Rum wash Stalled?

[Spudnik1954]

Well I know someone can answer this I started a Rum wash about ten days ago with 5 L of molasses and 4 KG of sugar all parameters were as they should be when I started. SG is now 1.10 shouldn't it be lower usually my sugar washes finish around .990 do Rum washes finish higher? If the SG should be lower how do I do that?

Thanks

[YHB]

Due to the amount of unfermentable stuff in the molasses, hydrometers do not work the same as the do with other washes.

I use the hydrometer to measure progress and when the SG stops going down I call time, leave it a couple of days and then strip it.

I have never managed to get a reading lower than 1.10.

You do not say how much water you used for your wash.

[Spudnik1954]

Sorry I had a total volume of 25 liters. I check the Hydrometer reading every couple of days it hasn't moved from 1.10 for four days, no bubbles on the surface or anything. I guess from your experience it should be done I wasn't aware that the readings are not the same thanks for the info much appreciated.

[YHB]

That's a lot of sugar for 25litres.

I litre of Molasses is about the same as 1Kg of sugar so that would be the equivalent of 9kg of sugar???

There may be some sugar left in the wash and it could be a very foamy run. I would think lots of head room and additional conditioner may be worth thinking about, take care.

[Spudnik1954]

Thanks for the advice, how much sugar do you recomend I add to the molasses? I also forgot to mention that I used brown sugar as well. Would 6" of head room be enough?

[RumJohn]

Way to much sugar. You could drop the molasses as you are using brown sugar. Yeast will not convert that much sugar. .17 -.25 Kg per liter of water.

[Almanac]

5lt of Molasses and 4 Kg of Brown Sugar and a total wash volume of 25lt means a water volume of just 16lt which translates to 562g of 'sugar' per litre of water and that's waaaay to much for any yeast to handle

If it was mine I'd split the wash, as it is now, into two batches of 12.5lt and add 7.5lt of water to each then re-pitch a yeast starter in each, keep them warm and let them ferment out properly.....but that's just me

AM

[YHB]

Or perhaps boil half a pint and see if it foams up?

[Spudnik1954]

I tried the boiling tip and yes it didn't take long to start foaming so I'm going to split the wash and go from there. A lesson well learned more is not always better in the distilling world at least! Thanks everyone for the help. Let you know how I make out.

[Icefever]

A lesson well learned more is not always better in the distilling world at least! Thanks everyone for the help. Let you know how I make out.

The boiling tip is one to remember...All the best with your wash's.

[Spudnik1954]

Well I tried the boil test again this evening lots of bubbles and steam but no foam so I guess I'm good to go. I will run the batches through my T500 on the weekend hopefully everything works out I will put a bit extra conditioner in just in case and I run my rum washes with just copper wire in my stack anyone have any other suggestions?
Report back when I'm done thanks for the help!

[chill]

It will likely not taste good coming off the still (stripping or spirit run). Do not despair. A few months of aging and it will be a totally different drink. Rum + Time = Amazing.

[googe]

I've always found the best rum to be 3L molasses, 3 kg raw sugar for a base, then you can tweak the molasses/ sugar to your tastes, playing with Lees and dunder.

[chill]

Is that blackstrap molasses or one of the more refined versions?

[Spudnik1954]

I'm not sure if you are refering to Googe or me but I use regular fancy molasses that I get at the grocery store it is the only type I have been able to find so far in my area.