some vodka without any added sugar, some long mashing days ahead I think.

While I’m at it, I’ll keep some heads/tales as feints, for a future AG Whisky attempt.

Brave shout to use Malted Barley for a vodka.
Very sound move to save some feints for an AG whisky, it will put you streets ahead of where I was with my first attempt.
And that is some long mashing time ahead.
wishing you luck.

Robert.

Toper wrote:The amounts, both botanicals and liquids, are those used for each charge of the Air Still. Having stopped with a parrot reading of 60%abv., the resulting product, at about 70%abv is then diluted down to a more drinkable 40%abv.

Some may use less botanicals but, for me, this recipe gives a fully rounded flavour with marked citrus overtones.

The great thing about this method is the recipe will scale up perfectly if you decide to use a bigger still.

http://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/min ... -3316.html

Today I ordered 2 x 25kg sacks of their Minch Glenesk Peated Malt @ 50ppm.

Whilst @ £40.50 per 25kg, it is dearer than I have paid previously, the free delivery makes it a reasonable purchase for a heavy peated malt which is becoming increasingly difficult to source.

The 50kg total should supply me with a good years supply of fine whisky.

Today was mostly about shiny things and collecting this from Ian the Distilling Dominos man.

Did I pay a lot? Yes. Is it worth it? Well it is superbly crafted so yes and it's this sort of thing that we Brits are good at. Empty pockets but a happy heart

Nice score

Klunk wrote: Empty pockets but a happy heart

My elder brother often says, "It is only money, when we have spent it, we need to go and earn some more."
A very basic philosophy.
He is usually a smiley type of guy!

Robert.

Today I’ve started ploughing my way through a 25kg sack of malted barley, 4 mashes with 6.25kg of malt in each, going to ferment in two 40litre batches, the product of two mashes in each.

Here’s to AG Vodka, it’s about time I actually spent some money on ingredients, rather than shiney bits of metal, I’m tempted to add 2kg sugar to each fermenter, but I feel like it would spoil it somehow!

I tend to do as you mention and do 4 mashes per 25kg sack.. I have been known to add a couple of kg of sugar to each 5 gallon fermenter and I haven't noticed any ill effects. It boosts the level of alcohol but a lot will depend on your choice of yeast I think.

I use a single strain whisky yeast with a high alcohol tolerance.

I’ve been on a bit of a go slow but I’m into the third of my four mashes, I’ve taken an OG reading of 1.082 in my first 40litre batch which has had 12.5kg of mashed grain at 65°c and 2kg of sugar.

So it looks like they’ll be good for 10%, I’m just going to use a tin of Allinsons in each, maybe some amylglucoladase to help increase the conversation.

So far so good

I used to invite Amy G along to my parties.
In the end I decided that a good mash temperature made her redundant.
Different strokes for different folks with AG.

Robert.

Just checked my buckets this morning, I only pitched yeast in one last night as the other was still too hot from the mash, first time I’ve seen foam come up though the airlock of a 60 litre fermenter that’s only Filled to 40 litres!

Robert - did you get the same Amy G as me? Can’t remember who supplied it now, think it was Phantom or Fill from memory, but I’ve still got a 500ml lucasade bottle of the stuff, never used it and now I can’t remember the dose needed.

Yes, I did have some of that liquid, which was supposed to live a while if stored in the fridge.
I don't recall the supplier, not Phantom.
I recall the dose as being 5ml (Tsp) per 25 litres.
Waffle, waffle, here is the found link.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3166&p=21132&hilit=amyloglucosidase#p21132

I suggest using it up soon!

And I have also in the past used dried Alpha, and Beta Amylase.

Robert.

Certainly not me. I make neutral and vodka. Don't have the space, time or ingredients to make my own fave spirit (Armagnac), so I have to make do.......