FIRST EVER USE OF THE T500. MY EXPERIENCE

[Flybynight]

Hi, yes I think so anyway! I did my first run into one bucket, throwing the first 200ml. Then cut to 30%ABV then ran it again but making cuts.

[Easydrinker]

Yes, you have got it sussed.
Have a few more goes and discover that initial trepidations are foundless.
Read what you can, do what you can.
Have fun.

Robert.

[Thunderbird]

I'm very much a novice too, coming to the T500 after the Airstill. However, I wasn't disappointed with the AS results because I found this forum first and double distilled making the cuts as advised. So why get a T500? Because it took about 3 nights to distill the 24 litres!
But I still use the AS for making gin with botanicals and I think it's a brilliant piece of kit used in conjunction with the T500 so I definitely won't be getting rid of mine.

My last wash was a Vodka Star made with 5kg of sugar. It fermented in a week with no nasty after tastes and I didn't add any of the carbon junk to it, but I did use Turbo Klar finings to clear it.

I double distill so on my "stripping" run I got 3.4 litres at 91% abv. This I diluted (using filtered water) to 30% and did a spirit run discarding the first 150ml of fores. I then collected 5 x 100ml of heads (the last 100ml being blended back into the hearts after airing. I also collected 200ml of "tails" in 50ml pots but couldn't detect any real difference to the hearts so I blended these back in. Result was 2.6 litres @ 94% abv making 6.5litres at 38% (miscalculated the dilution slightly) to which I added 1/2 litre of previous neutral. Ran the whole lot through EZ filter just to see what difference filtering made. I don't think it was really necessary but it did seem to polish the neutral a bit making it slightly smoother.

Of the 7 litres I ended up with, so far I've used 2.2 litres (+800ml of filtered water) to make a dry gin in the Air Still (the rest is awaiting the next gin runs). I drank the first 50ml (so as to prevent any louching of the final product) and collected down to 40%. This gave me a total of 960 ml at 65% which I diluted with 0.49 litres of filtered water to give me 2 x 700ml bottles of gin at 45% abv. The gin tastes fantastic not only to me, but to friends as well. I think it's easily comparable to some of the craft gins out there which, as a total novice to this distilling lark, I find totally amazing. However, I would not have got there without the help and advice of the guys on this forum, so a big thank you to all of you.

I'm keen now to add the alembic setup to my T500 and to try making whiskey and rum.

[Flybynight]

Cracking field report! Well done.
Unfortunately I don't foresee she who must be obeyed approving an alembic for me anytime soon! >:(

[gaza the instructor]

Dont tell her just buy one mate.
she may not notice, if like mine not
really interested either.

[Easydrinker]

Without wishin' to diss your SHMBO,
Have you tried pointing out that your very clean spirit plus a bottle of essence could produce her favourite tipple at a fraction of the cost?

Why should you not play with an Alembic head and try for real flavours from your washes?

Just sayin'

Robert.

[Thunderbird]

There have to be some advantages to being divorced, I guess

[Easydrinker]

I think that there are many...
I've tried it a couple of times.

There are maybe some disadvantages too.

Robert.

[Curmudgeon]

I think that there are many...
I've tried it a couple of times.

There are maybe some disadvantages too.

Robert.

LOL. It's easier for you than some of us. After all, you are good with your hands

[Easydrinker]

That has to be subtlest way of calling someone a Wanker that I have ever encountered!

Robert,

[Curmudgeon]

It was intended as a compliment >:D

[packapoo]

That has to be subtlest way of calling someone a Wanker that I have ever encountered!

Robert,

With some of the questions you encounter here I'm sure you'll be able to slip it in when needed.....