StillSmart

What are the thoughts on this? I\'ve seen a few references on this forum but the instructions with the still, nor their video guide, make any mention of this. Just a precaution perhaps? Would appreciate some advice; I\'d rather not go blind!

Have wondered myself and always do disregard the first 20-50mls but I bottle them and use them for cleaning spirits.
Strange how the manufacturers don\'t mention it and even the demos on utube dont do it, i blamed the first 20-50mls on the off taste and smell that i got at first but since having a decent filter i havent had either the off taste or smell but not tried leaving them in, maybe i should to see if it comes back?

Because it's urban myth !
All fermentations produce a tiny amount of methanol, "tiny" being the operative word there.
I routinely bin the first 20 to 50 mills because that's when any of the higher alcohols come off, so it's a preventative measure for possible taste issues rather than anything else.
Yes, there is mention of doing the same thing over at HD, but a lot of the discussion surrounds the making a grain mash, rather than sugar turbo's....
The tiny amounts of foreshots make good glass cleaner.....
Oh, and the \"blindness\" myth seems to originate from stuff made during the prohibition era in the US, but it would appear that it\'s got more to do with adulteration of spirits made to increase alcohol content/make it go further than anything else - all sorts of rubbish would be added i.e. methanol being one of the prime candidates here.
There\'s a lot of info around the net explaining, in more technical terms, what goes on, but with sugar turbo\'s there is, apparently, no problem.....

Thanks people. I might try taking off the first 20ml or so and see if I can tell any difference. Cheers!

Precaution , I always loose the first 100mls when using the T500 and when I used the Air Still/Smart Still, I would loose the first 50mls of each batch.

SS say there is no need but just in case I would rather give a little to my wife than chance a bad taste.

Win win

Andy, so you give the first lot to your wife? Must be good to have an official taster so you don\'t have to take any unnecessary personal risk!

:-)

There are good arguments for and against tossing the first 50 mls including the Irish Poitin tradition of tossing the fairies their share. However if you save these foreshots in a separate jar you can then add rose petals to create a beautiful and appreciated perfumed gift to keep the wife happy - explain that it is genuine organic rosewater astringent to further enhance her beauty :-)

Andy, so you give the first lot to your wife? Must be good to have an official taster so you don\'t have to take any unnecessary personal risk!

:-)

To use as cleaning fluid, not as a taste test LOL

So...what happened folks... I too put the first \'50ml\' from my SS Airstill into a separate jar (as I ws told to do etc). Is the jury \'still\' out re whether this is a waste of neutral spirit??

and, BTW, on http://www.aussiedistiller.com.au/viewt ... f=9&t=1457 youll find some \'interesting uses\' for said foreshots.

I always say to people - put it in a jar, leave it a few days, come back and sniff it. Then decide if you want to put it in your drink. The health risks are minimal (though still there) but it\'s more for quality of final product.
As with most things in this hobby, I always believe it\'s best to take advice but don\'t blindly follow instructions, take the chance to learn while you\'re doing it - if anyone hasn\'t experimented with burning a little of each strength on a teaspoon to see the flame colour and quality (well away from the still of course) or rubbing them between their finger and thumb to feel the different consistency, I would recommend it!

Ok if you collect enough 50ml foreshots what is the verdict re watering it down to around 40%abv and doing a still run with it?

I think that could be a goer frank - however, I find if you mess up a blend even the smallest amount of heads can contaminate a lot of good spirit - found that out cutting when i had a bit of a cold going on.

The foreshots will have the most "off" tastes I would imagine, so although you may get some usable grog from it, its separating it out that would be the problem.

When I do a heads run, i water down to 30%, i got that advice from somewhere and certainly seems to work better than that at 40%. I'm using a column for neutral - no idea how that would play out on an air still.

Btw - didn't realise you where on here - we have just been chatting on PM else where under a different handle.

CC

BTW, I normally run a charge of 20-25l strip @ 40% most times I'm doing a spirit run these days - the first 250mls goes down the drain.

I guess it gets to a point where there is no benefit in chasing every last drop of alcohol.
I should have been clearer - the amount of acetone, ethyl acetate, methanol is tiny - its just impossible to isolate it out with our equipment.
doing a fore shots run "might" yield a tiny amount of alcohol - i just wouldn't be bothered and would put another wash down. and as Aidan says its a preventative measure.

Ta muchly for advice 'you two'. I was only asking as I was finished with the 'conditioning' of a (gifted) 25l American Oak Barrel using cheap dry sherry mixed with 'good' water; and I didn't want to just throw that away when it'd done its job. Seeing the ABV was bugger all, I wondered.......
Anyway, I have run it through the Airstill (WITHOUT adding any stored 'window cleaner' ) and got enough 55%abv neutral to put on charred oak again (which, of course, will find its way back into the barrel at some later stage). So...all good...like I said I was just wondering.... .