Infusion basket in old air still

[lyonacre]

Hi,

Has anyone found a way of using the infusion basket with an old air still that doesn't have the two little "knubs" to hold it in place ?

[gaza the instructor]

Oh yes a free standing one, which we call a Sputnik
Use the search there are pics and all the help you
need to build one.

[Easydrinker]

Basically a small collander with added legs.
Not rocket science.

Robert.

[Mash]

It's a joke Jim, but not as we know it

[Easydrinker]

Shout out if you are struggling, but you should be able to take it from here.
There are helpful posts.
And then there are the others.

Some of us just like a bit of fun along the way.

Robert.

[Mash]

Second that.

IMO you will be much better served by the original hand made. We have reviewed the commercial one here and collectively agreed it was a bit small and could bung up the outflow.


The sputnik got its name from what it looks like upside down. Hence all the rocket gags.

Finding the colander is the tricky bit. Head for Sainsbury's Tesco Dunelm any where that does cheaper cookware.

[Easydrinker]

A better place to find a small collander with sacrificial cut offs may be a 99p store/pound shop.

They no longer seem to flourish in my part of the world

Robert

[Mash]

'cos yee were all waiting for the sale!

[Mash]

On the subject on colanders - wants to be a 'just in' fit for the lid.

[lyonacre]

Many thanks.

Did investigate making "dimples" in the top but decided I would probably wreck the still!

As an interim just bunged everything in the still and ran it and was quite pleased with the result - my gin tasters approved. Moved on a bit and used a muslin (no not the terrorist type) bag to hold the botanicals which made cleaning up easier and got another successful trial but I think I will go for a basket.

Collander trip planned or I may buy some copper sheet/mesh and get the plumbing blow lamp out of retirement

[gaza the instructor]

Lyonacre I think best not smash up the Airstill.
Clean it, Yep. Love it,O.K. Cherish it, but dont
be cruel or hurt it.
You need to look for a S.Steel calendar about 7.5"
diameter some M3 SS nuts bolts and threaded bar to
be used as the legs, all to be found on Ebay.
The AS is a great bit of kit, it makes great Gin
Without a Sputnik, but with is different gear.

[lyonacre]

Actually ended up taking it apart and using stainless nuts/bots with silicone washers to create bumps to hold the standard basket. Works quite well.

Having had a number of successful runs with a couple of laters in the still I am now looking at bigger batches and trying to work out how much botanical to use.

For a given mix/weight it doesn't seem to matter if I put 1, 1.5, or 2 litres in the still in terms of flavour. Will the same amount of botanical work the same with 4L?

[Mash]

The great thing about baskets is the recipe is linear so yes 4 liters = 4x the bots of 1 liter.

......just providing you can get enough in the basket.

[Easydrinker]

You beat me to linear

You didn't state for those that seek simple answers that you do need to increase the botanicals, in a linear way.

Robert.

[The_blue]

Just bought this from wilkos for £1. Handles pulled of cleanly. Fits perfectly inside the airstills lid