First proper wash, some advice please

[Anavrin]

Hi Guys

I'm almost there with my boka, and got a junkahol clearing at the moment.

I've been collecting supplies for my first proper wash, so far I've got a triple still turbo pack, another yeast that claims 20% in 5 days, 8kg of sugar, some lentils and two tins of Alinsons bread yeast.



I was hopping to do one big ferment in the 60litre bucket that I can do one or two stripping runs from so I can collect 30-35litres of low wines for the alcohol run.

I guess what I'm asking is how much wash to I need to make and at what % alc to get 30-35litres of low wine at 30% after the stripping run/runs.

I'm hoping you guys have the know how

[Anavrin]

Just in case anyone's wondering why I want such a high volume after the stripping runs, I'm not being greedy or anything, it's the simple fact that my boiler is 50 litres and the heating element is not at the bottom, for this reason I'm trying to keep at least 20 litres left in the boiler after any runs so I don't damage the element.

[RumJohn]

You seem to have joined those that want to complicate things.

First off, decide what it is you want to make. I would suggest something simple like rum, made with a sugar wash. You have a lot of flexibility in the final output.

To start out with a neutral for an end product requires a lot more experience and technique. Learn what your equipment will do first. Experiment with some different washes.

Just stick with a bakers yeast.

Your boiler level won't drop below the element if you have done a few simple calcs. On a beer stripping run I take off 20-25% as low wine. On a spirit run, make sure you put in sufficient water to keep element immersed.

[YHB]

I have been trying to find a few minutes to answer this post but other life stuff kept getting in the way.

Quantiities,

I am limited to a 20 ltr fermenter and a 20 ltr boiler charge. Generally 2 ferments / strips are enough to make a viable spirit run. Any more and with the bok - drip drip drip - the spirit run becomes a bit of an endurance event.

Exposed Element,

With the strip run you will propably end up with 2/3rds of the charge left in the boiler so when you start off, if the element is half way down the charge you should be golden.

For the spirit run I always start off by adding enough water to cover the elements,then I add the spirits / more water to give me the stregth I need. This ensures that during normal distilling the elements will allways be covered.

Wash

Too late on this, I see from another post that you have chosen the way you are going, I will write there.

Good luck.

Brian!

[Anavrin]

I wanted to do a nice big lentil wash but I'm off to France Friday night and I'm working away with work in Aberdeen Thursday and Friday, so I had to choose a quick turbo to have any chance of being done, still think I'm pushing it!

Especially as it'll be my first run in anger, the thoughts crossed my mind to use some of my junkahol if it's clean enought lol

Don't worry I won't do that :-)