First Air Still run report

[ITMA]

I've now completed the first run and I thought I'd report back here since it's thanks to this magnificent forum that I've ended up with a very acceptable final product.

I doubt there's much of great interest here, mainly I'm just repeating what's already been said elsewhere, but maybe there's something buried in here that someone may find useful.

I bought the Airstill from Lovebrewing without knowing about this forum, and was planning to blindly follow the instructions. So, it was a sugar/carbon/turbo yeast wash.

Fermentation
------------

After about 2 or 3 days it developed a very strong eggy smell. I've only had this once before, about 30 years ago when I was making dandelion wine. The dandelion ended up down the drain [in hindsight, a lucky outcome] so I feared a similar fate for this batch!

Searching for answers led me to here, which was a very lucky break. Lack of yeast nutrition seemed to be the general answer, but really the problem cleared up by itself with no further action from me.

But by now I'd read this forum in detail, and the awful Still Spirits instructions were consigned to the bin.

I decided to proceed with the wash I had, but

Lesson 1: no carbon in wash next time. I suspect that is total snake oil and a nice money spinner for Still Spirits.

Lesson 2: use better yeast and nutrition. Either kale wash or a sugar wash with Vodka Star.

Clearing:
---------

After fermentation complete (after 9 days, fg 0.980), transferred to cold area and used the turbo clear. No problems here at all, next morning I could see easily to the bottom of the bucket and after siphoning it was fairly clear. Some small traces of carbon and a general but very pale off yellow colour.

The final wash had a sourish wine smell and taste, reminiscent of the kit white wines I used to make as a kid. By this point I was reasonably confident the fermentation had gone ok despite the bad eggs problem.

Lesson 3: the turbo clear works well. This is the first clearing product I've ever used in brewing, I've always assumed that they strip out taste and flavour. However, I've been assured on the forum that it's fine to use turbo clear even when making a non-neutral [I'm planning a malt whisky run next - something that the manufacturers and love brewing claim is not possible on this still - I trust this forum's judgement much more and I'm looking forward to trying].

Strip Run
---------

I followed the guide from Mozr pretty much to the letter. Two sessions spread over two days. I did hot swaps between runs to save time (start warming up the next 4litres in a pan about 10 minutes from the end of the run). Be careful not to heat up so much that you're seeing steam.

I can see a hot swap is by far the most dangerous part of the entire operation. Not really recommended but I thought the time saving was worth the risk. Be especially careful when removing the still lid - the stench from the backset left behind in the still is appalling on the stripping runs. Another clue that double distilling is a must.

I'm baffled why Still Spirits persist with the rotten instructions to do a single run. It's patently obvious after doing the strip run that the resulting low wines are pretty much undrinkable. It retains the sour wine smell. I didn't bother tasting.

Richard's videos on Love Brewing are well regarded and he seems to be a passionate distiller. Yet he keeps talking about "beautiful, clear spirit" at this stage. Why doesn't he do a video of double distilling? It's not much harder at all.

At this point of course with the supplied instructions this would have been the final product [I accept there would have been a filtration step here but I doubt that would save the day], horrible.

Spirit Run
----------

I was expecting this stage to be complicated, but with a good collection of glass jars at the ready, both runs were very straightforward.

When you're disposing the foreshots, ask yourself would you have wanted this stuff in the final product?

On the first run tails were identified 200ml earlier than on the second run. I found it very easy to spot the start of tails. I can't say it smelt of cardboard or wet dog, more a return to the alchoholy smells that are striking in the fores and early heads.

Airing
------

I left the jars overnight on a window sill - the angel's share business. A definite drop in the level. On both occasions I didn't change my opinion of where the tails began. I can't say the smell or taste was improved by this part of the process, but I think that may be my underdeveloped vodka palette. I have a strong feeling this is a valuable step and I'll keep doing it.

Filtering
---------

The kit was supplied with the carbon filter thing in jugs which I now know are almost universally dismissed as rubbish here. On reflection I decided not to bother with filtering at all, given that the hearts I'd been sampling through the spirit runs seemed perfectly drinkable to me. Plus I don't want to be sitting on plastic overnight.

I'm sure filtering would give more polish, but I'm not investing in a more expensive filtering system. I'm happy to leave filtering out of my future workflow, for now at least.

End product
-----------

I suspect that a vodka/neutral expert would reject my final product. As I'm using flavourings and I don't have a refined palette, I've found the end product to be very acceptable, especially when mixed with essences.

