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Airstill gin basket (sputnik build)

PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 10:46 am
by Mash
I have made Odin's gin a couple of times now. I have no real issue with it except ...

The gin seems to go off quickly if I make a 4 L batch. Ana the Juniper concentrations (quality of berries) seem to make a tremendous difference to the finished flavour.

It would be nicer to make smaller quantities of different flavoured gin.

Has anybody thought about putting just 2l in an Airstill and suspending the botanicals above it.

Thoughts please...

Would it work? Is it already been done?

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 3:05 pm
by hampk
I've thought about it, Mash. I only make a litre at a time so it's a bit less of an issue for me as it doesn't hang around when it's in the bottle.

The problem would be, I think, fabricating something that was sturdy enough to withstand the turbulence on the bottom of the still while not being able to use the rim as a hanger because of the seal. Unless you could contrive a ring with a second seal that sat between the lid and the base.. hmm...

Cheers

Hampk

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 4:34 pm
by chill
I make 2L of gin in my still all the time. I'd rather not say how often, but it does not go off... ;D

I've thought of how to make a gin basket, or rather have tried. The only two workable ideas I had was to put some sort of wire stand in the bottom to lift the botanicals above the liquid, or to run a thin wire though the outlet and hang it from that.

But there is no need to run the still with a full 4L, I have run it with less than 1L. I used to make gin one bottle at a time.

Chuck

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 5:14 pm
by wormwood
Mash wrote:I have made Odin's gin a couple of times now. I have no real issue with it except ...

The gin seems to go off quickly if I make a 4 L batch.


Does your recipe include a fixative - angelica, orris, etc?

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 6:04 pm
by Mash
Fixative... I use grains of paradise but seems to be not quite enough. Perhaps I am being tight and not putting enough in.

Contraption I had thought of was a sieve with 3 Legs. Top of sieve just below lid.

Has anyone had any success with this method?

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 6:48 pm
by chill
I think you are the only one I have heard refer to grains of paradise as a fixative. A flavouring yes, but you are certain they function as a fixative?

That contraption is what I had in mind, and in mind is as far as I have gotten.

Chuck

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 5:04 am
by Easydrinker
I am liking this idea of jumping on a random/hijacked piece of kitchenware and putting it to use.
Grain's of Paradise?
Emperors new clothes as far as I'm concerned,Money best spent on more Juniper berries.

Robert.

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 5:57 am
by Mash
Stainless steel legs have been ordered from Ebay.

GOP - i am sure i read somewhere about it being a fixative. hmmm.

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 5:20 pm
by chill
GoP are an excellent change from black pepper on food. Not just for gin! :)

I did a Google search for them used as a gin fixative and came up empty, but I did not go too far down the page.

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 9:31 pm
by packapoo
Mash wrote:Stainless steel legs have been ordered from Ebay.

GOP - i am sure i read somewhere about it being a fixative. hmmm.



Sure it wasn't laxative? ;D

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 1:43 am
by Easydrinker
I may be wrong, but consider my latest gin to be not so good due to GOP.
I certainly found the versions before GOP to taste better,
But that is taste, subjective and not objective.
Ain't it great that we all disagree?

Robert.

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 7:20 am
by Mash
Easydrinker wrote:I may be wrong, but consider my latest gin to be not so good due to GOP.
I certainly found the versions before GOP to taste better,
But that is taste, subjective and not objective.
Ain't it great that we all disagree?

Robert.

Do we need a fixative with little flavour impact then?
GOP seems to add a depth of flavour but maybe surpreses the high notes a little.

Laxative. Lol.

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 6:40 pm
by chill
Angelica and Orris Root are the traditional fixatives, I am sure there are others. Both add flavour but it seems to go well with the Juniper so I have been satisfied with them.

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2015 7:49 am
by Mash
Thanks chill.
Do I need to add one or both and how much per liter please?

Re: Airstill gin basket

PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2015 4:46 pm
by chill
I use both, mostly as I originally started with the ingredients listed on Bombay Sapphire. I believe either one will do. I use a small pinch of each for a 2L gin run (2L of 50% neutral into the still, makes 2 x 750ml bottles when run, cut, and diluted).

Chuck