T500 Alembic or Column to rectify gin

[gaza the instructor]

Yes mate 3x25ltr Kale washes. Will give me a full
charge spirit run @ about 35%. So half for Vodka
and half for gin. Kale makes awesome Voddy.
Just ran new t500 gin basket, make that pot still
set up.12.5 lts GNS and water @ 30%.
X5 on my Tea Gin recipe. Stopped collecting At 40%
End result 5.3 ltrs Tea Gin @ 71%. Haven't tasted yet
but smells yummy.

[Easydrinker]

Almost Gobbledey gook, but you just got to admire a fan.

Robert.

[Mash]

Yes mate 3x25ltr Kale washes. Will give me a full
charge spirit run @ about 35%. So half for Vodka
and half for gin. Kale makes awesome Voddy.
Just ran new t500 gin basket, make that pot still
set up.12.5 lts GNS and water @ 30%.
X5 on my Tea Gin recipe. Stopped collecting At 40%
End result 5.3 ltrs Tea Gin @ 71%. Haven't tasted yet
but smells yummy.

Result. Just Waiting for the tasting notes now...
Will you mature it gaza? Or just add tonic ASAP
Using a basket (or sputnik) does allow you to multiply up the recipes like this.


@Robert. Are you using antifreeze as a mixer again?

[Anavrin]

I’ve always wondered, is GNS actually neutral?

I mean if you buy it in like most small scale gin producers do, do you have a product that you don’t need to make any cut on?

[gaza the instructor]

Mash I have a heavy cold and cannot taste
a thing so am looking for a willing volunteer.
But a good quantity in one go happy

Anavrin. I did very careful cuts when producing
my neutral, so should be good.

[Anavrin]

Hi Gaza

I was referring to the neutral grain spirit which is commercially sold by distillers to small scale gin makers.

It’s to difficult and expensive for small business gin makers to get a distillers licence, so instead they go for a rectifiers licence, this enables them to make gin by redistilling neutral grain spirit.

I always wondered if the producers of the neutral, simply sold 95% spirit, straight off the still, or if they make a heads cut, so the gin makers don’t have to worry about cuts.

[Klunk]

If this is your intention then you would need to talk to your supplier, but I would be prepared to make cuts. I only trust half of what I see and nothing I hear

[Easydrinker]

@Robert. Are you using antifreeze as a mixer again?

Nah, using it with mixers, home production has been slow this year.

Robert.

[gaza the instructor]

I am with you Anavrin. The Gin is great BTW.

[ginster]

Hi all,

Hope you dont mind me jumping on this thread - first post and very much a newbie to distilling.

I have the T500 with alembic condenser along with the botanical basket which i stacked with the Gordon Gin botanicals recipe (6 bots) and did one run with commercial Neutral Grain Spirit and it came out great - better than Gordon's.

I would like the next run to be stronger in flavour and since I cant get more in the basket, I plan to steep the Neutral with the botanicals for 24 hours and then run with the basket and see if that intensifies the flavour.

I can't afford NGS (cost £28 a litre of 95%ABV) for further runs so I was planning to make my own Neutral, but using the Alembic I'm just not getting the quality I want - some off flavours despite filtering with carbon and cutting hearts only. I want to get a decent vodka obviously.

Since the Alembic makes an 80% ABV and is all about adding flavour to the ethanol I think I need the reflux column to make a clean NGS before using the alembic for the gin run.

So my question is, has anyone made a good clean Neutral with the Alembic only - or I am right in thinking I'm only going to get this with the T500 reflux column?

Also, does anyone have any opinions about Turbo Yeast - I'm reading on a few places that it's not the best.

Cheers

[Easydrinker]

Starting at the end of your post.

Some here do not like Turbo's and some do.
Make your own decision.

Your point about the Alembic v's a stacked column?
It should be obvious which will throw out the cleaner neutral.

Robert.

[Mash]

So my question is, has anyone made a good clean Neutral with the Alembic only - or I am right in thinking I'm only going to get this with the T500 reflux column?

Also, does anyone have any opinions about Turbo Yeast - I'm reading on a few places that it's not the best.

Cheers

Yes, but I takes a bit more skill and thought.

Skill to make..
For me it really is like the old computing adage. "crap in - crap out"

I spent a while developing & proving a clean ferment (most neutral). For me that means. Cane granulated sugar. Kale nutrient, bread yeast, oil and time.

Turbo yeasts do work for many people. They are quicker, but it depends on your taste buds I guess.


Skill to cut..
Cut to get the very best hearts. Any doubt no doubt, recycle it next time.
If comes with experience.
Remember to that % figures are a measure of strength not purity or flavour.

[gaza the instructor]

100% Mash. You need more skill with your cuts
to collect GNS with the dome.
What Mash said on washes, Kale is good cheap
and simple. It is my prefered weapon of choice.
By stripping and spirit running,collecting in
500ml jars and making careful cuts all is cool.
I normally do 2 or 3 washes at a time.
If you want more flavour, you could add more bots
or less alcohol. Remember to add bots % to
recipe.
Good Luck and let us all know how you get on.
The S.S. Gin Basket is new and we are all
experimenting ATM.

[ginster]

Thanks @gaza and @mash for the pointers - I'm going to be trying some of these wash recipes - seen a tomato paste recipe - kale sounds funky. I find these wash recipes with different nutrients fascinating and really interested to compare with the turbo.

[Mash]

"compare to a turbo" been there. Watched the pie, eat the video.


You might find it is a one way street.