my rum

[RumJohn]

Hey googe: Try this - do your stripping run. No packing and wide open.Accumulate a few runs of low wine and do a spirit run. Again, no packing and no reflux. You dont want it for a rum. Should come out around 80% ABV. You dont want to get over 90 but if you have any control try and keep it nearer to 80%.

Filtering. I dont filter anything. Shouldn't need to if you distill it properly from a good wash.

When done, take it down to 40% or whatever, let it breath for a couple of weeks then get it on wood.

Kick arse for a couple of weeks so you can get ahead of consumption. I have some rum over 3 years old and still on wood.

[googe]

Hey John, thanks for the advice mate. I don't have packing or do strip runs as I have a plated column, one of the reasons I built is so I don't have to do strip runs again lol. Why do you say don't go over 90%. it starts off around 93%, and stays on 90% till it hits tails. The main problem I have is I drink to much of it and never have enough time to put lots of washes down lol. I've got 2l on chips now for a.couple of weeks, tastes pretty good so far.

Cheers

[RumJohn]

Hi Googe: Major storm and been off line for a few days. You asked:"Why not go over 90%?" I dont like to go over 80% for rum. Reason is you lose the characteristics that make it a rum. Over 90% and you have a neutral spirit with minimum taste and flavour. It's becoming a vodka or whatever. I use the same sugar wash to make rum, gin and vodka.

The difference is in the spirit run and the way I configure the still. For vodka I triple the length of the column and run it an hour to equilibrate before I take anything off. And then only take it off slowly. Rum I push so the flavours come over.

I do not need to filter my vodka. It take 2.5 times as long to get a liter (96%) but it is very clean. The rum is clean also, but has some taste.

Hope that helps. JC

[googe]

Hi John, hope everythings ok after the storm?. that makes sense using a reflux/pot still, I'm guessing that's what you have?. Your right about having flavor carry over with them type stills at lower abv. It's different for me with the plated column, I get full flavors at 90~93%, that's the joy of owning one. My still is pretty much a rum only still, unless a add more plates then a can do neutrals.

[RumJohn]

Hey Googe: Did you build your still? What is the hourly output? Any pics? Still cant see why you cant accumulate some product.

Yes - storm is over and no damage. We are into the rainy season now. generally only have damage in a typhoon which we may or may not get.Thanks for asking.

[googe]

Hi John, glad you didn't get any damage. Yeah I built it, it's in the build your own part on this site. Output is about 1.8~2.2lph.

[emptyglass]

Still cant see why you cant accumulate some product.

He's a thirsty fella, ol' Googe. And his rum must be pretty good.

[googe]

Its been pretty crap really empty lol, cant seem to get the right mix or aging I like, not that I ever have enough to age haha. But I did discover something good on the weekend, ive been aging some in about 20g of oak chips in one bottle, way to much!!!, tastes like bourbon yuck!!. But the other bottle had about 5 small chips in it that had been sitting for about a month, didn't like the flavor again and there was some neutral sitting beside it and I thought hmmm. So I put 60/40 rum/neutral add omg I love it!!!!. I ended up drinking nearly 2 liters over the weekend haha. Don't tell the missus . So yeah I think ive discovered my fav new drink :-).