Airstill Whisky

[amaark]

I have a Smartstill / Airstill and am wanting to try a DME based Whisky.

I don't like peated whisky and as such was looking at unpeated.

Has anyone tried this before, does the double distill rip out all the flavour. All / Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

[billmcc]

Hi amaark i have used LME and even after double distilling it had loads of flavour that required mellowing with oak.the biggest problem was puking if your having a go try 3.5 ltr of wash in the still two caps of anti foam and a spoon of butter not forgetting the little boil enhancers.
let us know how ya go
Cheers
ps i bumped up the wash abv to 12% with sugar

[amaark]

Thanks Bill,

It will be early Oct when I give it a go, will post back after a bash.

[chill]

I had the same results as Bill. I may triple distill next time. The strip run sure can puke!

[Frank]

@aamark
make a quality wash ie using a decent 'mash and sparge' grain bill and with a quality yeast too.
Then LME/DME will add little other than to the FG ABV%.

Next, collect your strips (puke aware) to a very low ABV% (ie lots of 'tails').

Then, if possible, do an even SLOWER spirit run....in the best fraction, the malt/grain flavours will come through and hopefully not too much 'sweet' from the DME....after maturation.

[amaark]

Well that's it I've gone for it.

6kg of DME in a 34l wash.

According to all the info I have found and read this should ferment out to approx. 10%.

I'm going to strip down to approx. 10% then using Harry's Glenmorangie method do a narrow cut recycling the tails as I go to each spirit run to keep the flavour in the distillate.

I have got some Med Toast French Oak to sit in it. I haven't got a clue what to expect. Good, bad or indifferent this is my first attempt at a none sugar wash and the experience and learning will be worth it.

I'll try to give a write up at the end for information.

[Easydrinker]

"I haven't got a clue what to expect. Good, bad or indifferent this is my first attempt at a none sugar wash and the experience and learning will be worth it."

Expect something good,sounds good to me.
Wishing you great results.
Robert.

[Frank]

@amaark
expect that your end product WONT have that cloying sugarhit mouthfeel/backnote.....

A slow, double distill will be fine, providing there's care with fractions/cuts and NO carbon.
Suitable MT oaking will provide a slight maple/soft finish at around 65%ABV maturation.
Add a min of 3 months later.... enjoy!

[Easydrinker]

amaark ya bugger,
You pushed me over the edge,
25Kg heavily peated malt ordered.
I plan to do it the hard way,8% washes,cultured Mauri yeast,etc, as close to an Islay as I can do it.
It has to wait a few weeks,work trip getting in the way.
Robert.

[amaark]

Go for it big man.

Keep us informed on how you go.

[amaark]

OK, so things don't appear to be going to plan and I'm in need of some help.

I aimed for an SG of 1.075.
Working on the understanding that fermentation is is complete with an FG of 1.000. I should have a wash abv of 8.5%.

That was the theory anyhow, the reality is as follow's.

Actual SG 1.066.
Current Gravity 1.016.
Current abv 6.45%.

The current abv doesn't bother me, the current gravity reading does and it has been stuck there for 2 days.

The question is, has it stalled, has it finished, can it be distilled or is it a lost cause.

I've not had this issue with sugar washes and this has been fermented in the same conditions. All advice is welcome.

[billmcc]

Hi Amaark i would say its done its hard to get the fg to 1.010 mine was finshed at 1.014 degas the hell out of it and give it a go but be puke aware
cheers

[amaark]

Thank Bill,

I'll give it a go tonight. I've got 8 3 litre water bottles lined up to shake the hell out of it.

[amaark]

DME Single Malt (using an Airstill)
The Wash
6 kg Dried Malt Extract
30 gram Bakers Yeast
34 litre Wash Volume
SG 1.066
1.5 week fermentation, Room temperature 19 to 21 deg C
FG 1.006
Abv 7.74% (SG-FG) x 129

Strip Runs
3l per strip run to allow for puking, collected to a volume of 1 litre. Due to work constraints I have to use a time based solution. (this was 4.5hrs) I have a 220v AC supply, this means my Airstill is operating at around 280w instead of the 320w with a 240v supply.
Managed to get 11 runs at 3 litres each. Final run was very cloudy but passed with no issue.
Stripped Quantity was 11 litres at approx. 22%.
Due to the constraints of the Airstill and wanting to follow Harry’s Glenmarongie Cuts I had to carry out a “spirit strip” run. Basically I charged my still with 3 litres of strip and distilled it, no cuts to an output of 10%.
This produced 1.40 litres at approx. 45%.

Spirit Runs
Using Harry’s guide I fully charged the still 4 litres - 60/40 with strip / spirit strip.
Again using a mix and match to keep as close as I could to the guide I wanted emulate I cut as follows:
Foreshot - 50ml
Heads – down to 75% ouput
Hearts – 75% - 60%
Tails – 60% and below
Heads and Tails from each run were immediately recycled into the spirit with the 60/40 being relaxed.
Final output was 2.00 ish litres at 67%

Aging
The spirit has been cut to 56% and is currently on oak. 10 grams per litre. It is taking on a beautiful amber colour with a distinctive vanilla smell.
It is my intention at monthly intervals to cut to 48, 44 and finally 40. The spirit will be left to rest at 40% for a further month before bottling and consumption.

Wrap Up.

Would I do this again? Certainly would. The output by volume is not large but the aroma is fantastic. Just because it's an Airstill doesn't mean you can't play with more than sugar and essence.

I didn't have a clue what to expect and I still don't know what the flavour will be like. From aroma alone it smells like an Irish Whisky more than a Scotch.

[Easydrinker]

Good for you amaark!
I am pleased you have a good result.
My sack of malt sits here,waiting.
I hope to get brewing next week.
Nice detail mate,and I hope that when it is ready to drink,it is all you would hope for.
Slange var!
Robert.