A beginner's reflection and questions

[RumJohn]

@claes: I thought you questions were reasonable, but they also indicated you have jumped in balls and all, while you could have helped yourself out a bit by doing some reading first.

I always make cuts on both the stripping and spirit runs. It makes for a much cleaner end product and carbon filtering is not necessary. If it takes carbon to make it drinkable, then one should perhaps look at their process a little closer.

A question for those that read this. I have not even seen a Smartstill and know nothing about them. Is it possible that is just not designed for distilling alcohol?

[Mash]

@Robert. Proper lol

[Mash]

A question for those that read this. I have not even seen a Smartstill and know nothing about them. Is it possible that is just not designed for distilling alcohol?

I cannot say for sure. I could never completely get to the bottom of that one. It is certainly a compromise. It is certainly also sold as a water distiller. But is that smoke and mirrors or fact. Dunno.

[chill]

I'd disagree that carbon filtering is required to make the result of an AirStill drinkable. I make rum, whiskey, brandies and other things that don't get filtered. I do think that carbon filtering results in a better tasting "neutral". And by better tasting I mean it has less taste overall which is what I want for a neutral. Without the filtering you can still taste some of whatever the base ferment was, which is what I would expect from any pot still. Only a properly run reflux still will produce true neutral that does not benefit from filtering.

[Icefever]

Only a properly run reflux still will produce true neutral that does not benefit from filtering.

[Mash]

ICE, Have you discovered a bucket full of new emojis

[Mash]

I'd disagree that carbon filtering is required to make the result of an AirStill drinkable. I make rum, whiskey, brandies and other things that don't get filtered. I do think that carbon filtering results in a better tasting "neutral". And by better tasting I mean it has less taste overall which is what I want for a neutral. Without the filtering you can still taste some of whatever the base ferment was, which is what I would expect from any pot still. Only a properly run reflux still will produce true neutral that does not benefit from filtering.

Well put that man!

[RumJohn]

@Chill: How are you defining a neutral produced in a potstill? What ABV% do you achieve?

[Easydrinker]

I don't know what chill manages, but myself, from my silly still, and gentle sugar wash,I might expect to produce 12+ litres of 40%+ from 45 litres of mash.
If this yields 3.75 litres of hearts @ 67% on a spirit run, then I am content.
Fores,heads,hearts and tails being taken into account.
We don't all speak the same language.
But maybe wish to?

Robert.

[chill]

I expect my combined hearts to be a little above 70%ABV from a spirit run.

[Mash]

I can get hearts to 65% in an Air still without trying to hard.

[Icefever]

ICE, Have you discovered a bucket full of new emojis

Looks like you've found them Mash....

[Mash]

What makes you say that.

[Brewhunter]

What makes you say that.

I like that one