Will a newbie be impressed with the T500?

[MrCat]

For making neutral spirit with the least hassle, the t500 is hard to beat.

For making spirits that rival (or beat) the top commercial brands, there are better choices than the t500.

It's not as clear cut as that. It would be better to say

For making neutral spirits to be flavoured with essences the T500 is hard to beat

For making flavoured spirits without using essences a pot still is potentially better.

There is no guarantee that with a pot still you will be able to rival (or beat) the top commercial brands as it is down to the end users expertise in making the wash, skill in running the still and knowledge of cuts etc. You might get lucky first time and make something that it better than commercial stuff. But the chances are that you won't - and it might take quite a while before you do.

Have a look at this thread on Artisan about how people rate their own products

http://www.artisan-distiller.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=3887&start=0&

[Capt-Cudellez]

+1 on everything Mr Cat said there. Its definitely not as clear cut as that.

All I was suggesting with the keg was you could run a column other than the t500, on a boiler other than the T500 to create your neutral to add essences to, and the extra volume is great if you want to try pot stilling, or even just use it as a stripping still further down the line.

Unless you know exactly what you want to do when starting out, like "I want to make a single malt whisky" then essences are a great way of getting tasty drinks in a short period of time.

I run a vapour management (VM) still on a beer keg to produce neutral, that if I added essences to would work as well as the T500. I usually use the neutral to make gin, which I do with my T500 boiler and a pot head.
The VM has also made nice potato vodka for sipping and lots of silver rum - you could do this with a T500 too.

[MrCat]

+1 on CC.

25 litres seems like a lot when you start but after a while you find it is quite limiting.

As you are in NZ I'd suggest maybe getting the T500 to start but planning on selling it and getting something bigger made (or making it yourself) at some stage in the future - if/when you get hooked.

[Damo]

Hi Guys,

It's been a while since I posted last, I have been sick! Anyway, I am still doing my research and still wish to buy a T500. I did see the 'Pure Distilling' still online which they certainly rave about and call the 'most advanced' but aesthetically I find it far less attractive and their videos are... well... let's just say they put me off! Has anyone used one?
Any advice re: T500 vs. Pure Distilling?

Another question, there is one place I found who offer an upgrade price to go to a copper condenser instead of the usual T500 condenser. Is this advised? Seeing as the T500 one has copper in it anyhow, is it necessary?

Right now to tie me over on the 'home brewed drinks front' I have started some mead (which is bubbling furiously right now) but I am itching to make some spirits!
I will start with flavoured neutral spirits and I think I would be keen to make a pot still head for the T500 when I wish to move on.

Cheers,
Damo.

[billmcc]

Hi Damo imho the Pure Distilling still sounds like the better option
check this

http://aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic ... ing#p28470

[Jedmau5]

I've recently had the dilemma of choosing between these two stills and in the end I have opted to go for the Pure Distilling one. Mainly because it sounds less fiddly to get it working, made of copper and has no perishable parts.

I will be buying it in a few months. Want to get my money's worth out my air still first

[Damo]

That's all a bit suprising to me. After watching their (Pure Distilling) videos online and watching the T500 videos I though the opposite. It appeared much simpler to run the T500.

Maybe they really just botched the videos at Pure Distilling from an 'explanation' point of view?

Cheers,
Damo.

[Damo]

Ok, I bit the bullet! I bought a T500 today and the first wash is I the fermenter now. I went up the road and got some spring water for the wash and have just finished setting it up now. Can't wait to get it into bottles!

Thanks for the advice along the way guys, I appreciate it.

Cheers,
Damo.