Experiment results with extending still time (Smart still)

[hic52]

Ok here is what happened:

Started with 14% mash (Vodka star) put 4L into smartstill, took off first 20ml then on to 800ml (60%) then up to 1.3L (45%) put water in till it came down to 40% which gave me 1.5L

What i didn\'t expect was the time it took!!

It took 2 hours to get from 800ml to 1.3L that was a real surprise so I estimate that if I carry on with the rest of the batch I will get 9L as against my normal 800ml topped up to 1200ml which gives 7.2L.
So I would gain 1.8L but at the cost of an extra 12 hours from the still making it not cost effective = Bugger thats a shame!!!
The taste surprisingly remained the same !!

[Phantom]

Someone obviously crunched the numbers well during development. Which, I\'m guessing is why it is/can be, sold as a \"system\".
You just add X, Y and Z at a certain temp, after H days you should have Q amount of wash, which when put into the still, gives the predicted result i.e. 800mls at approx 60 %
Though I will say that when I\'ve got my 800mls @ 60%, I then put the collector back and have got a further 500 to 1000 mls at varying strengths, but that just goes back into the wash bucket for redistillation later on......
I haven\'t bothered to work out how much extra energy is actually used but the reduced yeild, suggests to me that it probably isn\'t economically worth it.....

[optic]

Like Phantom said the Airstill is a well worked out bit of kit and does \"exactly what it says on the tin\",although we can have fun experimenting doing extended stipping runs and spirit runs the extra time and electricity used it does not really merit the slight increase in qaulity obtained.Which is why im saving up for a T500,although this time of year with bigger utility bills & crimbo draining the bank account it may take a while,time to go and buy the lottery ticket I think....lol

[hic52]

Ha Ha good luck with the lottery been doing them since it started on a standing order so have now accumulated £30 towards my T500 - yep would love one, until then will have to just go on with the airstill, at least its better than buying vodka and adding the flavourings.

[Phantom]

Well I look at it this way, if making a batch of wash and distilling it etc, gets me 7.5 litres at 40%, then the actual saving is about £7 including the flavourings - if you take whatever it is you like as being £10 a bottle you\'ve saved enough from making 2 batches of wash to cover the cost of the still (air/easy still) so you\'ve only got to make 5 batches of wash to have made enough of a saving to cover the cost of a t500. I only make enough for myself anyway, but if I was gonna sup the results of 5 batches of wash, then it\'d be worth me spending the £££\'s....
It\'s either working it out like that, or buying a large pot of vaseline and getting down to your nearest red light area...... I prefer the former :-D)