StillSmart

Ive just started my spirit run after doing my 2 stripping runs, have but them both in the still then topped up to 4l, starts at 20% however the guide shows 30% as i probably could of done with another stripping run, but just wondering will i still get the 1000ml of hearts after foreshots and heads as ive started at a lower percentage ? cleaning the carbon in my filter aswell so hopefully by tonight will have some double distilled, triple filtered alcohol.

right have just finished my spirit run have got
100ml foreshots - ( started quicker than expected ) - 70%
200ml Heads - 68%
500ml Hearts - 65%
250ml - 55 %
250ml - 40%
200ml - 28%

Now are the 2 250mls hearts or 1 or 2 or none, i know its all about smell etc but what you thinking they are.

just wondering will i still get the 1000ml of hearts after foreshots and heads as ive started at a lower percentage ?

No, less alcohol in, means less alcohol out. If you can find a still that does otherwise, I will buy two! At 20%, the theoretical maximum is 0.2 x 4000 = 800ml of 100%. At an average of 65% (again theoretical, just for the purpose of example), that would give you 1,230ml at 65%. But there will always be some left in the still, and other losses.

It looks to me like your run went correctly for what you put in the still.

Chuck

Decided to add the first 250ml to my 500ml hearts, although i couldnt tell much difference between the first 250 and the second after the hearts, maybe cos im new ? have triple filtered through carbon and am going to add my flavour and bottle, does everyhing ive been doing sound right ? will i notice when i drink it if its not right, or just be ill the day after ? thanks

In general terms it's the Heads you want to avoid because that's where the majority of the gut-wrenching, head-wrecking components are to be found.

The Tails, for the most part, smell feckin' awful and taste even worse.

If you start off separating an amount of distillate, at each end of each spirit run, that will isolate the Heads and Tails completely, you will be able to recognise the smell and taste of these fractions. You will then be able to learn how to adjust the amount of each fraction to be recycled and how much of the late Heads and/or early Tails you want to include in your spirit to achieve the result you want in your glass.

On the other hand if you start off adding lots of Heads or Tails or both into your spirit your palate will get used to the taste and you will be unable to tell the difference by taste or smell.

50ml I recommend to cover Foreshots is way overkill. Normally, from a 4lt batch of low wines, 20ml is considered by many to be enough so in making recommendations to others I decided to be absolutely, totally and undeniably certain and recommend 50ml.

One thing to remember is that while Foreshots can only be ever used as a cleaning agent the Heads you collect will be recycled and yield drinkable alcohol at a later stage.

Heads are usually around 70-75%ABV and this means you only need 1.5lt to do a Heads run. (1.5lt @ 75% will make up a 4lt fill for your Airstill when diluted to 30%.)

At the end of the day, it's your still and if you're getting what you want from it that's all that matters. Some distillers strive for perfection, some want to make all sorts and fill their drinks cabinet, others, like me, are content just making what me and my other half drink.

AM