StillSmart

Hello. I have just completed ( I think ) my first stripping run.
I used the kit that came with the still, alcotec triple. 6kg sugar 25ltr water etc. it took a couple of extra days but my brew cupboard is a cool 21c. But steady. I digress.

I put the 4l in the still and I have collected around 2 litres and the combined abv of this is around 30%.

As I'm stripping the wash is there benefits in running It further. I.e greater volume of lower abv

I have read and keep re reading the mozr chart and guide, and I am lost. Why stop the stripping run @ 20% and then water 50% down to 30% when you can keep collecting the strip wash and use that to make the 30%?? I realised what I was doing was not following all the advice I'd read but didn't have the knowledge to stop myself. So now it's done I thought best to ask before I do the rest of the wash

Second question I have for now, is what do you do with the heads from the spirit run?? I understand ditching the fores as they contain the nastys. But the head baffle me still.

Thanks in advance

Hey Dirty,

Welcome aboard! If I understand your question(s), you want to know why you can't just continue running the stripping run down past 20% collection instead of stopping earlier and diluting?

Well, from my experience, it is a matter of preference. Once you collect to about 20%, the time it takes to continue to distill is not worth the return compared to just diluting with water. You could continue to run it down further but it will take longer for very little alcohol content. As you will see aidanmac's guide collects to a total abv of 50% which is about 1350 ml and then dilutes whereas mozr's guide collects a total abv of 30% which is about 1500ml. It really is up to you.

Your second question regarding heads...Some people collect all the heads in a jar and once they have about 2l, they treat this with baking soda (optional) and run this as a seperate heads run. I've done this and the result was a very clean tasty spirit. Others just add the heads back to the next stripping wash to bump the abv a little. I've done it both ways and now I find it easier to just add it to the next stripping wash for a abv bump as I tend to run ujssm and sweetfeed washes which have lower abv than the sugar washes with vodka star that you see in the guides.

Sorry for the rambling answers. I hope that helps.

rhinus

Hello Dirty epic,
The reply from Rhinus was pretty complete;I think most would do a separate heads run,and put the tails into the next strip,as would I,but do play with your new hobby,and see what works for you.
I usually collect to 10% on a strip,a balance has to be made of electricity versus alcohol.
This may become more important if you move away from sugar washes to say a rum type wash,where you may want more flavour to come through.

Not wishing to insult you, but do some more reading here,there is a wealth of information on this site.Folk here wish to help.
Before I joined the forum,I read every post on it - I still go back and re-read
The search window is a brilliant tool.
I have only recently realised that in this age of Google an answer,and get it instantly,and expect it as a right,Newbies often p$ss off Oldies by asking the same questions,time after time,when the information is already posted.
It even goes some way to explaining some of the the awful responses on that awful other site.
Which shall remain nameless.
Sorry if you feel this was a baptism of fire,not intended,something on my mind that I wanted to express,sorry that it happend on your post
I look forward to you drinking your first home produced spirits,and enjoying them.
And yes,welcome aboard,the more,the merrier!
Robert.

robert wrote:I have only recently realised that in this age of Google an answer,and get it instantly,and expect it as a right,Newbies often p$ss off Oldies by asking the same questions,time after time,when the information is already posted.

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I'm old and do not get pissed off too often.

I can appreciate the enthusiasm of a someone who wants to try out their new still for their first stripping or spirit run. There is so much information out there - sometimes unclear, sometimes contradictory which can make the unknown and untried a little daunting.

After a couple of runs all will become a lot clearer and the information and advice will start to make some form of sense. But until that happens, I and others here are happy to help when we can. I believe that is what makes this site a little different to the "others".

I often see posts similar to this one about "why do we stop collecting at 20%" or for a reflux "why do we stop collecting at 60%". Remember that the figures quoted are the output strengths of the still, to get these relatively low figures the contents of the boiler are extremely low in alcohol, virtually water. To squeeze out the last few drops of alcohol from the still you have to throw a lot of heat at the still. The other reason is that at this point of the run you are into serious tails which stink and taste foul, some people collect them with the view of cleaning them up later with a spirit run, I take this opportunity of throwing them down the drain.

Toodlepip

Brian

I think I am in the same camp as YHB. On the pot still I collect the heads and tails to be reused in various ways.

With the reflux still I discard the heads and I don't even bother to waste the energy to collect the tails. As soon as the hearts are finished I power down and throw out what remains in the boiler.

I strip to no less than 10%. It is cheaper to ferment a new batch than it is to try and get out the last few traces of ethanol.

When I use the glycol boiler to strip I only go down to 20%. The glycol is a huge heat store, so at 20% I switch off the power, put an empty demijon under the condenser and leave the condenser running. The stored heat then strips out a bit more as it SLOWLY (and it is very slowly) cools down.