StillSmart

H12rpo wrote:Thanks for the wisdom fellas. I'm leaning towards a T500...... am I right in thinking that if I almost exclusively want to produce whiskey, the alembic or pot head is preferable over the reflux column?

Yes. Reflux version for neutral/vodka, pot head and liebig condenser for flavoured spirits like whisky and brandy etc........

Yup,
What Phantom and yourself are now singing in harmony.


Robert.

The only trouble is that the columns are so damn sexy!

Next question.....the grainmaster and the T500 boiler/bases seem to be the same. And they?

To borrow a line, "sex and drugs and Rock and Roll, is all my body needs"
I an still trying to understand if you want a specific product, or an experience.
Many ways to achieve both.

Robert.

I'm trying to work that out as well!

In a nutshell my intention is to produce whisky. ( as close to a single malt as poss) I quite like the idea of building a still but probably lack the skills and knowledge at this stage to do that. That points me firmly in the direction of buying a still and the T500 or milk can boiler type with an alembic head seems to fit the bill.

At this stage I'm still reading lots and getting to grips with the terminology etc.

Good luck with the research.
For whisky/Whiskey you do need a pot headed still.
On a small scale an air/smart still will work
Have fun!

Robert.

Hello everyone.
For my first post I just thought I'd say thanks to everyone who's put in the hard work that makes all this possible to newcomers like myself. I've been lurking around for about six months now, staying quiet and reading as much as I can from all the veterans here.... you know who you are, I don't need to mention any names. I've produced some pretty good neutral and I'm now ready to move on to the next stage and make something with some flavour! Who knows I may even start posting some questions...

Cheers!

A very warm welcome to you Third Man.
I did pretty much the same as you before I "came out".
As you can see, we are a pretty friendly site.
And you have read your way around it to a satisfactory neutral, good for you.
Ask the questions that you need to for your flavoured washes, but I suspect that you already have a pretty good idea of what to do....

Robert

Good Afternoon Folks

Thank you for allowing me in!

Timberwolf

Welcome Timberwolf,
You know lots about us, I will patiently wait to hear about you and your stilling preferences.
Enjoy

Robert.

What a great forum this is.

I decided to go for an Air Still last week, bearing in mind that I'd seen many forums dismissive of them. Although ultimately I'd like to run an Alembic still and aim for decent whiskey, I knew that space restrictions, not to mention the cost, I'd be foolhardy to rush straight in.

I was following the well known videos from Richard Blackwell as his store is quite local to me.

Halfway through the first wash, I stumbled on this forum yesterday, when searching for advice on bad egg smell. I'm not popular in this household right now

I'm very glad I found this brilliant forum, and so great to see positive and enthusiastic contributors who are in no way snobby about Air Stills. I will of course now be double distilling - any thought of reading the supplied instructions has gone right out of the window - although I am going to proceed with my first (and last) wash that's full of carbon and used the SS Turbo Yeast. That'll be remedied next time.

I'm still working my way through the threads, there must be several books worth of advice here. A great journey ahead I think...

Nice to meet you ITMA. Yes its all here and more.
They are a very friendly bunch and talk distilling
sense.
Have a read through the Air Still section especially
Best Practise Guide, its brillo advise. Have a look in
the recipes section, some of the washes may seem a bit
weird, but they all work.
I think most of us started with an Air Still, some
have moved on others not. I know Mash still uses his
to great effect,I still use mine and will never sell
it. It is a very good little still when used the
correct way.
Good luck and enjoy, speak to you soon.

Welcome indeed ITMA.
Glad you found us.
Read the Airstill section, as far back as you can find time for.
If that doesn't answer your questions then ask.

Apart from maybe using the airstill to make yoghurt, I reckon the answers to all your potential questions are already posted

Robert.

Thanks Easydrinker and Gaza - oh I have been reading the entire forum - no work done today

Fantastic, understandable and pragmatic advice all the way through the forum. Glad I found it in time before doing the first run!

I'll report back and I'm sure I'll have lots of hare brained questions...

All the best!

Hi ITMA, welcome to a great little forum. I don't get on here much, more of a voyuer but I have to say the folks on here are alright. All have a slightly different way of doing things but it's normally sound and hard earned advice.

I've recently got hold of a T500 but still use my AirStill for the Gin spirit runs. I love them both for what they do as they do it well. The Kale wash I'm new to. It's good and clean but I'm having mixed results on the output, but thats for another day.

Only adice I can offer is: Sit back, read, try stuff out, read again, try stuff out, read...