StillSmart

Hi All

I started to filter a couple of gallons of spirit in my Essencia filter, filled it up and went to bed. Next morning the spirit that came out of the filter was cloudy, but also the un filtered wine in the demijohn had went cloudy. After looking on this site and others I think it probable that its fusil oil. The wash was made with Vodka Star and run through a T500. It was clear until I opened it and started to filter it. So first Question can I re distil it and save it or is it down the drain. Second question how to avoid it again.

That can be a little disconcerting and the only experience I have had of this was caused by the water that was used to dilute the spirit before filtering. In areas with high mineral content and in particular Calcium Carbonate - Limescale.

I'd recommend re-distilling the lot and dilute with water filtered through a separate Britta type filter.

AM

Thanks for the quick reply Aidenmac, the water that was used to cut the spirit was bottled water.I used to use distilled water that I made with my Airstill to cut the spirit, but there was a offer, at the Co-op ,2l of Celtic spring water for 25 pence!

Typical Analysis

Calcium mg/litre 47.0
Magnesium 5.5
Potassium 10.00
sodium 65.0
bicarbonate 214.00
chloride 48.00
sulphate 35
nitrate nil
dry residues at 180 deg 350
ph at source 8.1

I will rerun through the still, and go back to my own water the only problem is I have about 7 Gallon that I cut with the Celtic water! whats that you keep telling us new boys Aidenmac "walk before you can run"! I have been beavering away making a little stash for the summer maybe got to far ahead of my self!

I doubt it was fusils unless that batch was fermented during a heatwave. I've bitter experience with fusils and the bad spirit was clear.

There can be a fair amount of minerals in bottled water.

Minerals are all likely to cause problems in diluting spirits and many have had minerals added. Spring water is sometimes better but you'd need to experiment to see if one particular brand is suitable.

Personally, I use water filtered through an RO filter which removes everything or, at a push, an under-counter tap filter that removes things like chlorine and limescale, etc.

AM

when I looked at one of the unfiltered demijohns of spirit it had a very fine layer of white sediment on the bottom, when I gave the demijohn a shake it broke up into a fine particulate. I would guess .its minerals in the bottled water.You live and learn.

Try increasing the ABV by adding some high proof spirit. I used to have that issue with the sediment, I now don't store it under 46%.

That said I haven't had this issue with my AG vodka that I keep at 40%. I have only made that twice though, and the sediment thing was never with every run I did, so who knows (not me )

I only use cheap generic supermarket bottled water to cut my product,never had a problem.
Sorry,that may seem of no help to you.
My opinion is not to blame your water,but hey what do I know?
But definitely do not put your product down the drain.
If it takes a re-distill,it has to be worth it,doesn't it?
You have come this far with it...........

Robert.

Thats interesting Captn-cuddelez, will try storing my spirit at 46% and see if it makes a difference

My tap water is medium soft and I use it for the wash and diluting. Makes the spirit cloudy for less than a minute then clears.

Have you tried your tap water? Often that's what the cheapo bottled water is.

John51 wrote:My tap water is medium soft and I use it for the wash and diluting. Makes the spirit cloudy for less than a minute then clears.

Have you tried your tap water? Often that's what the cheapo bottled water is.

Bottled water is most likely spring water or from an aquifer, where the bottler hasn't got a bottling plant.

if its called "spring" water the only real proviso is that its been bottled at source.

That still doesn't give you any clue as to what the TDS make up is.......

I'm in a medium/high chalk area so I've learned to only use tap water for the ferment (and not then if I've got enough RO water to hand). All letting down is done with RO water for second running and letting down for drinking.

I seem to recall that you can get a white, fine sediment from the activated carbon - dont recall where I read it though. I seem to recall that it was just run through a coffee filter/lab filter paper to remove it.

if there's any taste to is then just re-distill........

Luckyshot wrote:Thats interesting Captn-cuddelez, will try storing my spirit at 46% and see if it makes a difference

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If you look at the single malts, the non-chill filtered ones are all over 46%. Its apparently to stop sediment and long chain amino acids coming out of suspension (goes cloudy)
At worst it cant hurt if I'm barking up the wrong tree I don't filter so have no issue with storing higher proof.

I feel the need to make a few responses here:
Phantom,
I may be speaking from the wrong orifice,but believe the trace elements in tap water are beneficial to the yeasties in a wash?

Capt-C,
My understanding is also that single malts need to be over 46%,if non-chill filtered,to stop the haze.

Having goggled the source of my cheap bottled water,a Lidl's own,it comes from a site in Yorkshire,then given a Scottish glen name,but did have a chemical/mineral breakdown.
Just having no Chlorine and fluoride was good enough for me.

Robert.

I thought it was the water,it isn't. The problem is the carbon, I refilled the bottom filter in the Essencia without boiling the carbon,no good there are salts still in the carbon which react with the spirit and makes the spirit go cloudy.

Thats according to GS, I followed his advice on how to prepare carbon before using it as a filter. I put the carbon in a pan,poured boiling water over it, gave it a good stir, drained off the water and done this 5 times.Put it back in the Essencia, ran 1 gallon of water through it then filled it with spirit, guess what cloudy spirit!

Its not the water,I have gone back to using distilled water. If I don't put it through the filter its as clear as a bell,put it through the filter cloudy. There are a few things I can do, Sell the filter! buy a proper replacement cartridge, or prepare the carbon properly. I think I will pour boiling water over the carbon, and boil it for a couple of minutes and see if that helps, if that does not work I will buy a new filter and try that.

But I am coming to think in the future I will probably double distil, there are no quick ,easy ways to make a good product unfortunately.

Regards Lucky.

When I prepare carbon I do about 5 rounds of: boiling for 5-10 minutes, let settle for a minute off heat, pour off most of the water, wipe the black residue from the sides of the pot, add water, stir, and pour off most of the water three times. It is a bit of work, but the results are crystal clear filtered product.

Chuck