Difficulty making cuts

[bumblebee]

I am trying double distilling for the first time. I have done the stripping run and now doing the Spirit Run. My problem is telling when the tails start.I can tell the difference between the fores, heads and hearts. I kept 1000 ml for hearts and have collected the next 500ml in 5 separate jars of 100ml each and I can't tell when the tails start. I have smelled them jars so many times! Haha
If anybody can help here that would be great. Thanks

[Icefever]

Hi..

Think "Wet cardboard"....."wet dog"....you'll soon pick it up....don't rush it.

[bumblebee]

Is it a very subtle difference? Do you think I should have collected less than 1000ml for the hearts?

[chill]

It can be subtle when it starts but it quickly gets not so subtle. Yes, you may have collected too much as hearts and missed the start of tails. You can always combine them, dilute, and try again!

[Easydrinker]

If you can't tell tails on smell, then taste ought to do it, it does for me!
Just ensure that you taste at a percentage that you might normally drink spirit.

Robert.

[gaza the instructor]

Did you air the spirit overnight, I know
this helps me.

[bumblebee]

thanks for the replys. I going to reduce the hearts to 800 ml and start my 100 ml collections there. I haven't let the samples air overnight only for a couple hrs. I will try that.

[Frank]

mate
tails will typically feel oily/greasy when a little is rubbed between your fingers....
also, dilute a bit 50/50 with room temp water and it will smell different to hearts, for sure....
on top of all that, an alcometer should give you a fair idea, as the abv% will obviously decrease (and continuously) as tails are reached ...

[gaza the instructor]

Its all good practise bumblebee.
If you have a cock up and your
doing neutral, just start again.
When you start doing rum etc you
will have your experience on
neutral to fall back on.
Crack on your doing the right
thing

[Easydrinker]

Just loving the good advice given out on this site, from and to all quarters of the globe.

Robert.

[bumblebee]

Thanks everybody. After a couple runs I got the hang of it.

[Easydrinker]

Thanks everybody. After a couple runs I got the hang of it.

Sweet,happy for you.

Robert.

With hindsight this shade of green should be banned!

[Mash]

Shocking. I would have a word with the administration about it!