First post, first TPW, first day of the New Year

[chill]

That should work just fine!

[mikepiet]

Hi Chuck,

It seemed too. Have just finished adding the part B of the Turbo Clear into the wash - and now we wait for 24 hours or so. Anticipation - lol

All the best,

Mike P

[Icefever]

poormansdegasser.JPG

I've seen that degasser and have made a poor man's version of my own - will sterilize it and give it a whirl. Mike P

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I love DIY Mike...but what's it made out of??? looks like clear plastic???

Icefever.

[mikepiet]

Hi Icefever,

The rod is plastic and the "paddle" is food grade plastic tubing cut so it flares on the clockwise spin. I'm not too worried about anything leaching as its only in contact for what 2 minutes max with the wash?

All the best,

Mike P

[Almanac]

Wash is quite safe with most plastics because the ABV is so low

AM

[mikepiet]

Hi Everyone,

Just an update for those who have been kind enough to respond to my questions.

Ran my first stripping run today. Ran 6 - 4 ltr runs and took 1200mills from each run. Did it that way because as I was doing it I realized I didn't have a test jar large/deep enough to hold the spirit hygrometer, so I would not have been able to accurately measure when the 20% ABV line had been reached.

So I did it Chucks way but played a bit conservative and did only 1200 instead of 1300. Anyway, when I started wash was a bit cloudy still, but being imatient I went for it. Everything came out crystal clear. For the heck of it I did rough cuts on the first batch. Discarded first 50mills. Then into first jar next 100 mills, into 2nd through 5th jar 250mills each. Last ajr - 100 mills. Results - 1st 100mill heads jar could peel paint off of house - major burn. 2nd jar with next 250 mills, less intense but still there. Third, fourth and 5th 250 mill jars - so nice, smooth very little taste, maybe a bit of a sweet taste but nothing off putting. 5the jar was getting watery and certainly less strong. 6th 100 mill jar you could tell there was some alcohol in it but basically tasted like water. I never did get the "wet cardboard" taste of tails that I have read so much about.

Anyway recombined the first run and showed an ABV of just over 52%. Same held true with the other 5 runs.

So either tomm or the next day will do the spirit runs on this and see what the results were. Will also start another wash. Actually quite pleased with the way this is turning out.

Just wanted to say thanks to those who have been so patient regarding my questions.

Will let you know as things develop.

All the best,

Mike P

[Almanac]

Making any kind of cuts on the stripping run serves no purpose and you should never taste anything on the stripping runs.

The purpose of the strip is only to get rid of 70% of the crap from the wash and the low wines produced on the strip are not fit for tasting and will confuse your palate when it comes to tasting spirit cuts.

You really do need to get yourself a Trial Jar

AM

[mikepiet]

Hi Aidanmac,

I'll have a Trial jar by tomorrow.

And like a kid in a candy store - I just had too - LOL

It did serve the purpose to illustrate for real the evolution of the product as the run progresses. Perhaps a no-no - but definitely a "hands-on" learning experience for someone who has never done this before.

Thanks much,

All the best,

Mike P

[Cherry Yidaki]

I feel like the fog clears just a little more. And often enough I didn't realize the fog was there to begin with.

Thanks to our master distillers - and the whole community - for keeping the knowledge and the art available and advancing.

[chill]

If you are getting 52% ABV from the stripping runs, you can afford to let it go a bit longer IMO. There is a line, somewhere, between getting all of the alcohol out and wasting time and electricity. As my rule of thumb, when the combined ABV is below 40%, you cross the line to wasting time. This is an alternative way to measure from Aidan's more accurate measuring of ABV at the end of the run. It does require familiarity with your washes, which you won't have when you first start out.

I'd go much lower when making rum as many of the flavours come over late in the run.

All in all, it sounds like you had a great success! Congrats!

Chuck

[mikepiet]

Hi Chuck,

"All in all, it sounds like you had a great success! Congrats!"

Thank you much sir.

As you noted I probably did cut it off a bit early - but I wanted to be ultra-conservative on my first try.

I will be starting a 2nd wash tomm, as well as running the spirit runs.

And I am now a proud owner of a 500 mil trial jar - lol

Will let you know how everything turns out tomm.

All the best,

Mike P

[chill]

I noted in another thread that Aidan's results are around 50%, so you maybe right on. It depends on what ABV we start with.

Chuck

[Cherry Yidaki]

chill, you said: "Using very hot water (not enough to burn your tongue, but hot) helps in discerning the good from the bad."

Could you give us a little more detail about your procedure here? Unsure if one:
A) sips the hot water between tastings as a palate cleanser
B) gargles with the hot water first to heighten one's senses
C) pours a little of the sample into the hot water, then sniffs/tastes
D) dips appendage of choice into the hot water whilst smelling/tasting - as a matter of style.
E) something completely different

[Easydrinker]

I'm guessing chuck meant option C from your list.
I try to dilute samples to around 40% to test,haven't yet tried hot water,will give it a try.
Your option D made me smile,and respond.

Aidanmac gives a good guide to spirit cuts here;

download/file.php?id=69



Sorry,it's late,and twelth night and ripping down xmas decorations as fast as I can.

Robert.

[Easydrinker]

Odd,I posted the same thing twice.
Deleted one to tidy up the board.
I would like to say that drink played no part in my actions.
I would be lying.