StillSmart

Hello all,

So please be gentle since this is my first attempt at making any sort of spirits, although I do know how to drink them.

Just to give you all some background on what I have done.

I started with a sugar wash using Alcotec Vodka Star. Yes, it is a turbo yeast and I don't really plan to use it again, but it came free. I added the liquid carbon to it (also free) and after 7 days, the SG dropped to the point where I knew it was good to go. Added the clearing agent (also free) and after 48 hour (left it longer) it was clear but a little milky. This I understand is normal.

Now, since I didn't buy or make a distiller yet, I borrowed a friends EasyStill and have been in process of working some... ehmm.. magic. 4 Litres of wash, after heating for an hour, I get the foreshots coming. Smell vile. I take 50 ml off and put into a jar to be used to clean windows (reuse it anyway I can) and then collect 1 L of 'decent' stuff. Discard the rest. The ABV of the 1 L collected stuff is 48%, so I use 750ml alcohol and 150ml water to dilute it to 40% ABV.

So far, so good. Now, I know that it is 'drinkable' at this point after I carbon filter it. I was thinking of taking 4L of my spirit strip and running it a second time.

My question, after this long post, is after seeing the post on best practices with and EasyStill, the person collects 9L at 30% ABV and reruns it. Would it be OK to do 2 runs of 4L each at 40% ABV ? From that, they collect (after dilution), about 4.4L of 40% ABV that has been double distilled.

So, is it ok to do a second distillitaion using 40% ABV or should I cut it to 30% ABV ? Since I already cut the foreshots during the first run, do I need to do it again ? Should I carbon filter before the second distilliation or after ?

Although it is my first try at this, I'm kinda happy that things are working out well. I do plan to get myself a T500 reflux unit, but want to save up for it, Too many renos to the house.

Thanks for all your patience !

Combat Smurf

HI,and welcome.
In a nutshell,yes you can do a spirit run at 40%,although 30% will probably help with the cuts.
Carbon filter after the spirit run.
I'm afraid you have mucked up a bit.
The way you ran the first 4L means the 50ml discarded will have contained some fores and some heads.
The litre you collected will contain some heads,which will help produce a headache in the great majority of people,and some hearts, you may just have escaped the tails.
The wash you used should yield just over 6 litres of 40%ABV finished product,after roughly 150 ml fores and 750 ml heads have been accounted for,during a second distillation.
I suggest running the wash (if it is not already used up) according to the guide,throwing your litre in with the strip and doing a spirit run,with cuts.
If you have produced your 6 litres,dilute it and do another distillation,with cuts.It really will be better.It is safe to assume that you dealt with the fores.
If you are left with an odd amount for the spirit run,eg 9 L,then do 3 x 3litre runs,the timings of the first will help with the others,but adjust volumes collected accordingly.
I hope that helps.
Stay safe.
Robert.

Nothing wrong with vodka star at all - makes a lovely wash in my opinion .

Definitely don't use carbon in it though !! It's not a true "turbo" in that it takes a week plus to ferment out so you don't get much in the way of off tastes in it.

If you want to use an air still (and they are really very capable units to learn with) then definitely have a read of the guides on here .. they are invaluable.

Double distilling is the way to go with air stills ..slightly less product much much more quality !

The reason that you cut it back down is two fold .. one the more water that is in it the cleaner it gets .. .ie. watering down produces a better product. The other reason is that above about 57% alcohol is extremely flammable .. would you fill your air still with petrol and switch it on ? Pretty much the same thing !!! 40% gives you a nice safe margin .. and safety is a very very good thing !!

Iain

Actually, just to clarify things up a bit on what I did (I believe I may have mucked it up):

1) Made the Wash with Vodka Star Yeast
2) Ran 4L of wash, collected 50ml as foreshot and 1L as spirit (48% ABV). Did this 6 times
3) Diluted the total 6L of spirit to 40% ABV, effectively making it 7.2L.

Now the plan is to do as follows:

1) Dilute the 7.2L of 40% ABV to 9.6L of 30% ABV.
2) Second Distill 4L of 30% ABV and collect 250ml as Heads, and 500ml as Hearts, then keep collecting 100ml Hearts until it no longer seems good. Do this 2 more times
3) Mix in the 100ml amounts to the 500ml amounts as I see fit, measure alcohol content and dilute to 40% ABV as necessary.

Hopefully this will 'fix' the messed up process I did. Any one care to comment ?

Combat Smurf

It is a little late here for me to check your math,(I assume you are doing 3 x 3.2 litre runs),but yes, your proposal will get you back on track,and produce a safe and decent tasting spirit.
And as Iain mentioned,on this site Vodka star and other "turbos" are not regarded the same way as on some others.Here it is more a case of "whatever floats your boat",as long as you do it safely.
Happy distilling.
Robert.

Cool !

Thanks for the help guys ! I'll post what the final results are after I'm done.

Truly appreciate all your help !

Combat Smurf