I've decanted the final 40% into a collection of small 200ml hip flask bottles and I've tried a wide range of the still spirits essences. I haven't tasted all of the results yet, but the malt whisky is more than passable, the tequila is about on the mark and the vodka is going down well with 'er indoors. The American Bourbon (Jim Beam?) was a bit flat but still ok.

[Edit to add I forgot I also tried the Gin Essence. Again, passable and tastes like Gordon's. I'm less interested in this as I want to do proper botanical runs, but the fake gin will do in the meantime].

The difficulty is when you know you're drinking your own product it's likely you're going to be picky. However, if I'd been handed any of these drinks in a pub I wouldn't have quibbled, so I consider that a result.

All in all, delighted with the Air Still but it's only because of this forum - if I'd never found this place I suspect the still would now be listed on eBay.

Future plans - I'm looking forward to trying a non-neutral in the form of the Barrel 674 which is nearing the end of fermentation. I've enough vodka to be going on with for a while, so I think this will be the last neutral I run this year.

Many thanks to everybody here for the many hours they've put into helping the community!

[Easydrinker]

Fookin' hell!
The best, and longest ever write up here.
Apart from one of mine.

Thank you.

It seems that you did everything as I would, and I have a little more experience than you.
Not saying that my way is best, just tipping my hat to someone prepared to do the reading and then use common sense and make it work for them.

Good to see people joining.
Expecting a few more from my part of the world after today's high court ruling

Robert.

[ITMA]

Thanks a million Robert that means a lot. All thanks to the hard work of yourself, Mash, Almanac, Mozr and dozens more. Very satisfying having just polished off a fake Malt which is roughly 4 days old, shored up with a bit of glycerine and some peat smoke - it's now quite a bit beyond the passable stage and into well believable.

Is that the minimum pricing on alcohol ruling?

Very much looking forward to more years of learning, failing and experimenting!

Warm regards.

[Mash]

Wow cracking write up. Well done too with your product.

Yup that'll be the minimum unit price ruling.

I do agree you got away likely with the dandelion wine, but on a serious note, the eggy smell is a nutrient deficiency. No need to ditch it, quite fixable.

Heads and tails also have there uses, so no need to tip them away.

.... I am beginning to sound like a tight-arse now. Gotta go.

[gaza the instructor]

Well done, way to go, nice write up. Its good fun init.
Now you have made a start and a good 'un, there's a lot
more for you to try here. I have just run some Kale
washes, costs about £3 per 25ltr all in. For that you
will get 4ish ltrs of nice Vodka.

[ITMA]

Thanks all - and apologies for missing you gaza from my thanks list (it sounds like an Oscar acceptance speech ) - many useful tips have been picked up from your previous posts.

[Mash]

Well done, way to go, nice write up. Its good fun init.
Now you have made a start and a good 'un, there's a lot
more for you to try here. I have just run some Kale
washes, costs about £3 per 25ltr all in. For that you
will get 4ish ltrs of nice Vodka.

Doh. He used the 'K' word

[The_blue]

Brilliant, nice to see someone having the same thoughts as me
I'm half way though my 1st striping runs

What's everyone's opinion on the carbon filter? I thought you did this after the stripping run... I have

[ITMA]

Did you observe any difference after the filtering?

What's the filter you're using?

I might try the rubbish filter supplied with the kit as an experiment, but personally I'd do it after the spirit run, where you'll be able to discern if there's any noticeable "polish".

After the stripping run I doubt you'd want to taste much if any of it, carbon filter or not!

Also there's the problem that after stripping you've got more liquid to filter. Cheaper to do at the end.

[The_blue]

It's the filter that came with it. I think the smell improved after the filtering. I've added the next stripping run directly to it. I'm going to have a smell after the spirit run and decide if I'm going to filter that.

[Duffer26]

Easydrinker will be along shortly and say this.

Only filter after the spirit run that's been diluted to 40ish%.

However, some filter some don't, it's up to you, taste wise.

The filter that comes with the AS is shit but it does something at least.

If you have it, use it. If you want something better get an Essencia filter.

I have one I might sell you soon as I'm not sure I want or need it anymore.

Marc.

[gaza the instructor]

100% duffer26.
The filter that comes with the Airstill would
make a good plantpot/football. Save your pocket money.
Buy an Essencia they are brill, but as your
skills improve and your product the same, you will
use a filter less and less.

[gaza the instructor]

Mash, I like the "k" word its my weapon of choice.

[Mash]

Hehe - me too

[Easydrinker]

Filtering and the K word may be bones of contention.
But I do believe that no-one is right, and no-one is wrong.
Well, I guess a few newbies start short of the mark...
Opinions and arseholes, we all have them.
Not becoming an opinionated arsehole is a little trickier.

Robert.