StillSmart

Hi all.
Finally found the right price / mix of options I wanted. Bought a proper SS version - not a povo re-badged whatever from China. Got 2 15L fermenters - so I can do a wash and then rack off and clear - and start another wash. Looking at using the All Bran Wash from the Home Distiller site - as I want a bit of flavour to come across for making Whiskey and Bourbon. I will not be stuffing about with turbo yeasts much - although the triple distilled and the Alcotec Vodka Star would be the go if I did decide to try them.
I can get a Nano Filter from the brew shop my mate uses - just spoke with the owner - who does all the beer stuff - he had no idea what a Nano was - and was shocked to find he had one in stock - so I taught him something.
The information, attitude and willingness to assist that I have found on this site - is the difference between me doing nothing in this vast hobby - or sticking my toe in and having a go. So a huge amount of thanks to all of you who have responded to my questions.
I am sure I will have more once the unit is in my hands. A few runs of water will be done just to judge HOW it works - and obviously to make nice water for my cutting the spirit - once I have some.
Thanks all.
J

Hi Jed, how about an update :-) what brand did you go for in the end ? or are you still researching ?

I got the SS AirStill.
I have not done a wash yet. We have had temperatures all over the place here. Plus I did not buy a heat pad. so I reckon I will get one of these and use that just to make sure is ok. We are having a summer that has had 2 days over 30 degrees - in 2 months.
I got hold of the Alcotec Vodka Star yeasts - as I thought I will start simple and learn to do a repeatable process - get a stock of spirit sorted on some oak for a bit of flavour.
After I have done a few batches - and have 2 full demijohns - 2 X 5 liters so far - then I can start with the allbran one and get a bit more adventurous.
I have been a bit crook in the legs for 3 months - so I have not been able to get up and about as much as I normally can. I am coming good now. So I think in a couple of weeks I will do first batch.
My method I believe will be put 3.5 liters into the still - put a bunch of the ceramic rashig rings in - to make sure no boil over. I also got some conditioning liquid. Not having the bloody thing go kaboom on me.
I will collect everything down to about 20 - 30% ABV I reckon. But the higher stuff - 50% odd - I will collect and keep separate. The first 2 batches I will have a look at and cut down with distilled water - if I reckon taste/smell is ok. I will cut to 35% and use.
Next 2 batches I will double distill and get as high as I can - 80% has been suggested as possible. This is the primary reason why I decided on the Vodka Star yeast - as it appears from the info I have read here to be very clean.
Carbon filtering will depend on the first run - and how I find it. I will obviously chuck out first 100Ml to be safe.
I have bought up a bunch of essences. Mostly Prestige for the rums and stuff I wanted as good quality. But I am also going to try experimenting with 2 rums say from different essence manufacturers - and blend the results. I have scotch, rum, bourbon, 2-3 brandies that I hope I can find one that is ok. Plus a few liquor ones for my folks.
I am also going to try to make a version of a spanish rum called Cathique. Mid - dark rum - vanilla flavour. $75 a bottle here in Aus. Hence I have 5 different rums I can make and even blend together to get something I like. I will be putting rums on a rum oak - to get some flavour profile prior to essence.
I have gone right across the board - some essences that only make 750Ml - prestige. Then others that will make 2 lots of 1.25 - so what I am going to do is make 1 batch - do a 750Ml bottle and then use the balance for the mixing component for a tryout. Plus ones you only use 10Ml - they will be the experimenting ones. 2 drops this etc - see what I can make.
will be a bunch of trial and error. if it all is terrible - I got no dog to give it to - so I chuck it back in the still and recover from my mistake.
Because I only got 15L fermenters - a space issue here - I am trying to work out what a half batch would be. So I am thinking a normal batch is 25L. So if I exactly half a normal batch and do 12L - then I will have 3 fills of the still with wash - roughly. plus potentially a 4th run if I am doing a double still run.
I guess I can half the recipe - add an extras litre or so - to allow for the dregs in the bottom of the fermenter - rack it into the spare one and run another batch.
I did forget to buy any clearing stuff. But I can sort that ok when I have a wash to do.
So yeah I have got my stuff - and plenty of sugar. I went mad and bought 20 kilo rough price. It was on sale. Bought some raw sugar which I will use for doing a wash for rum - to possibly get a little extra flavour in the thing - just for a try.
I will post more once I have had a crack.
Happy New Year to all of you here. Hope you had a good one.
J

Sounds about how I started not sure what you mean by\" then I can start with the allbran one and get a bit more adventurous\" ?
As I went on I invested in a essencia filter and haven\'t looked back since - now got a good stock of booze and started experimenting with using 20% original booze and 80% base alcohol and thats turning out better than essences.
I did a blind test with my son at CHristmas and asked him to be critical with a southern comfort - 20% original southern comfort and 80% base alcohol and he said the taste is identical but to be critical the thickness just gave it away - so gonna try and add some glycerine next time.
What am trying to say is experiment and you will come out with some nice tasting booze rather than stick with essences plus it makes the hobby more fun.

Hi Hic
Sorry about non reply. I have been sidelined for a bit after having a fall in Jan. Slammed myself into the concrete and messed myself up a bit.
What I meant by the all bran/ more adventurous was - the sugar wash/alcostar is a fairly basic way of getting a neutral. Using the all bran and variations I gain a little bit of taste. Understanding the limits of the Airstill and ability to bring all of the taste across.
Having the items and not being able to sort myself physically to do the job has been the biggest hurdle.
I like your idea of a bit of original and then oak soaked. That sounds good. just got no original to be using just now.
I will get to the doing eventually. But at least I am ironing out all the potential pitfalls by reading heaps. I am sure I will make more than enough mistakes as I go along to make my own list of what not to do.
J