StillSmart

Slight variation on the original tomatoe wash, produces 6.5 bottles of 40%

I\'ve always liked the tomatoe wash but find it doesnt produce a lot of spirit. I just increased the amount of yeast and sugar and it works for me.
top up to 26L with water:

5.5kg sugar

40ml lemon juice, fresh squeezed or bottled.

one level teaspoon epsom salts

250g tomato paste

90g bakers yeast

OK OK so i spelt tomato with an E

I was never happy with the flavour of the tomato wash, but I did do a 5-litre test using shredded wheat and it was fantastic, I must have got the sugar wrong as it was supposed to be about 14%, it fermented dry and I put it through the SS, took 800ml of and it was only 42%, even after filtering as it came off, it had a lovely flavour and very smooth taste.
As smooth as it was I’m not sure I preferred it to turbo as I sort of like the little bit of harshness you get with turbo washes but cant help thinking it would be ideal for a whisky using chips, I do wish I had just run it now without filtering to try but there’s always next time.

that wash i used fermented out to about 10-11% but after a second distil i was getting about 60-70% 6+ bottles is good by me as long as it tates good

I was never happy with the flavour of the tomato wash, but I did do a 5-litre test using shredded wheat and it was fantastic, I must have got the sugar wrong as it was supposed to be about 14%, it fermented dry and I put it through the SS, took 800ml of and it was only 42%, even after filtering as it came off, it had a lovely flavour and very smooth taste.

Well as far as I can find, to get 13.99% ABV the gravity difference would need to be 103 so something like 1103 down to 1000 on the hydrometer or starting at 1093 and fermenting to 0990 etc etc
I know that it\'s possible to work out exactly how many grammes of sugar will do that, I just can\'t be arsed....... ;-D
Plus I don\'t feel the need to experiment with the wash, I just stick to turbo\'s or wines and meads that I don\'t like "as is". My main focus it learning enough to improve the purity level, with an aim to eventually have the kit to produce 95.6 or is it 96.5 % ABV spirit. At those levels, anything that might "enhance" the taste/flavour etc is only going to be present in such minute quantities as to not be worth worrying about..

Is tomato paste the same as tomato puree?

Yep,

I use the small tin of concentrated tom puree, I do like this one although it\'s very slow to ferment. I have read that using epsom salts do speed things up.I\'m supprised that you can get the bakers yeast to ferment to this level %abv, my experiance has been around 12% and it poop\'s out.

I have just mixed up my first Tomato paste/sugar wash after putting it off for so long.I had a day off work and while in town with my wife was walking past the local Bulk foods store(bin inn type) and decided to have a look see.Grabbed a few things anf decided to put one on tonight.

25L wash made up from-

5kg plain sugar

250gm tomato paste

1 teaspoon epsom salts

40 ml lemon juice(freshly squeezed)

100gm brewers yeast

Seems easy enough,excited about the potential.Has a starting SG of 1070.I am just waiting for the temp to come down so i can pitch the yeast at 30-35 degrees,used too many jugs of boiling water to dissolve the sugar-note for next time if there is one.
So far,with the buying of these items today the cost is around $18(including 5kg plain sugar)Obviously the next time i will only be buying the sugar as i have enough of the other items for another.When buying my usual from the HBS the cost is around $24(this is including 7kg dextrose).So depending on the quality and quantity i get from it i will then decide if i will be using again.

will keeps this thread updated if anyone is interested......

may have cocked up with brewers yeast,after a bit of reading i was supposed to use a bakers yeast instead.should have had a quick read before i started it,Brewers yeast is actually dead yeast full of nutrients,bakers yeast is the alive/dormant yeast which i should have used,oh well,scooped what i could from the top of the wash,and sealed the lid,will pick up a jar of bakers yeast from the shop tomorrow morning before work,luckily i know the local store down the road has this,and hopefully by tomorrow night it\'l be bubbling away,hopefully.Only my second cock up since i started making my own spirits too....

hi marc, im sure we\'ve all cocked up a few times but we dont all admit it on here, hehe, its all about experimenting and enjoying this brilliant hobby,
cheers, hoppin

Put about 75gm of active yeast into the wash this morning,racked into another container first though as the brewers yeast had settled in at the bottom,anyway got home tonight and shes bubbling away nicely,not as much as i would have expexted but its goin!!So relieved....The lid is still just sitting on the fermenter at this stage.Will update as she goes.

Still bubbling away this morning,Gave it a quick stir and sat the lid back on.SG 1040

update-Still fizzing away,gave her a stir up and lid back on-SG 1010

update,Gave her the daily stir up,SG 0994,sat lid back on.day 4.If it goes below 0990 it will be the first ever wash that has for me.

Your yield will most probable be lower I would assume. Is the lower sugar so the yeast can handle the sugar. Could your try 6kg of sugar and up all the other ingredients?