Air Still distillation breakdown

[chill]

I usually end up at > 30%. Aidan has said that you get better separation of the distillate at 30% than running it at a higher ABV. That said, I have run it at up to (I think) 45%. It is not the end of the world. You DO need to make adjustments to how much you collect as you have more alcohol in the 4L, you will have more coming out. The easiest is to just collect more small jars at the start and end. I collect in small jars after the standard 250ml heads and before I start collecting hearts. I sample these after airing and some go in the heads and some I keep as hearts.


Chuck

[mozr]

I think if I put my wash in kettle I would be divorced quicker than you can say 'visitation'.

[cascas]

Just waiting for my wash to finish before my first run!

Am I right in reading that on the stripping run, all of the first 1500ml is collected, i.e no initial foreshots are discarded?

[chill]

Hi Cascas,

Yes, that is correct. Take the foreshots off in the spirit runs.


Chuck

[Almanac]

If you leave the cuts until the spirit run you'll find that 50ml foreshots and 250ml heads will more than cover any smearing that might happen and you'll be left with much cleaner hearts.

AM

[cascas]

After a spirit run tails are collected.

Should these tails be put back into the stripped wash (ready for a spirit run), or into the next wash before the stripping run.

to what alcohol % should the tails be collected?

[Almanac]

On the Spirit run, once I've made the cut at the end of the Heart I always let the still run on until the ABV reaches down to 20%. Not much point collecting below that. The Tails are then added to the next wash for stripping.

AM

[BB88]

Hello, first post here!
I got a Still spirits 4l kit for my birthday, first mash was the triple distilled.
I have to say, I was very disappointed, it was like drinking soapy vodka and not for me. I compared the product with the guy at the homebrew shop, and his was the same. Oh well, live and learn.

Then I found this site, and this thread in particular, and I want to say thank you for the info here!

I produced 25l of strip at 40%, and am currently following the advice at the beginning and am turning out some absolutely delicious stuff around 82%.

I did try the SS whiskey on the first (disapointing) batch after cutting it to 40%, and ok, it was an 'ok whiskey drink' but even that has gone cloudy!

Anyway, thanks again, I guess I'll hang out here for a bit, and when I have a stock of fine spirit, I'll be looking for something to do with it.

[billmcc]

Hi BB88 if it was the still spirits smokey malt whisky it does have a tendancy to go cloudy i get round this by adding the essance at over 50 abv then dilute down to 40 abv
Cheers

[BB88]

Thanks billmcc I'll try that next batch.

Just dug out the empty and it was indeed the Smokey Malt

[mozr]

Glad to see you are getting on with it.

The best whiskey is using oak chips in my opinion. Well, unless you want to get into barreling anyways.

One litre 40% ABV, 100grams JD oak chunks, two weeks. 3-5ml of maple syrup if you are that way inclined. Filter and bottle.

Heaven.

[MalvAlv99]

I was just wondering if there was a reason for keeping the heads for a separate run. Could they be thrown back into the next wash with the tails?

[Almanac]

Heads need to be treated separately because of the high level of volatiles in it. Adding to the strip is not recommended

AM

[MalvAlv99]

Cheers AM.

[KerryW]

i am working on my 2nd turbo was and am running it as mentioned above,
This one is working good but I dont have a test vessel for the alcohol meter to get 100ml samples.. I am using 200
I will be refining this practise soonest, can't wait to see how the "heads" run turns out,,
OH and I won't be using the turbo washes after this one,!!!