First time doing a stripping run - a bit confused.

[Bru_Dog]

So, I've never bothered doing stripping runs so far and have made some very nice spirits - neutral, gin and a very nice corn and oat sugar head.

Apparently, there's two reasons that I should do a stripping run - 1: to make large batches smaller to enable them to fit in your still. 2: to make a cleaner spirit.

Usually, I just run everything through my still and thumper but I thought today, that I'd see what all the fuss is about.

So I'm currently on the spirit run of a 25 liter sugar wash. It started as a 15.5% abv wash which i then ran flat out through the still only.

The low wines came out that high that after watering them down to 30% abv, i was back up to 22.5 litres!!!

So far, I can tell NO difference between the spirit I'm running and the last gin I made! Looks, smells and tastes the same to me!

In fact, the only difference i CAN tell, is the amount of bloody time I've spent in the shed! 12.05 I kicked the still off for the stripping run. 17.10 I turned the still back on for the spirit run pot and thumper with gin botanicals.
And here i sit at 22.25 still churning out spirit at 60odd %abv! So it seems I'll be here a while yet!

25 litres straight into the pot and through the thumper would usually take about 6-7 hours with a very slow drip (I've been running a stream all day today!) and I'd be down to 30% abv on the tails.

Seems to me, that for a spirit that tastes the same I've just wasted 6 or 7 hours of my life! And loads of electricity and still have maybe a couple of hours in front of me!

Me thinks I'll stick to my normal pot and thumper method next time!

[Corn Cracker]

If your normally using a pot and thumper and running slow, you won't have much difference in taste doing a doing a double

[Mash]

Everyone finds their own way.

Me.. I freeze the fermenters first, pour off and then run once.

[WelshGin]

I am not surprised.

When fermenting a sugar wash, (my own is typically 14%Abv, I know this from result rather than SG), I discard the first 200ml of alcohol, then the alcohol is usable.

I separate the output int 6 x 750ml bottles, (the 6th will be incomplete, maybe only 250ml at usually 75%Abv ish), the previous 5 bottles at 85%Abv+.

I cannot taste the difference between bottles 2-5. The first bottle will be hot to the taste, the 5th dull/earthy.
I use number 6 redistilling in my AS for Gin proofing down, each time adding water to remove the original wash debris

Bottles 2,3,4 wonderful, use with any Essence, redistill for premium Gin. I have a group of friends who taste this for me. Much more discerning than me, I barter for red wine.

Do not stress, do not sweat the small stuff. Taste is subjective, rely upon a consistent process, that is objective.

If you are doing the right process, with the right ingredients, the result will be correct.

All he instructions/information is within this forum.

What else do you want me to type? Do not crack the rice paper as you walk.....

I love all our fellow me,beers and often look here for advice, .....and reassurance. X.

[Peter_stanaway]

The way I do a stripping run is to run everything down to 10% at the still out let me in the proofing parrot

[Copperhead road]

The way I do a stripping run is to run everything down to 10% at the still out let me in the proofing parrot

Pete do you ever blend any “Sweet-water” into your product??

[Peter_stanaway]

My opinion is that sweet water doesn't belong in any product anywhere and is anything but sweet, I have heard of that process though I just can't see why anyone would do it

[Copperhead road]

My opinion is that sweet water doesn't belong in any product anywhere and is anything but sweet, I have heard of that process though I just can't see why anyone would do it

I agree 100%,
When I seen you were stripping down to 10% ABV
I was not sure if that was the reason you were stripping down so low. That’s low is getting into sweet water territory isn’t it?

I strip down to about 30%

[Peter_stanaway]

It's just what HMRC expect, if you don't hit the bum then they still want thier duty