StillSmart

Had the chance to run my first wash in the Air Still on the weekend using the double distilling method described here. The wash I used was WPOSW so the ABV was only around 9% which meant on my stripping run I was only pulling about 800ml from 4L before I was down to 20%. I stripped enough to do a single spirit run from low wines diluted to 30%.

Everything went well without issue and I got quite productive by heating each 4L of wash to 50C prior to running it, which meant it started dripping in about 35 mins each time. I ended up with some OK stuff but it has a funky yeasty bready taste which isn't the best. It's drinkable with some scotch essence and after half a dozen you get used to it but just a little disappointed.

I only used 50g of bakers yeast too which is about half of what the recipe recommended, I racked it off into a another container after it was reading 0.990 for a couple of days, and I let it clear in a fridge for a few days before I ran it so don't know what went wrong. Any ideas? Time to try another recipe I think. Might do the lentil wash or the TPW next.

Great thing I noticed about running the little still is once you know how long it takes to get a certain amount of ml, you can just set the timer and don't have to watch it continuously.

I've never had a yeasty, bready taste. I wonder if you might be tasting tails. What was the ABV of the last jar you included?

I didn't add any of the tails jars from the spirit run. I followed the guide and discarded the first 50ml, collected 250ml of heads then collected a litre, then 4 x 100ml jars which I still have. All I kept was the litre of so-called hearts.

I think it maybe a case of 'garbage in garbage out' because during the run it always smelt/tasted a bit funky to me. This is my first ever attempt at making a wash so I don't know what the wash is supposed to smell like at the end, and the wash does have the same funkiness.

Maybe during the ferment the wash got infected? I sterilised everything and it was new equipment. I only opened the fermenter once a day to check SG. At about day 4 I could smell rotten eggs so I added another tsp of DAP and the smell never returned but maybe the damage was done, dunno.

Hoping I have more success next time round.

I think a kale wash would be simple and a positive shot in the arm.

IMO TPW and lentil are more work and not such a good neutral finish.

Put 100g in. Run it warm at 25-29c if you can.

I am guessing you have made wine or beer? I ask because before you put it in the still you should have a wine. Basic, pretty much flavourless but with no sulphite issues or funkyness.

Ozzy wrote:
Maybe during the ferment the wash got infected? I sterilised everything and it was new equipment. I only opened the fermenter once a day to check SG. At about day 4 I could smell rotten eggs so I added another tsp of DAP and the smell never returned but maybe the damage was done, dunno.

Hoping I have more success next time round.

You answer the question.

This is not an infection. This is caused by the yeast. Hydrogen sulphide is created by stress due to nutritional issue. DAP feeds the yeast, stopping the issue. Copper would have cleaned up the existing wash.

Mash wrote:[u]You answer the question.

This is not an infection. This is caused by the yeast. Hydrogen sulphide is created by stress due to nutritional issue. DAP feeds the yeast, stopping the issue. Copper would have cleaned up the existing wash.[/u]

Thanks mate. On the day I smelt the hydrogen sulphide I researched that a Nitrogen deficiency causes the that smell so I added more DAP. The wash only smelt like that for a short period of time during ferment and I dealt with it, the wash didn't smell like that when I ran it. But obviously I did stress the yeast and the wash has obviously suffered, final product has been compromised.

I know copper has a special relationship with sulphides but how do you add copper elements to the Air Still? Chop up some pipe and throw it in with the wash?

The WPOSM wash does seem problematic for a newbie like me so looking to try something more natural and simple. I thought the lentil wash seemed simple but I will look into the Kale wash. Lentil are cheaper.

Yes mate if you can guarantee a coin is solid copper then they are perfect, or you can flatten some pipe down or cut some thumb nail sized pieces from some sheet, or use copper washers....you get the idea, just chuck them into the boiler before you put the lid on! There are instructions on here somewhere to change the output tube for a copper elbow as well, you could also use a copper parrot to test the proof as it comes out of the still too. Many ways to get some copper into your set up

Also on the nutritional side of things, if in doubt use a handful of chopped raisins. They are little miracles! I bought a small tub of DAP when I first started & had nothing but trouble with washes taking an eternity or having wild pH swings, when I switched to raisins all that stopped. I've yet to try a kale wash but from the results that the rest of the guys here get, it seems a more certain bet for what you want. Nothing against Wineo's recipe, I just don't like using all those pills & powders!

The PH swings are huge with the WPOSM recipe. It can drop dramatically in the early stages and stall. Thanks for heads-up concerning the raisins. I feel more comfortable creating a wash made from natural ingredients other than fertiliser. Cheers mate.

I think this is the link Benoit maybe on about.

This is an old photo when I did mine...


With the copper fitted.

Would serrated copper washers work?

Cheers Ice, I also remember reading about an air still owner who ran some copper wire through the codensor. Failing all that, what if I just let the distill rest in a copper bowl?

Finally found the link I was after, this helps explain a bit:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 0450.x/pdf

The conclusions from that paper were that the best results were found when copper was in the boiler, then the condenser. Seems a "catch it early" approach works best, a copper bowl would remove some I think but best results seemed tied to when things are hot / warm

Appreciate the help Benoit. its not often you don't see copper being utilised to some degree in this craft. Definitely reasons for doing so.

Ozzy wrote:

I know copper has a special relationship with sulphides but how do you add copper elements to the Air Still? Chop up some pipe and throw it in with the wash?

This question is sort of two. So here are both answers.

1. IN THE STILL. The guys have already covered this. The copper in the still does two things.
1p & 2p coins are best. ** If they are magnetic toss them back in your pocket **
In addition to reacting with the wash THEY ALSO rattle which prevents superheating and it tells you whats going on it the still. You will be able to learn what you're still is doing by the noise. It is making.

2. BEFORE STILLIN' You can use copper pipe or copper sulphate (carefully, this shit is poisonous) to neutralise any hydrogen sulphide in the wash before you put it the still.
Point 1 above, still applies. This would be an additional step where you had had an issue with H2S.

Corps012588 wrote:Would serrated copper washers work?

Yes they would, virtually any form of copper will.

Robert.