StillSmart

After some time searching the forum I could not find a thread detailing this.

I did however find a couple of threads mentioning dementia at previous failed attempts to find it. Perhaps I never wrote it, so here it is again.



This is also related....
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4249&hilit=stripper+cabinet

If I can clear enough space in our chest freezer I might give this a try.

Do you rack it off the sediment first or freeze that too?

freeze that too.

Bigging up my top dog Mash here..
The man has come up with a Bonza method for reducing time and effort for strip runs. Espcially for those with a smaller still.
Do I have to remind some of you, that it isn't the size that matters, or so the ladies tell me, but what you can actually do with it?..

Robert.

This, and the linked stripper cabinet thread, is wonderfully informative. And seeing the word "trug" used in action is a bonus.

I don't own a chest freezer and my mind is currently picturing one atop a sturdy platform so I can siphon out of it without lifting. I'll do my best to forget the image, it has an unhealthy aspect.

The confusion about what proportion of water can be frozen out is clarified with a phase diagram. Wikipedia has one - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phas ... s_l_en.svg

Dropping to -20°C leaves 70% of the liquid as unfrozen water. Lower temperatures are needed to get more ice. I don't think chest freezers do that.

Have you considered a hoist ... just kidding.

To avoid lifting I think a undercounter freezer might be MUCH better.

If it helps, I am getting success at -15c

now this is an eye opener !

so basically, all i do is brew my usual vodkastar and then just drop it in the chest freezer for a few days until its almost solid and then just empty it out?

when i run it through the t500, do i water the alcohol down or just run it as it comes out of the bucket?

regards

I would suggest checking that it is sub 30%, adjust if needed, and run.
Mash is a modest creature, but I would suggest that this is the single best thing that he has shared with the stilling community.

Robert.

If you have a T500 you could freeze 2 x 25l fermenters and run in one go. But now freezer space required though.

Just wishing to say that Mash's Sputnik was a good idea too, just IMHO not as good as saving all that time on stripping runs.
Put me back on the xmas card list mate.

Robert.

Yeah .... Ok .... you are on the Christmas card list !

Just a thought on space. Those people who have a fermentation cabinet based on a fridge. Just change it to a freezer - not more space required - it will do both jobs.

Hi Mash.

Thanks for directing me towards this post.

This has now really changed my thinking as to whether its now worth buying a T500 or not. Doing it this way will save me a hell of a lot of time, and money if I stay with the Airstill.

So I just make wash, clear and then stick the fermenter in the chest freezer and freeze for a few days. Pour off 11/12 litres of 'strip' and then do the spirit run. Is this then run through a second spirit run .

I'm hoping to make a lot of basic neutral so that close family and friends are supplied (friends that keep quiet ) throughout the year.

We have a chest freezer and I have a few of the wide mouthed fermenters. I know that if I did buy a T500 I would get pretty much most of my money back on it if I decided to sell it but its just the fact that I could do 1 distillation in the T500 compared to nearly three in the Airstill.

What it boils down to really is, is it worth £400.00 to save a few hours on distilling or should I stick with my Airstill and spend a little more time enjoying the process.

I don't think you will save time. Running water needs you to pay attention.

I run my AS on a timer. Fill it. Hour later take the heads off. Stop at 30%.
If you refill when hot you save about 45 mins on the next run.

.... maybe get a second AS. Then you have 700w 1 litre per hour @40%. Happy days.

Also consider a parrot and a webcam - watch it on your phone

PS always use copper/coinage in the bottom.

PPS once you get the hang of it, the enthusiasm for running water disappears.. never to return, least did for me.

Thanks for the reply Mash.

I sat here for another hour or so and contemplated whether or not to go for it, and I did in the end. Like I mentioned earlier, if it doesn't get the use I can always sell it on.

Fantastic info on the freeze stripping though. I did see some posts on it a few years ago about making something called 'Apple Jack' using the same method, and remember good old Seth Armstrong in Emmerdale doing something similar with homemade wine . Will definitely be giving it a go though, mainly to see if there are any differences in taste and smoothness.

Thankyou.

Good on yeah. Better to 'have a go' than wonder what if.

The freezing does seem to help neutralise. Do not know why but have done washes that should have flavour and they are neutral. All my neutrals seems very neutral, when other people mention a tang.

2/10 I must try harder