Air Still distillation breakdown

[Mash]

Hi Donald and Welcome.

That is a good question. It is unfortunately not a linear result. 12% for example will give you a estimate of the end volume you can expect (excluding the efficiency of the still and by how much you want to dilute) But the components of that end product will depend on the fermentation conditions. So the real answer is - you need to learn how to detect heads and tails.

The beginners guide on here is a good start. Then some starts jars and finally some experience.

..and of course keep asking questions:D

[donald]

Alright, thanks, it makes sense that the proportions of unwanted chemicals would be different depending on what you're starting with, when determining cuts.

But what about pure % alcohol, for the stripping run for example. If I wanted to get a low wine of 30% from a 12% wash, to keep this as close to the guide as possible, would that be calculable relative to the procedure in the opening post? Like the OP got 1500ml @ 30% from a 14% wash. 12% is 85% of 14%, so could I collect (1500ml * 85% = 1285mL) to end up at a 30% low wine?

Or does it not work like that at all?

[Anavrin]

Hi donald

Get yourself an Alcometer and measure the ABV as you collect it from the still, once you get to a jar reading only 30%, stop collecting, 30% is a good ball park figure to start with (or end collecting with) when distilling from a wash.

This allows you to measure the overall ABV of you collected strip, you can then easily measure the volume, this way it doesn't matter what ABV your wash is, or what the final ABV of your collected strip is, by knowing the volume and ABV of your strip you can work out how much water to add to proof it down to 30%

Then progress to a spirit run when you have enough strip.

[donald]

Thanks, I have an alcometer but for some reason I thought my test jar was too big for 100mL samples but it's actually fine.

Anyway I stripped 4L of the ~12% red wine and ended up at 1300mL @ 30%. The stuff that was coming out mid-way/later smelled really good but the early stuff really smelled strong. What has me worried is the smell is kind of like the preservatives that were added to it (the wine is from a typical wine kit so PS and KMeta) and I heard this doesn't distill out easy. Is this a concern?

[Mash]

Coinage !!!

Distill it on clean copper 1p & 2p AND some bits of copper pipe.

PS when you start collecting 1ps and 2ps you need the older ones which are NOT magnetic. Handful should do the trick. Clean with and overnight soak in a Ctiric acid solution.

I have done 100's of litres of wine like this - well at least 205l that were getting in the way !!

[GrunthosTheFlatulent]

I also 'recycle' any disappointing or over-aged wines.

If you use the two stage distillation process then there shouldn't be any hint of sulphite or sorbate in the final product.

[Benoit]

Haha Mash where on earth did you get a full barrel of wine from?! More to the point what's in it now?

[Mash]

It was getting in my way, and I am not partial to white so I made it into brandy.

[donald]

Coinage !!!

Distill it on clean copper 1p & 2p AND some bits of copper pipe.

I'm not sure what the "copper" coins in my part of the world are really made of but I can get copper saddles at the home brew shop. I'm surprised to hear they would do anything immersed in the wash though as opposed to in the vapor path/condenser. Has anyone ever attached a copper pipe to the end of the spout for an AirStill, and would there be benefit in doing so?

[donald]

I also 'recycle' any disappointing or over-aged wines.

If you use the two stage distillation process then there shouldn't be any hint of sulphite or sorbate in the final product.

Do you go for a neutral or more of a brandy? If using the Airstill, what sort of cut proportions do you end up using, just to give me a general point of reference?

[GrunthosTheFlatulent]

I aim for something fairly neutral and might add a couple of bottles of wine to a bucket of sugar wash.

No cuts on a stripping run, I collect until it's coming off at around 15% which means my Low Wines are usually averaging around 44%.

I water down to 35% and put this through a Brita filter 2-3 times.

From a 4 litre charge at 35% I discard the first 50ml which comes off, collect 150ml of heads, 1100ml of heart (cutting when my parrot is around 64%) and then collect around 500ml of tails. Heads and tails get added to the next bucket of wash when fermentation has finished.

This differs slightly from the Guide recommendations, but you asked what I do.

[Icefever]

I'm surprised to hear they would do anything immersed in the wash though as opposed to in the vapor path/condenser. Has anyone ever attached a copper pipe to the end of the spout for an AirStill, and would there be benefit in doing so?

First of all welcome Donald.

When I started with an Airstill I and a few others did indeed change the end of the spout...




Take the plastic section out...(who wants soft plastic in a still??)

Add an elbow with a short section of copper pipe...hey presto.



This way you will have a small amount of copper in the flow...as for copper bits in the boiler they help to stop boil overs...

[Mash]

I feel an external copper coil could be next up.

Seriously Donald.. If it's an issue in the wash finished spirit, I would suggest that you are perhaps being a little heavy handed in the wine?

[Easydrinker]

Welcome Donald.
Try putting nice clean copper in the still for the second stage of production,and see how it comes out!
I would also use it in the first stage.

Robert.

[donald]

Thanks for the pics Icefever. My AirStill doesn't have that plastic end pipe that you removed, it just ends in metal. Just a slightly different model I guess.

Easydrinker; I've done the spirit run already but I'll have to get some copper to try in the future.

Mash; The wine was done according to the wine kit instructions.

Anyway I did the spirit run at 30% and collected in 100mL jars. The first 600-700mL had a strong smell that I think is Heads (not sure though) and I ran to 2000mL and never got any Tails (wet cardboard/dog) smell. Not sure why the heads smell went that long but maybe I was mistaken and it was just because it's a lot stronger %-wise so it smells more and it's not necessarily Heads but just strong ethanol. When I diluted and tasted it it didn't make me gag or anything so I ended up blending from 400-1700mL because this is probably going to be used for mixed drinks anyway and I did it more for the experience.