Measuring Alcohol Percentage of Cuts

[singlemalt]

Hi Folks,

I'm new to this. Many times I see instructions such as "Collect until 30%" or "run down to 20%".

How do you arrive at this percentage?

Do you take measurements with an alcohol hydrometer in 100mL intervals (or whatever increment you use for cuts) and continue collecting distillate until the % for a particular cut hits what ever percentage you have decided will be your cut off point?

For a stripping run, do you just collect in one large vessel and measure the overall %?

Thanks,

Singlemalt

[Almanac]

You need a Parrot to do this properly. Many plans/instructions how to build one hereabouts. Search/learn/enjoy

AM

[Easydrinker]

Hi singlemalt,
I suspect Aidan's answer may be a little brief for you.
A parrot may be of help,myself have not yet bothered to make one,I'm still using a trial jar and hydrometer,it works,just a little more time consuming.
Yes,when you read "collect until a certain percentage",it is just that,the percentage coming off at that point.
The distillate starts at a high percentage,and gradually falls to zero.
As regards strip,I usually collect in two alternate jars,measuring volume and percentage alcohol,before pouring into a single vessel.
With a pot still,the strip will start at about 65%,where you stop is a personal choice.
I stop collecting when it is between 10% and 5%.
The combined strip is then around 25 or 30%.
HTH,and welcome to the forum!

Robert.