Potatoes for Vodka

[Anavrin]

Hi Guys

Has anyone ever gone to the extent of using potatoes and or grain to make a real traditional vodka?

I was googling it and came across some info on home distiller, I've probably read it before, there's loads of interesting info on there, but this time I went looking for it as it's something I quite fancy having a go at, here's the link

http://homedistiller.org/fruit/wash-fruit/pot

It would be investing if anyone else was prepared to have a go at the same time, we could compare how we get on.

[Easydrinker]

Hi mate,
Way back in the annals of this site are some accounts of people trying this.
The consensus at the time seemed to be the amount of potatoes needed was huge,the labour was intensive and the mess immense.
When you are looking for a cheap sugar source for "basically" (note the parentheses) a tasteless spirit, why on earth, given access to cheap granulated sugar wouldn't you use it?

I am sure the only reason potatoes and other starches were used was because they were cheaper and more readily available than refined sugar.

..Puts on safety helmet and heads for cover

Robert.

[gaza the instructor]

I use flaked wheat as part of my vodka
recipe. And have some very good results.

[Mash]

.....
The consensus at the time seemed to be the amount of potatoes needed was huge,the labour was intensive and the mess immense.
Robert.

Sorry Anavrin
I have tried it, used a garden shredder. Only did it once.

I think Robert has distilled my sentiment very well.
(terrible pun intended )

[Easydrinker]

What is this world coming to?
Mash agreeing with Easy drinker?

Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells.

[Icefever]

"Feeking Surprised" from Warwickshire

[gaza the instructor]

The other problem with potatoes is
flys. Wow are they a pain

[Squint]

Chase Farms Distillery make a Potatoe Vodka,

there is a video on there website,

if I was to make potatoe vodka think I would freeze the potatoe first to convert the starch to sugars, frozen tater always tastes sweet when cooked,
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j ... L66Lgqxv1w
................
The ideal storage temperature is 45 to 50°F. Refrigerated potatoes stored below 40°F will develop a sweet taste due to the conversion of starch to sugar. This increase in sugar will cause potatoes to darken when cooked—especially at high temperatures.

[Anavrin]

I googled bulk mashed potatoes, to see if I could save a lot of time and effort but all I found was 6kg costs about £45!!!!

[gaza the instructor]

Anavrin I tried potato Vodka. Peeled
sliced and boiled 5kg per 25ltr.
Used HT Amilaze and simmered for 1hr
then added 4 kg sugar and SS vodka
yeast along with that horrid black
carbon.
The result was ok but not liked by all.
Had a much better Vodka using flaked
wheat.

[Anavrin]

I'm thinking use about 5kg-10kg potatoes, peel them, chop them, then throw them in the Grainfather and top up to 25 litres of water.

Then boil them for a while until soft before mashing them up with a drill thingy that plasterers use.

Once cooled to 66°c I'll add 2-3kg of malted barley and lett it all mash for an hour for the enzyme in the malted barley convert the potatoe starch to sugar.

Then depending on the SG I'll add sugar, enough to equal a total sugar level of about 1kg per 5 litres of wash, I'm going to do a 40lit wash, hopefully I'll only need 4kg of sugar, depending on what conversation I get.

But if it's really messy, it may not be repeated!!!!

[gaza the instructor]

Am now buying 25kg flaked wheat for £8.
Only use 2kg per 25ltrs, its a no brainer
for me. Better result less agro flies and
waste.

[Anavrin]

My latest wash for neutral which is in my boiler at the moment is 350gr of crushed branflake's, soaked in boiling water and added to 8kg of sugar in a 40lt wash, on this one I used a vodkastar yeast but the next batch I will just use bread yeast, so might need some additional nutrients, like DAP, vitamin b and a little citric acid

I also have a lot of rye malt, about 9kg, just need a recipe to follow.

[gaza the instructor]

DAP is very good, but have been told to use
sparingly. Bread yeast 50g boiled and cooled
works well with 50g of bread yeast and a
couple of vit B tabs crushed.
Raisins chopped and boiled is another good
yeast food.

[gaza the instructor]

If you have any Vodka recipes would
love to try them.
By the way Vodka Star is brill and cheap
http://www.discountbrew.co.uk/spirits-distillation-db/high-alcohol-yeast-db/alcotec-vodka-star-turbo-yeast-db