Better than nothing??

[MalvAlv99]

Got a new idea I would like to run past you lol

Just to point out though, I know the only way to ever do it properly is smell and taste, not through ml's, but the reason I went for the airstill in the first place was ease of use. Plug and play and off you go. The way I'm distilling now is still by the SS manual apart from I get rid of the fore shots. Anything has got to be better than that hasn't it?

I really like the Mozr way, put its just the time and effort required, which I can't spare

I suppose this is not really an idea, it's just taking off exact millimetres instead of tasting/smelling it.

So as per Mozr style, 25 litres wash >> 9 litres of stripped wash. Spirit run - 50ml dumped >> 250ml heads thrown back into the next wash >> 500 ml hearts >> 400ml tails thrown into the next wash with the heads. Next wash diluted to 30% if needed and off we go again.

Edit: just realised some tails are added to the hearts, so a straight 700ml would be collected in stead of 500ml. Or maybe 600ml.

I know every wash is going to be different and I'm probably not going to win any awards for my vodka but surely sticking to these measurements time after time will give me a better result than just sticking to the SS way???

Just would be whole lot easier for me like this, plus the ability to add a timer to the airstill based on previous runs.

Any thoughts

[John51]

For the best 'lazy' spirit from an airstill, I've found that using a power controller is the way to go. Takes longer of course but it doesn't need a babysitter. imo if the airstills were supplied with a 170w heater, the HBS would hardly sell any carbon.

[Frank]

Hi MalvAlv99
if you are particular in relation to double distilling and only collecting a prescribed quantity of 'the hearts' for consumption, then you shall be a LONG way to a desireable product for sure.
IMHO, the wash used (particularly the yeast and the nature of its fermentation 'stress') does play a major role here, but of course its your call .....
Personally I would recommend, at the very least, you air the final 'hearts cut' for a couple of days and then let it settle/mature before consuming. After that, if there are any 'harsh, mouth-bite' tastes (usually heads-related) or 'off/stale flavour' tastes (usually tails related) you may wish to reconsider your next spirit run cuts accordingly.

[MalvAlv99]

Cheers for the replies folks.

TBH I find the SS way perfectly drinkable with coke, I just know I'm drinking a few undesirables

I have a double turbo and a TPW on the go at the minute so may as well try running 4 litres of stripped this way, see if I notice much difference.

Another thing as well, am I ok throwing the heads back in to the next wash instead of collecting for a separate heads run? I can't see why it wouldn't but thought I'd check

[John51]

One thing that occurred to me was setting a higher budget per bottle of spirit and not caring about the cost as long as it came in under that budget.

A bottle of 40% can be made for about a quid but getting better quality takes more time. If very conservative cuts were made in a 'less time' way and a bottle of much better 40% cost 2 quid, then for a busy person the extra quid might be a bargain.

[Frank]

Cheers for the replies folks.

Another thing as well, am I ok throwing the heads back in to the next wash instead of collecting for a separate heads run? I can't see why it wouldn't but thought I'd check

Mate, I have asked a similar Q on 'a few' forums....
what I do now (after all opinions considered and many tried), is to reuse pretty well all collected foreshots/heads for 'the next' spirit run.....my driver is to NOT put anything into the drinking collection that is 'pre-hearts'. This works for me.

[MalvAlv99]

Cheers Frank.