StillSmart

Spanish Brandy ( as in 'real' Spanish Brandy) - I feel cheated

It is a taste issue. Tried it with vodka, and home made neutral, and cheap french brandy. They all tasted different and the Spanish Brandy (Tesco) works best for us.

I don`t mind it made with neutral and less sugar - but it is a very different product.

I have to say sloe gin with reduced sugar is lovely. I might have to try this. 'Prestige' Spanish brandy?

that would definitely be a cheaper option lol

Mash wrote:I have to say sloe gin with reduced sugar is lovely. I might have to try this. 'Prestige' Spanish brandy?

Not exactly Prestige, but not the cheapest either. Brandy de Jerez. It just works well with the sloes and also with damsons. Now if I could find somewhere that sold it in bulk it would be worth it.

Myles wrote: Brandy de Jerez. It just works well with the sloes and also with damsons. Now if I could find somewhere that sold it in bulk it would be worth it.

I have a bit of brandy, but I may have to trip to Tesco so I can try this. Thanks Myles.

Had a dry run (although water was involved ) with my cooling water recirculation for the T500, at max ran at 2L a minute, with my power controller hopefully it will all balance out nicely.

At 2 litres per minute you’ll get through that barrel in less than an hour. When running my T500 the water comes out of the condenser quite warm.........what are you using to recoil it when it goes back into the barrel?

Still Spirits recommend 2 litres per minute as unfortunately there copper condenser is very inefficient, I'd be very interested to hear how you get on with the recirculating of the water.

H12rpo wrote:At 2 litres per minute you’ll get through that barrel in less than an hour. When running my T500 the water comes out of the condenser quite warm.........what are you using to recoil it when it goes back into the barrel?

Apologies, I should of made this more of a question than a statement.
from reading the instructions included, 2.5L per minute at 18c was quoted, so I thought 40L at UK 6c, keep an eye on the temp, and then if need be, throw in some frozen water filled plastic milk cartons.
Will this have any chance of working?

cheers

It looks like you've done the hard part so give it a spin, the frozen milk containers sound like a good idea.

Trying something new to me today.
Running a spirit run through my reflux column, I took off the Fores and expected heads, and switched it off.
I need to sleep.
Usually at this point I would leave the still to chug on through the night.
Being all electric, with the boiler and cooling fans on the same trip switch, I consider this safe enough.
I am just curious to switch it on tomorrow and start collecting what should be hearts from the start....
Got to try something new once in a while

Robert.

jonx69 wrote:

H12rpo wrote:.... and then if need be, throw in some frozen water filled plastic milk cartons.
Will this have any chance of working?

cheers

I have tried similar. I gave up. What you need is to keep everything in balance. Input water temp continuously fluctuating will force you to chase you tail. The ice will not melt either quick enough or evenly enough. Consider salt.

I guess you dont have water supply to hand, better solution would be a length of hose.

Mash wrote:I have tried similar. I gave up. What you need is to keep everything in balance. Input water temp continuously fluctuating will force you to chase you tail. The ice will not melt either quick enough or evenly enough. Consider salt.

I guess you dont have water supply to hand, better solution would be a length of hose.

Strange, reading that 2 litres a minute is now recommended. I'm wondering if they redesigned something because I'm sure that the instructions that came with my T500 stated a flow rate of 1 litre per minute as the set up, then tiny variation from the needle valve to hit the desired temp.

Originally, I used mine from mains but they put us on a water meter, so I'm planning on using water drums (got 3 X 205 litre ones), tandemed together which should allow it to do a full batch. Whether it will work or whether I need a 4th one (got room for a smaller IBC (euro pallet sized 600 litre one, but they're rarer than the 1000 litre ones), I'll have to get it set up and try.

I figured pump from the first one and run the outlet to the 3rd should do the trick but that's only worked out as cig packet calculations.........

I reckon 615 litre would work. If you chlorinated it occasionally (squirt of Bleach) you could re-use it for ages.