Yet another new Airstill owner

[FerdBerfel]

Hi - found this forum researching how to not F up my Airstill (or me, the cat, the kitchen). I am a very experienced ale/wine/mead maker, but this is my first foray into distillation. I have done a fair amount of study but as expected I still have questions. I did read the unofficial owners guide in this section (excellent, very helpful).

1. Most of the notes indicate to stop a run @ xx%. How do you determine that?
2. Degassing. From what I am gathering, this is very similar to degassing a wine. Rack it into a secondary vessel, run a wine whip on it for a half hour (I use one on a power drill). Great shoulder work out....ugh. Is this the case for this process?
3. Clearing. Most wine processes use isenglass or some such to clear a batch. I am assuming this would work to clear a batch?
4. Preventing boil overs (puking). What source are you using for that agent, and how much to add to a run? (There are those who have boiled over, and those that will...beer brewing adage...)

Thanks for replies in advance. I look forward to experimenting (safely). Lord to make a good single malt scotch....its that dang xx years in the cask that are a bother.

[vino-tinto]

Hi - found this forum researching how to not F up my Airstill (or me, the cat, the kitchen). I am a very experienced ale/wine/mead maker, but this is my first foray into distillation. I have done a fair amount of study but as expected I still have questions. I did read the unofficial owners guide in this section (excellent, very helpful).

1. Most of the notes indicate to stop a run @ xx%. How do you determine that?
I Use a spirit alcometer/hydrometer in a parrot for real time measurement
2. Degassing. From what I am gathering, this is very similar to degassing a wine. Rack it into a secondary vessel, run a wine whip on it for a half hour (I use one on a power drill). Great shoulder work out....ugh. Is this the case for this process?
Exactly the same way as you would with your wine
3. Clearing. Most wine processes use isenglass or some such to clear a batch. I am assuming this would work to clear a batch?
Yes, a finning agent or just time at a lower temp
4. Preventing boil overs (puking). What source are you using for that agent, and how much to add to a run? (There are those who have boiled over, and those that will...beer brewing adage...)
5ml of cooking oil, I use crisp & dry rapeseed oil, no need for expensive conditioners, and boil enhancers

Thanks for replies in advance. I look forward to experimenting (safely). Lord to make a good single malt scotch....its that dang xx years in the cask that are a bother.

[FerdBerfel]

Excellent, thanks for the reply!

I guess the puzzling part might be the hydrometer. Most of the ones I have used are rather long. seems like (maybe I need to read that again), you would have a small volume to measure (and it might be too big to float.) I'll have to hunt a spirit alcometer, not familiar with that item.

(Ah found it, same thing I was thinking.)

Now to convince the wife that this was a good idea. Had the same issue with beer and wine. Now she judges our output like a pro.

[Mash]

4. Preventing boil overs (puking). What source are you using for that agent, and how much to add to a run?

Another thought - put some copper coins 1p's & 2p's & copper offcuts in the bottom. Apart for other benefits, these prevent "super-heating" of a stationary liquid (think microwave trick) by creating nucleation points and movement.

[Curmudgeon]

Many hydrometers come with a long narrow sample jar or you can buy them separately https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=hydrometer+jar

I didn't have a spirit hydrometer when I was doing first runs and guessed stopping point based on time and taste/smell. From memory it was 1 hour warmup to start of distillation and then approximately 2 hours of collection, so 3 hours total. You should be able to smell tails and then smell and taste what is mostly just water at the end.

Alternatively, you could just go by volume viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1216

After spirit run, your product is likely to be somewhere above 50%abv and most likely between 60% and 70%, so 2 parts spirit to 1 part water will be a good guess to get it to "normal" drinking strength.

[GrunthosTheFlatulent]

De-gassing: exactly as a wine. 4 litres in a gallon or 5 litre bottle and shake it until it stops fizzing.

Preventing 'puking': Distiller's Conditioner or some form of oil or butter, plus older (non-magnetic) pennies in your boiler.

Washes do not need to be completely clear, I use Ritchie's Kwik Clear (best finings on the market in my anything but humble opinion), or patience.

A spirit hydrometer or 'alcoholometer' is pretty much essential, most vendors include one with any still package but they are inexpensive.

Welcome to the forum.

[inspector gadget]

Vino-Tinto put me on to these Spirit hydrometers from Ukraine, just over a week delivery and they are great...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-Alcoholmeter-Spirtometer-Hydrometer-Alcohol-MeterTester-20-96-/162195886800?hash=item25c3a0d2d0:g:PTEAAOSwXshWsj76

[Anavrin]

Hi FerdBerfel

Did you by any slim chance buy your Airstill from LoveBrewing in Chesterfield about a week ago?

Slim chance I know, but I was in there having a look around when a guy came in with his wife asking for an Airstill.

I wanted to suggest this site to get the best out of the Still but decided to keep quite in the end and left, as I had a job in Manchester to get to.

It does worry me the amount of uneducated or ignorant information that home brew shops will come out with while trying to make a sale!

[Easydrinker]

That would be timing!

Robert.

[Icefever]

I agree 100% A...folks take on an Airstill and follow the crap advice that they get...myself included...until they find the correct info, on places like here....well done dude.

[Iamgod]

Are airstils any good read many opinions both good and bad

[Thunderbird]

Are airstils any good read many opinions both good and bad

I'm really new to all this too but yes, the AirStill makes some great hooch. But there are some caveats, a) it's small and you're looking at 2 - 3 evenings to strip a 24 litre wash and b) follow the guides on this forum NOT the Still Spirits instructions. After double distilling I got 3.75 litres of gin and a litre of whisky at 40% abv using the Still Spirits essences.

The gin is great and, I think, surpasses the likes of Gordon's or Bombay Sapphire but isn't in the craft-gin league, but it's better than the majority of commercial gins in my opinion. However, I'm building a sputnik and will try some botanicals in the future so craft-gin here I come. For me, the jury's out on the whisky; it's fine neat but losses something on the rocks but then again, I really do like my single malts so I can't see an essence ever really competing. But all in all, the AirStill is a great little bit of kit and there will still be a place for it when I upgrade.

[Iamgod]

Thanks bud just keep hearing mixed reviews is great mine blew up nice to get some advice from a user

[Mash]

Are airstils any good read many opinions both good and bad

Absolute FANTASTIC.
BUT you must drive them properly.
Which means ignoring the manufactures instructions.
Might I suggest that the poor reviews come from peeps who haven't got past the instructions and still believe what the salesman said

Cracking tool.

[Iamgod]

Cool would agree about people not operated properly if you all love them must be OK