Newbie Experiences = an anti-guide

[Curmudgeon]

1) Buy 2nd hand smart/air still off ebay. I did OK on this one. It is the 320 watt model for alcohol and not the 800 watt water purifier. I didn't get a plastic container or idiot instructions.

So far so good (those of a nervous disposition should look away now. Those who remain are encouraged to facepalm but not openly criticise much more than twice per point).

2) Test said 2nd hand beastie with turbo wash even though you have no spirit hydrometer or carbon filter. (actually this wasn't too bad, I never intended to drink it. I had it lying about and I wanted to check timings against what's mentioned here). Heads are burny, whole lot is vile smelling and tasting (yep I tried). Poured down sink as drain cleaner.

Did I mention it isn't a good idea to read this if you like our hobby done well?

3) Re-test said beastie with a vile wow (worzel's orange wine) that no-one would drink as it was funky. Garbage in, garbage out. Single distilled, kept for if the day arrives when someone I hate must be entertained (mother in law already dead).

4)Free up 23L fermentation vessel. Pop in 5ish kgs of sugar, half a can of allinsons yeast and some nutrient, leaving plenty of room for the advised explosive start.

5) Get excited about making some real stuff from a sugar wash started on day of purchase of smart still some 5 days ago. It bubbled like hell for 2 days, then calmed and kinda bubbled for 2 more and is starting to clear.

Suck syphon to start to rack and it's sweet as hell. Pop beer/wine hydrometer in and it's at 1040. Damn. Think man! OK, so had no FV's spare and it's 3 demijohns with roughly 0.8kg sugar in each, 1 spoon youngs multipurpose yeast and 1 spoon vin classe nutrient. It's only gone and run out of nutrient you idiot!

6) Check cupboards for useful stuff

7) Go to supermarket for red lentils

Prepare lentils, put "some in demijohns to re-start the stalled ferments and the proper amount in the FV for the main new wash.

9) Realise the extra 2 litres + lentils does not give the required head room in your FV

... to be continued

[Icefever]

If most of us on here wanted to be honest with ourselves, we've all started off in much the same way.

At the start of my journey down the road into stilling, Mrs Ice & myself did indeed drink "varnish remover"....add enough coke and you don't notice it...

The mention of WOW took me back a few years back to a forum, where WOW was something to be revered....I must admit I wasn't one of the converts.

" Garbage in, garbage out".....very similar to our battle cry of "crap in crap out"..

Well done young padawan.....you will feel the force in time...

[Mash]

make it stop

[Easydrinker]

It would be unfair to criticise a newbie, their enthusiasm is usually boundless, often gets them into scrapes, and sometimes out the other side
In a more helpful vein, I will say splish and splash and involve another DJ.
And more yeast,lots more yeast,

Robert.

[Curmudgeon]

Sorry, been really busy. 1st lentil wash is racked and being de-gassed. Roughly 19 litres and smells beautiful. The 3 rescued demijohns have also been racked and are being de-gassed.

I have young's wine finings I could use for clearing and I'm tempted as I want to get the still running asap, but on the other hand I'd like to keep things as pure as possible. Thoughts?

[Mash]

Pure.
A Spirit wash is different to making wine. Lots of yeast and temp. Done quick. Get the alcohol and get done. As soon as the ferment has finished. Cold crash. Get the yeast to settle out. Still it while a little cloudy.

[Icefever]

You'll get a mixed response on this...I use to clear my washes in the early days..but not now.

I just let time do it....I know you want to get started with it, so go for it.

It won't do any harm, folks have been using finings since Adam was a boy..

[Curmudgeon]

I live in an apartment so it's pretty much 21 degrees everywhere all the time. I can't heat up (except with a belt) and I can't cold crash.

I guess if the wine is ok with finings, the liquor will be too.

edit : I have to say that the lentil wash made with allinson's yeast smells fabulous. The other made with brewers teast is ok but nowhere near as nice.

[gaza the instructor]

Bread yeast is good and cheap, it does a good
job. Only trouble is, when you go into Tesco's
and put 12 tins of Allinson's and15Kg T&L
into the trolley with nothing else, you
get strange looks from all the other shoppers

[Curmudgeon]

LOL, I am very used to buying a load of booze and some junk food. When younger we frequently did the prank of having a load of booze and some chocolate and then some baby food and nappies, then pretending to not have enough money so not buying the baby stuff.

Edit, I make a load of "turbo" cider/wine, and 24 litres of juice and a few kilos of sugar has a similar eyebrow raising effect.

[gaza the instructor]

Know where your coming from.
I have built up a large amount of kit over the
last 2 years. Would never sell my Airstill though.
If you like gin its perfect for the job.
Some great recipes on here, and build
yourself a Sputnik. That's the way for gin

[Easydrinker]

Nah, essences are the way to go for Gin.
When I find time to play properly, I will report back.
One reason to look forward to the long winter evenings, there has to be one...LOL

I do like to run a simple Juniper steep through the Smart Still as a basic starter though.

Robert.

[Mash]

I do like to run a simple Juniper steep through the Smart Still as a basic starter though.

Robert.

While you are doing that you could have been done (with a sputnik)

[Easydrinker]

You have to keep a little tradition alive there Mr. Spaceman!
Well, I do.

Robert.

[Mash]

Good point.