Alcotec Vodka star

by **optic** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 1:33 pm

I started a wash with vodka star turbo 5 days ago and its going as well as the SS t/distilled (a lot cheaper to) it seems strange not to have carbon in the wash so i should think it will end up a lot clearer as i think that makes a big difference to the way it distills,im just doing the last run of a 25 ltr batch of triple distilled now and the last 4 ltrs i filtered it first and the run is a lot smoother with none of the usual rattling of the ceramic boil enhancers,im gonna try a second distilation for the first time what can i expect to get back from 4 ltrs @ 40%,am i right thinking about 2lts @ 75%?

by **Phantom** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 2:00 pm

You might get higher...... whenever I run stuff a second time, I often see between 80 and 82% with the table top still. it just depends on what you want i.e. you find out what the first part is, then decide on the cutoff, everything under that is retained, watered down to, say 40% and then run again, until you get as much as possible at the desired % ABV........

by **optic** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:41 pm

Thanks Phantom i am going to wait until i have run the wash thats fermenting now then there should be about 14 ltrs @ 40% for me to have a play with

by **optic** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:37 am

The turbo star fermented out to SG990 in 9 days, i put alcotec turbo klear in 2 days ago and it has not cleared very much at all,what has gone wrong?,as the triple distilled clears a hell of a lot within 24hrs,is it because there was no carbon presnt in the wash to start with (which i thought might end up with a clearer wash!) anyone got any idea,should i just leave it to clear or put some more turbo clear in?

by **HangOver** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 5:23 am

hi mate

i mostly leave my wash to clear for week, i try for teo but at least one.

You will be amazed how much more it will clear/settle from 2 days to say 4 to 7.

patience

by **optic** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:07 am

Hangover yes i do leave my washes to clear for a week,this one looks like its going to need two ,its just strange how the other turbos that use carbon clear quicker but i have noticed with them even after leaving it for a week i have put some of it through filter paper and the paper goes a grey tinge from the carbon,so think IMO carbon has its good and bad points when used in the wash.

cheers Optic

by **umpa** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:05 pm

I\'m not a fan of carbon in the wash. I have never been able to get it to fine out properly. At best the wash has a grey tinge to it. All that micro fine carbon goes into your still and releases the toxins it captured.
I always carbon filter my distilate anyway, so I don\'t use it.

by **optic** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:25 am

Umpa

I can see your point there i also put my distilate through a Z filter two or three times so am starting to wonder about carbon in the wash.

by **optic** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:49 am

I am running the vodka star wash now,very impressed with the result it smells a hell of a lot cleaner than the usual turbos,this one will only get one run through the Z filter,got a Alcotec 8 wash going now using 8.5kg of sugar should reach 20%,will be intresting to see how that runs as the general opinion is the higher the abv of the wash the poorer the end result.

by **trelliS** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:43 pm

Hows the alcotec 8 wash going am gonna try a vodka star wash and possibly the dual 48 turbo cos my spirits stock is getting low i would appreciate any comments advice on the best turbo yeasts to you with my easy still.Also after xmas a ss reflux still will be in place thanks to a chat with my friendly brewing shop owner nice cash deal.

by **optic** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:24 am

the alcotec 8 finished on monday it went down to a whisker under 990 so fermented ok,just racked it of into another fermenter today will run it perhaps next weekend or it will probably get left to the weekend after,also filtered the vodka star and a triple distilled wash that have both been run twice,have filtered them seperatley so i can mix a whisky with each one and compare them for taste ect (will post the result).

I am thinking about getting the ss reflux but am not sure wether i have space on my worktop to run it,quite a result if you have got a bit off the price

by **trelliS** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 4:00 am

Shame its gonna have to wait till after xmas .... thanks for your speedy reply and i look forward to reading your results.

by **optic** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:35 pm

just run 4ltrs of the alcotec8 got back 1.2ltrs @ 61%alc,will run the rest over the next week then run ti all again.

by **Phantom** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:03 pm

just run 4ltrs of the alcotec8 got back 1.2ltrs @ 61%alc,will run the rest over the next week then run ti all again.

well done optic, keep the results coming.......
ha! got a bit of time to dig around for prices at the moment as I managed to break my wrist last friday.....so typings a bit slow one handed but I\'ve got plenty of time...

by **optic** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:07 am

wondered why you have been quite on the forum recentley Phantom,thats a bugger with the wrist, bet that means a few weeks of work,plenty of time do do a few runs then..lol