StillSmart

As a newbie, first wash just started with SS Triple distilled, can anyone explain the difference between the SS Triple Distilled, the Alcotec Triple Still, and the Vodka Star?

The alcotec triple, seems similar to the SS triple with activated carbon? Which yeasts required the addition of carbon in the wash?

Any help greatly appreciated/

I have never used the Vodka Star, but have heard good things about it. Myself, I'd avoid anything that needed carbon in the wash. I think the best advice is to loose the greed, forget the turbos, and go for a lower alcohol wash that results in a much nicer product. Google "DWWG" or "tomato paste wash" for some good ones. The DWWG wash is almost nice enough to drink like a white wine!

Chuck

If you don't want to go into recipes Vodka star is the best general purpose yeast I've come across

Sorry to bump this.

I've noticed that a lot like the VS, could people clarify if they use it without clearing?

VS, 6k sugar?, 2 weeks and Im done?

Im assuming it clears itself sufficiently then? and its easy enough to know that point its fine to siphon off?

Don't run VS without clearing but it doesn't need to be crystal. In the Airstill I always found you get better results the clearer the wash was.

VS will clear in timer once it's properly degassed.

When ferment is finished I degass a couple of times before racking off to a clean container then leave it to clear completely - couple or five days.

AM

I just use a couple of teaspoons of sparkaloid and give it a couple of days to clear the worst

Sorry, when I said without clearing, I meant without using something to clear it, will it clear itself ok.

I am happy to use something, just I assume it would be the TurboKlar? (is that the right product?) IF thats what I need my local HBS will need to order it as they only stock the SS stuff really.

Any stock finings will clear it quite quickly
There's some other one which are more economical if you search the threads but turboklar or the SS stuff is fine

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