StillSmart

Now that\'s just showing off, lol, oh how I dream of getting a super reflux

Hey hoppinmad,
Vodka star has arrived so I am about ready for the next test. I gather that there is no need for carbon in the wash?
Do you still use a 2 part finning to clear it?

hi lyonacre,
yep thats right, mines just finished at 0980 best yet. no need for carbon in the wash at all, left it bubbling 5 days at around 24c and its done. then i add alcotec finings and its ready wjthin a couple of hours. n.b. the finings says to rack off before fining but i never bother as you will have to rack off once cleared anyway to degas. it will still be a little opaque but this doesnt have that bad smell and it distills very well i.e. minimal noise and clean spirit

@hoppinmad, do you think using the Still Spirits Turbo clear would pose any problems??

Hi Andy I will answer you question because I’m here anyway, I found still spirits not quite as good as Alcotec finings but more than adequate, it will do the job don’t worry.

Thanks bluecap, I figured it would be ok.

Its just my local brew shop doesnt normally carry the Alcotec stuff, he has ordered the Vodka Star as a favor.

Hi andy,
I completely agree with bluecap and you can get your vodka star on ebay easy enough
Cheers, hoppin

Hi all,new to this forum,great info.Just a quick question,When re-distilling do you add your for example 7-8l of 40% spirit back to the still and top up to mark with water?Have only made 3 batches and only distilled and filtered them once each time,getting 3.5-3.8L @ 89%abv using SS turbo classic and 7kg dextrose.I have an Essencia Express Still and an Essencia Filter setup.

Hi marc83 and welcome,

Personally I add spring water to my distillate in a clean measuring jug, I wouldn\'t put it back in the still as you may pick up some of the nasties you\'re trying to get rid of. Excellent ABV tho
Cheers, hoppin

Yeah i thought i had done well,trying to hit 90%,will be content when i do.You may have misunderstood what i meant,was meaning do you put your distillate cut down to 40% back into your cleaned out Still?So it is just water and your distillate,not the old wash.

I may try spring water to cut the spirit down though.using the Essencia carbon filter it says its not necessary as it filters the water as well as the spirit.

Cheers for your thoughts hoppinmad

Thanks for the info Hoppinmad. Looking forward to the Vodka Star.
Can\'t remember if I posted anywhere but I am use Ellie-Claires brewshop on Ebay. Her prices seem OK and she is really helpful. If it\'s not listed drop her an email and she gets it - still seems cheap too

Update on Vodka Star.
Hi,
OK I have mad my first Vodka Star batch and the report is as follows:

Fermented out in about 3-4 days kept at a pretty constant 26

ABV was about 12% at end

Smell during fermentation was a lot sweeter.

Wash seemed settled after 7 days but was quite cloudy so stirred it up an put alkoclear in. Didn\'t make much difference so racked it and started anyway.

Air still was fairly quiet and spirit still had a smell, not as bad as triple turbo. ABV was about 68

Ran through silly carbon filter (the one that came with the still) and pretty much all of the smell went.
Fairly pleased with result.
QUESTION - is it worth putting finnings in or should I just have used as was??

hi lyonacre,

i always use finings to clear the wash as much as possible, i believe that most of the impurities are tied up in the sediment and if it is in suspension when you distill it will release back into the spirit and affect the smell/taste
hoppin

You will also notice a big difference if you get a largish funnel, some coffee filters, and a bag of activated carbon. Wash the carbon to get rid of the dust and filter through that and the coffee filter instead of the silly plastic thingy. Probably the cheapest improvement you could make at this stage, obviously fancy filters and homemade pipes are better yet but that\'s cheap and easy for now, those teabags are just too small.

Oh for teabags! I have got those stupid carbon disc things that clamp between 2 foam washers!! Not only are they blocked solid part of the time but they work out quite expensive. Filtering is next on the list.

I was considering a rechargeable caravan water filter. Given they are good for 4000L of water I am guessing they will do quite a lot of spirit and the refill pack is a fiver.
Any views?

http://www.filtapac.co.uk/econoflo.htm