StillSmart

I have been distilling for over a year now and had a quiet winter but starting back up, could do with a bigger still really to save time on the stripping and spirit runs of a 25l mash.
What i would like to know is what difference is the product out of an
airstill - Potstill ? and a
t500 - Refulux still ?
i don't just do sugar washes and flavour, i have used grains like corn, rye and wheat before to make whiskey and vodka and want to carry on. I dont distill on the grain i syphon off so only liquid goes in.
So will the T500 strip all the flavour whereas the airstill keeps some?
I would still be looking to double distill using the T500 as i do now with my airstill.

Any insight would be grateful, thanks.

Flavoured batches are best done in an air/easy/smart still or "proper" potstill.

T500 is a reflux so fine for sugar wash etc but will produce a neutral/vodka from whatever you put in it......

25L takes me about 4.5 hours and I get about 3.6 to 3.8 litres at 94% ABV.

Horses for courses etc.....

Ahh right thought so. So no point getting a t500 if using grain, thanks anyways hopefully will be getting a better setup and still soon when I have more room, I just wanted something quicker than 4l a time

If you are even moderately handy,building a pot-still yourself is not too difficult.
There are suppliers out there for those that wish to purchase.
A MAJOR benefit to a larger pot is not simply doing a single strip then spirit run,compared to an Airstill/Smartstills' many runs; But also the increased simplicity of the spirit cuts,as they are of larger volume,and perforce less wasteful and difficult to mess up.
I would recommend any airstiller with the space,try a larger pot.
I still have and sometimes use my Smartstill,but more for experiments these days.
But whatever works for you...........

I currently have little interest in reflux stills,but that may also change...

Robert.

I started off with the airstill and was happy with it to begin with, but then I found the wonderful world of distilling. I wanted to make other drinks.

I've started to build my own still but I know that with limited time I have it will take the rest of this year. So I bit the bullet last month and got a T500.
As Phantom said around 4 hours and you've put 25 liters through it, done & finished. I'm now following VT's plans and building a pothead, I can't wait to run a molasses wash through it.

Easydrinker wrote:If you are even moderately handy,building a pot-still yourself is not too difficult.
Robert.

So if your into DIY and can handle solder, why not give it a go.

thanks, yes i will be trying to make my own at some point but just dont have the space for it at the minute which is why im restricted to T500/Airstill, I can get a new T500 for £180 but want to be able to still do Grain not just sugar wash.

a new T500 for £180

That is either a typo or a real bargain.

The T500 is a one trick pony. You have a choice between neutral or neutral. I run mine very slow until I've taken off the fores and heads and get 3L of 92%. I could get more but I'm lazy and less effort is my top priority. I only do single runs with the T500 and find the product noticeably better than double distilled airstill product. btw, a pressure relief valve for the T500 is so beneficial it's almost a necessity.

People have made pot still heads for the T500. That would make it a multi trick pony.

The airstill does have its pros. Once you are confident your routine has no risk of puking, a strip run can be done on a timer. One in the morning and one just before bedtime.

My son now has my airstill, doing his first spirit run today. From a domestic harmony point of view, the fermenter being in the kitchen for 3 or 4 days is a drag. He has yet to sort out getting 20L of possibly still fermenting wash into safe containers to free up kitchen space.

I live alone so no problem with the T500 taking over the kitchen for a day. The morning after a run the dregs are still warm. I really wouldn't fancy emptying the T500 on the same day as a run but it could be done if brave and cautious.

No such thing as a perfect still, it's a matter of finding a design whose imperfections you can live with.

My 2 cents, having used both types of still,its more of a faff with the air still because its smaller,but on the stripping run you can use a timer and leave it.With the T500 I fill it up leave it for a hour to warm up, then I sit with it for 3 hours,I fitted a PRV so I don't have to mess with the needle valve very much, on the last run I adjusted it twice that's all.

When the run is finished I open the drain tap and empty it when its still hot into the waste disposal, use oven gloves to take of the top and rinse out the column in the shower 3 times, then rinse out the boiler with cold water dry and store away.I purchased a Essencia filter, every one raves about them,me i think in the future I will double distil rather than filter.

I am coming to the conclusion that there are no quick,easy, fast. fixes to produce a good quality spirit, it take time and effort.If I was you miss out the T500, either build a pot still, or buy one of the shelf, that would suit the type of work you do,for me I want a good neutral for vodka or gin (flavor). I have taken a liking to nuclear whiskey, ( aged on oak chips in the microwave) that would be better made using a pot still If Still Spirits made one for the T500 it would sell. If any one else makes one for the T500 let me know.

regards Lucky.

Luckyshot wrote: If any one else makes one for the T500 let me know.
regards Lucky.

I have seen somewhere on the net a pothead (USA site) that screws into the lid of a Still boiler....it was mega bucks tho...if you want one made why not ask on here. I'm sure someone would make it for the cost of the pipe & fittings.

ps...found it..turns out it was a Aussie site Here then you have P&P on top.

Thanks for the quick reply Ice, will look into that pot head.

Regards Lucky

rinse out the column in the shower 3 times

Luckyshot, I haven't rinsed out my column ever. What I do is have the cooling flow a bit too fast, gives full reflux. Theory being that alcohol vapour is good at cleaning. 15 to 20 minutes later, I wind down the water flow and business as usual. Haven't noticed any difference in product quality, neither has my picky brother.

Thanks to the Cap'n for the full reflux tip.

Thanks for the tip John, one of the reasons I rinse the column is to cool it down and pack it away quickly when I have finished. I was thinking of taking the packing out of the column and cleaning it in citric acid, its probably had about 15 brews through it or so.

Regards Lucky.

yes was looking at the wrong thing, the £180 is for the boiler on its own then you have to buy the condenser, so think ill stick to the airstill untill i can get a proper pot still setup, cheers

Checked out that pot head Ice,but its 2-14 inch bsp, I think the t500 is 1-12bsp thats bad luck,that would have been handy.

regards Lucky.