StillSmart

I was in a bulk foods store today and saw powdered potato starch.
Can this be used.
What is the best way to convert to sugar.

Thanks

@ Jimid: Not worth the effort and the mess. Potatoes do not produce a clean enough ethanol anyway.

Yes indeed RJ. I have tried it many moons ago. Sugar is too cheap and two easy.

Thanks.
Cornstarch would be the same thing i would guess.
Better to use cornmeal i would think.
Does the corn meal have to be cooked and are enzymes needed,

Yes and yes. Unless you are trying to make Bourbon, that is just a lot of annoying work to get ethanol to distill.

I am intrigued.. What are you trying to make?

not sure what i am going to make yet. any ideas? LOL

@jimid: Start out with a rum. No mess, ingredients are easy to access, very simple process. With rum you have a lot of latitude. All the while you will be learning how your equipment works and responds to various changes.

And if you cock it up by some remote chance - it was relatively cheap.

jimid wrote:not sure what i am going to make yet. any ideas? LOL

LOL. Brilliant I really over thought what you might be doing.

Ideas: Depends on what you want to drink. Perhaps try a kale wash neutral you can then flavour it.

What do you drink?

Globally there are many sources of sugar (Carbohydrate) to ferment, to then distill.
Depending upon your location, size of wallet and the desired result, it really is down to personal taste.
Unless you have time to kill, a surfiet of potatoes, and are struggling for cash, DON'T do the potato thing.
It will work, but there are generally better alternatives.

Hats off for the experimentation bug biting you so early though!

Robert.

Hi all

I tend to jump into things quickly, not overly sure if thats a good thing but not going to change my ways now. LOL
I usually drink rum or whisky/rye,
And many beer.
The Kale recipe sounds interesting. does anyone have a proven one.
Rum sounds good to. Any good recipes.
I have a cornmeal brew going now for about a week now. Not sure if I cooked the cornmeal long enough. the recipe I used said there was no need to. But did it anyways for about 10 min. Time will tell when the bubbles stop.

Thanks again. Jimid

Here you go..

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3874&p=34986#p34986

I have also just updated.

jimid wrote:Hi all

I tend to jump into things quickly, not overly sure if thats a good thing but not going to change my ways now. LOL

Don't change, jumpers make things happen, this world needs more people jumping

Robert.

In response to the spud comments, while it may needs extra processing (not unsimilar to whole grain), if done properly potato spirit can prove to be award winning.

You've only to see the results (and cost of a bottle) from the Chase distillery to learn that.

But as has been alluded to, cheap source for the spuds is necessary, as well as the extra process kit.

Let's face it, it's ALWAYS down to the numbers. The reason why a lot of vodka is from grain is the buying power and relative efficiency of the "big boys" (bulk purchase, futures etc). Not withstanding the levels of convertible starches as well.

The cost (both time and money) of the extra processes makes sugar the best value for money for the small producer i.e. us. A few have different reasons for choice of fermentables (RJ being a good example).

Me? I'm just happy with the cost, ease and convenience, simplicity, etc of using sugar..........

Phantom wrote:
Let's face it, it's ALWAYS down to the numbers. The reason why a lot of vodka is from grain is the buying power and relative efficiency of the "big boys" (bulk purchase, futures etc). Not withstanding the levels of convertible starches as well.

The cost (both time and money) of the extra processes makes sugar the best value for money for the small producer i.e. us. A few have different reasons for choice of fermentables (RJ being a good example).

Me? I'm just happy with the cost, ease and convenience, simplicity, etc of using sugar..........

Well said that man, most home distillers are simply looking for a low cost neutral spirit.

Don't forget to put into the "big boys" number crunching the fact that they can sell by-products that we throw away, such as Acetone, as they produce these on an industrial scale.

Robert.