Spirit goes cloudy when diluted

[jonnyboy40]

Hi Everyone,

I've recently completed a lentil wash, alocohol collected at 93% smells clean but as soon as I add water to dilute it goes cloudy. I've tried bottled water, filtered water and plain tap water.

The diluted spirit is cloudy with and looks a bit oily.

I collected the spirit slowly and made deep cuts.

From reading online the consensus is either contamination with tails or high mineral levels in the dilution water.

Anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks

Regards

Jon

[packapoo]

Oilyness is a pointer towards tails?
Have you tried taking a cut from, say, somewhere in the hearts range and diluting?

[jonnyboy40]

Thanks for your reply, I shall try that tomorrow. Do you think it could be anything to do with the minerals in the water?

[Easydrinker]

My best guess,and it is a guess,is that it is a reaction to your water.
Sometimes my nuke experiments dilute nice and clean,sometimes they precipitate with a cloudy precipitious something that I can't explain.
Sometimes leaving them alone for a few days and racking off helps,but this remains a problem that I have not cracked.If you can input something here,that would be good!
Robert.

[scotstill]

I wouldn't worry too much. High strength, un-chill filtered single malt whisky does the same.

Have a look here:

http://www.maltmaniacs.net/E-pistles/Ma ... whisky.pdf

[Blue_Duck]

I may be lucky or whatever, i dont experience the cloudy product, what i do and have done for a long time now,is when i have a cuppa,i pour the excess of the kettle into a 5ltr spring water bottle after its cooled,topping up all the time and that way iv'e always got what i consider is clean water for dilution.it works for me.

cheers B_D

[Easydrinker]

I may be lucky or whatever, i dont experience the cloudy product, what i do and have done for a long time now,is when i have a cuppa,i pour the excess of the kettle into a 5ltr spring water bottle after its cooled,topping up all the time and that way iv'e always got what i consider is clean water for dilution.it works for me.

cheers B_D

Sounds like an easy way of de-chlorinating and de-mineralising tap water to me,good on you,but what do I know?
Robert.

[Blue_Duck]

Sounds like an easy way of de-chlorinating and de-mineralising tap water to me,good on you,but what do I know?
Robert.

as much as me mate

cheers B_D

[Easydrinker]

I wouldn't worry too much. High strength, un-chill filtered single malt whisky does the same.

Have a look here:

http://www.maltmaniacs.net/E-pistles/Ma ... whisky.pdf

Almost misssed you there,in the flow of the thread.
WELCOME to the forum.
Nice username.

Robert.

[scotstill]

I wouldn't worry too much. High strength, un-chill filtered single malt whisky does the same.

Have a look here:

http://www.maltmaniacs.net/E-pistles/Ma ... whisky.pdf

Almost misssed you there,in the flow of the thread.
WELCOME to the forum.
Nice username.

Robert.

Thanks! Not sure I'm quite ready to DIY distill yet, but interested in the process and reading up. I'm familiar with the way commercial distilleries do it, but not at home...

[Easydrinker]

Believe me it is not rocket science.
And all you need to know can be found on this forum.
Dip your toes,or jump in,you probably will not regret it.
Robert.

[jonnyboy40]

Thanks for all the replies.

I tried using distilled water from the dehumidifier yesterday and the result is completely clear, so it is the water. Thanks for the tip about boiled water Ill also try that.

Is water from a dehumidifier safe to add to spirit and drink? I filtered the water through coffee filters.

Regards

Jon

[scotstill]

Believe me it is not rocket science.
And all you need to know can be found on this forum.
Dip your toes,or jump in,you probably will not regret it.
Robert.

I'm tempted to get an easystill and go for it. The calculations for the volumes and heads/tails/hearts are what is putting me off just now - I can find malted barley pretty easily to make the mash...

[Easydrinker]

Thanks for all the replies.

I tried using distilled water from the dehumidifier yesterday and the result is completely clear, so it is the water. Thanks for the tip about boiled water Ill also try that.

Is water from a dehumidifier safe to add to spirit and drink? I filtered the water through coffee filters.

Regards

Jon

Hi,I may be talking rubbish,but if the water from the dehumidifier is being drawn from the air,may it not also contain any pathogens present?
For sure adding it to high percentage alcohol may sort them out.
I guess it depends upon the air space the dehumidifier is working in.
Or I may be talking rubbish.
Robert.

[packapoo]

I think Jon I'd rather try a boiled water solution then trust dehumidified, even if passed through a coffee filter.This thought stems purely from situations I see dehumidifiers generally used in.