StillSmart

Pinched this from another thread as I just wanted to pass comments on them without hijacking a thread

aidanmac wrote:Basic rule of thumb: Uncleared wash contains suspended solids. Those solids will add off flavours and unpredictable effects when heated in a still and will definitely NOT add anything desirable to your spirits. Therefore, the clearer you can get the wash before putting it in any still the cleaner, more pleasant the spirit you make will be.

Airstill: I've used an Airstill for almost three years and offer these observations;
1 If using an Airstill, and you want to make a good quality spirit for your own use, never use any yeast pack that requires the inclusion of carbon in the wash.
2 While you can run the Airstill with a dirty wash (uncleared). the downside is, don't expect anything great from it.
3 If you want to get the best quality product from an Airstill you MUST clear the wash completely.
4 The quality of what you get out of an Airstill is directly proportionate to what you put in the still.
5 You can drink what comes out of an Airstill after the first run but it really isn't clean enough for human consumption. Quality is only achieved by second distillation and filtering through a serious Activated Carbon filter.

Here endeth the Soap Box for today - I feel better already!

AM

Number 1 - The quality is ok imho, yes what you advise is probably better (I bow to your experience on that front, but I feel that the product from the SS turbo yeast/carbon is acceptable.

Number 2 - I agree with this, and I certainly wouldnt attempt to use dirty, my only question was does a wash clear on its own given time

Number 3 - see my answer to number 2, I wouldnt be cutting corners time wise, I just heard mention of washes clearing themselves, and just wanted clarification.

Number 4 - I think this has to go without saying, and ultimately I guess time, experience, and the ability to listen to advice will help ascertain how to improve that side of things

Number 5 - This is the point I really disagree with, its perfectly acceptable, if far from brilliant, its certainly producing drinks that I can drink without worrying about going blind, and it produces drinks that are more than acceptable flavour wise.

I accept that serious filtering, and double/triple distilling will make a huge difference, I think your comments are based on your known results from the actions you describe, but I dont think you should dismiss the 'SS way' as it makes the hobby accessible to all, in an easy fashion, and they can move onto the better methods as when funds, or time allows.


Finally, please dont take my comments as dismissing your experiences, as ultimately thats where I want to be, but I see too much that the 'SS Way' isnt drinkable etc, and it clearly is, yes it can be improved relatively easily, but that shouldnt detract that you can make a perfectly acceptable spirit as a beginner just following that method

Yes, most washes will clear on their own if left long enough.

Chuck

shawry99;
If you're prepared to drink stripped wash from an Airstill then you go for it! I'm certainly not trying to tell you not to.

What I described is best practice, based on long experience, for the benefit of those who want to get the best output they can, from an Airstill, rather than just cheap booze in a hurry.

Everything posted is factual, i.e. You can drink what comes out of an Airstill after the first run but it really isn't clean enough for human consumption. Quality is only achieved by second distillation and filtering through a serious Activated Carbon filter. This doesn't mean you can't drink it - it just means that, based on my experience and knowledge, not just opinion, you shouldn't drink it.

The Airstill is a good basic learning still and I still use mine. However it is basic and it is quite inefficient at distillation and compared to a proper pot still the inefficiency is huge - hence the absolute advisability of second distillation which will deliver comsumable quality spirits after filtering

Among efficient commercial pot stills I have never come across even one that only distills once before putting product out for consumption and there's good reason for that. You can be sure that if it was OK for a distillery to put a product on the market after a single distillation they'd all be doing it.

Read the posts of experienced members here who run large, highly efficient pot stills and reflux stlls. You'll find they all strip the wash (first run) then collect distilled spirits (Spirit Run). We don't do that just for fun we do it because it's essential.

What I posted is designed to help those who want to get the best from their Airstill to do so. I get many PM's from members asking how to do this very thing so I decided to post the info in the open.

You are at liberty to ignore that information and drink whatever you want.

I don't make rules here, I only pass on tried, tested, trusted and accurate information rather than just opinion.

You're entitled to your opinions though and entitled to post them here too.

AM

Well said that man I guess we all want to rush at first but in this game slower really is better

wasnt about rushing tbh, its the fact that people say that its not fit for consumption.

TBH, I think thats misleading is all, I would agree whole heartedly with 'double distilling and using a proper filter will create a much better end product, but Im clearly still alive, and enjoy my product atm, I know it can be improved on, but Im not in a position to do that just yet.


EDIT: I dont wanna knock the advice, as every single point is a good one and valid, apart from the fit for consumption part, thats a subjective point of view based on experience of the much better quality product you can create through double distill and proper filtering.

Both sides make valid points, certainly you can drink the wash before you've even distilled it (if you like headaches) so any form of distillation is an improvement. I think we're all agreed that there are different levels of experience and expertise involved and results can vary - my first run before I started this site, I used the plastic jug and the little teabag filter and I was over the moon with my results because I had nothing to compare it to. Now I sniff disdainfully at commercial spirits and mutter under my breath about them being too headsy until my other half tells me to stop being daft!