Potstilling Gin

[mikew41]

So I now have the Airstill and the T500....I'm using the T500 to speed the production of spirit and I want to try a batch of Gin. I've read a few of the recipes and I think I'm going to do the following.

Macerate the ingredients I choose in 2 litres of 40% ABV

Let it down to 4 litres of 20% and run it through the Airstill

With this method, should I expect the first 2 litres that comes out to be gin and bin the rest.....or will the lower production rate of the airstill affect my maths?

Cheers,
Mike

[chill]

Physics is affecting your maths. The initial output from the still will be in the high 70s (or more). You can't do this by volume any more than you can make cuts by volume. I'd collect in small jars, at least at the beginning and end. You will find the taste changes dramatically as the temperature in the still rises. It will start with sharp citrus and end with low, unpleasant earthy notes. Collect too much, especially of the latter, and your gin will be ruined! IMO 20% is too low. I would not dilute lower than 30%. I run mine in the AirStill at 50 - 55% (that is not a typo). As a guide, I distill 1.9L at ~50%. Of that, I collect the first 50ml separately in case I have added too much citrus peel, then 700ml as "good gin", and then about 4 x 100ml as "to be evaluated". My goal is 900ml of good product which dilutes down to 1.5L of 50% ABV gin. Yes, I like my gin strong. And I drink it straight or with a bit of ice.

Note that after collecting 4 x 100ml, I collect the rest, down to about 30% ABV output, as "gin tails" until I have 2L, then run the same as this to condense, dilute to 50%, filter, and re-use as a base for future gins (waste not, want not).

Chuck

[Easydrinker]

mikew41,IMHO,chill has given the best response that anyone could have given to you.
AFAIK he is the go to person on THIS site regarding an Air still/Smart still.
He has stuck with this small still,(and chooses to be with one,long after some other inductees on this site move on to other,bigger things.
He speaks sage words.

Robert.

And just to gently wind him up,he is not my dad!

[chill]

LOL It is not so much that I chose to stick with it, but anything more advanced is going to require some renovations that I have not gotten around to funding. I do have dreams though!

[mikew41]

Thanks Chill, wise words indeed. Physics was my duff subject at school, but it was that long ago they hadn't invented half of it.

Now I just need to work out the range and quantity of botanicals to put in....I have some bits in the garden I'm going to try....Lemon Verbena, Bergamot, Borage to name but a few. I'm also going to have a go at that Mare Gin which has Basil and Tomato leaves in. Should be fun trying!

[chill]

If you mean this by Bergamot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarda_fistulosa
I don't think that is what is usually used in gin (e.g. Bombay Sapphire). The bitter Bergamot Orange is the flavouring. Though the plant might be interesting too. Thanks for the reminder of Mare Gin, that looks like a really interesting one. My garden is overgrown with basil and tomatoes, maybe I have have a go at it too.

This is my basic gin recipe, to which I often add other flavourings (nasturtium flowers, lemon grass, lavender, eucalyptus, Bergamot, lemon basil, kaffir lime zest, orange water, rose water, saffron, and many others I have tried recently). It is also nice on its own, at least to my tastes.
1.9 L 50% neutral
1 - 2 pieces lemon peel, outer part only
5 g Juniper berries, the fresher the better
1.5 g Corriander seeds
Some combination or all of:
- 3 cubeb peppers
- 6 grains of paradise
- 3 black peppers
- 2 cardamon pods (more if not fresh)
small pinch orris root
small pinch angelica root

Grind/smash/crush all of this and macerate in 1L of neutral for 4 hours. Use the rest of the neutral to wash out your mortar and pestle or whatever you use to grind. Dump all in still, and proceed as my previous message.

The other flavourings above I add after the gin is distilled and diluted.

There are many, many variation to this. Sometimes I don't macerate in neutral first. Sometimes I use more juniper and coriander but don't crush or macerate (lazy gin!).

Chuck

[Mash]

Physics is affecting your maths.

LMAO.

will just add - I have found the grain to Paradise are really important if you want to keep your gin flavour for more than two months. If you are drinking at the same week no matter.

[mikew41]

Well, I got in from work and couldn't wait to get started.....maybe I'll regret my haste.

I've done 2 separate litre testers as follows. Hopefully 1 is spicy and 2 is fruity.
1.
12g Juniper
3g Coriander
1/2 a star anise
5 Grain of Paradise
3 Cardamon pods
Small piece of Cinnamon bark
2cm of liquorice root
pinch of orris root

2.
12g Juniper
3g Coriander
5 Grain of Paradise
pinch of Orris Root
Then a few shoots of Lemon Verbena, False Bergamot and a sprig of mint along with 10 Borage flowers.

I already think I've overdone 1 with too much liquorice.

I'll be pot stilling them both tomorrow night. More to follow. This IS fun.

[mikew41]

I only read Chucks post after I'd done the 2 testers.....I'll put that one on when I get some Angelica root.

[chill]

12g of Juniper in one litre! Dang, that is going to be spicy. IMO you are putting in way, way too much botanicals.

[mikew41]

After trying it I think you may be right.....it's VERY flavoured already. If it's too much can you let it down with neutral?

[chill]

Yes. What you have made is probably closer to Gin Essence. Just dilute to taste and enjoy!

[mikew41]

Well, sounds like it's recoverable....do I distill the strained liquid then let down or shove the whole lot in the Airstill and get whats coming to me?

[chill]

I've done it both ways. Flavour differences result. Usually I just toss it all in. The Juniper has oils so you will want some soap when cleaning up.

Let her rip!

[mikew41]

So, my first go at gin has been a bit of an eye opener. I'm amazed at how little spice goes a long way. The "Number 1" gin is, quite frankly, foul. I have over cardamon and liquoriced it (despite "only" using 2 cms of liquorice root) and it tastes more like Ouzo than gin.

The "Number 2" gin is a little better. Very floral but again overpowering tastes....nothing subtle there.

Well, learned a valuable lesson there....less is more. I'll be having another go soon.