Newbie

[ontario23]

Hello From Oakville Ontario Canada
I just joined today looking to purchase a still . There is a couple of ones I have been looking at. A Turbo 500 and one at Brewhauz . Any help would be appriecated Thanks

[chill]

What do you want to make? How much do you want to spend? How much do you know about distilling? If not much, I recommend a lot of reading before making a purchase you may regret later. I almost bought a milehi still and am glad that I did not. For me, it is the wrong piece of equipment. The Brewhaus stills work, but are not a great design. I know nothing about the T500.

As you are in Ontario, it is worth knowing this site also in Ontario. I buy from them and the service is excellent.
http://www.home-distilling.com/

If you are looking for more flexibility in what you can produce and how you produce it, the StillDragon line is well worth considering:
http://www.stilldragon.com/
It is not as expensive as it might first appear.

It can be hard for a beginner to know what to buy and what the pros and cons of any particular setup are. That is why I recommend a lot of reading and research first. This site is a great resource (in addition to this one of course! ) for a wide variety of methods and equipment:
http://forum.moderndistiller.com/

Welcome! Ask questions!

Chuck

[ontario23]

I made shine 30 ears ago when I worked at corn plant. I would like to make vodka rum, and would have a buget of $700.to $1000, I know I could make one if I had good plans .I'm a Millwright welder but having no time.

[chill]

I am not much inclined to make one either. That is a good budget, I would seriously consider a StillDragon setup that can be configured either in Pot or Reflux mode (Pot for whiskey, Reflux for vodka, or a combination for a different effect).

This particular combination (and subsequent modifications posted elsewhere in that forum) is quite interesting to me and what I am aiming at:
http://forum.moderndistiller.com/viewto ... f=43&t=326

Just need to get the basement bathroom renovated so I can also arrange a drain and water supply in my workroom.

StilDragon does not make hobby sized boilers (at least not at my level of the hobby!) I like the ones that HillBillly Stills makes:
http://www.hillbillystills.com/Milk_Can_p/bl8g.htm

Chuck

[ontario23]

Does stilldragon ship to canada? I tried to get on the web site but was not connecting

[chill]

The American branch ships to Canada.

[Phantom]

The T500 you mention sounds like its a Kiwi produced Still Spirits brand T500. If so its what I use regularly and is excellent for making neutral sugar turbos.

Mine come out at about 94% ABV. I do like to distill twice so I reduce that down to below 40% with RO water then run it again before reducing the distillate to exactly 40% as that's what the flavouring essences are designed to taste right at (except for absinthe which I make to about 80% or so).

Some here suggest trying to detune it so it works like a pot, rather than a reflux but I'd have thought it easier to obtain a second lid and converting to a pot would be easier.

Flexibility is the key though so chills suggestion is probably better if you don't want to do some work to achieve the flexibilty......

[ontario23]

Thanks for all your info

[Almanac]

]] too!

AM

[John51]

imo an airstill is a great way to start. Small runs means small mistakes and it will give you a drink while you learn the pros and cons of other stills at your leisure.

I'll be keeping mine when (if?) my reflux is finished as it seems ideal for doing the strip runs. Wind the power down to around 150w and see how long it takes to give ~1.5L. From then on set the timer and forget about it. 6 runs means a total of 30 minutes of needing to do something whereas a regular still needs a babysitter all the way through the strip run.

Another thing I'm looking forward to trying once I'm making proper neutral is mixing 2L of 40% neutral with 2L of fruit juice and giving that a slow run through the airstill to make Schnapps.

[Bachus55]

Another thing I'm looking forward to trying once I'm making proper neutral is mixing 2L of 40% neutral with 2L of fruit juice and giving that a slow run through the airstill to make Schnapps.

Hi John,
Now that's an interesting idea! Any thoughts on the kind of juice you are going to use? Self pressed, out of a carton?

[chill]

I've made Apple Schnapps/Brandy from bottled Apple juice (it was on sale). It turned out pretty good. I fermented it rather than add it to neutral and distill.

I have soaked fresh fruit in neutral and then distilled it to good effect with honeydew melons, pears, and some others that I forget now. Much nicer than essences.

Chuck

[Phantom]

Ah, whereas I've made cider kits and run that. I've also run batches of wines and meads I've made but haven't enjoyed the results.

I just run them and bin the foreshots/heads, then take about 800mls and put it into a carboy with some oak chips to make like a rather amateurish mixed fruit brandy.

Weird though, last time I tasted it, it was more whisky like than brandyish.

I'll just leave it to age and mellow......

[ontario23]

what if i took a mason jar filled with apples and topped up with 40% shine ? How long would I have to leave it to get a good taste .Also would I have to filter it> Thanks

[Phantom]

No real way of telling. It'd depend on the apple type, flavour/sweetness, whether it throws a haze or cloudiness, etc etc.

Hell, just try it and see. At most you you might need to add some sweetener or something....

Last time I did something like that, I just mixed 40% spirit with store bought apple juice 50/50 and yes it was fine......