Saw this building that looked closed, but wasn't. So wandered in and had a nice interesting chat with the man. Sampled some of his wares. Left there feeling very pleased with my own efforts. Couldn't tell him though.
It was the Isle of Islay Rum Distillery. Only been in production for a year. White rum only produced at the moment.
Double thumper still.
They use De-ionised water, molasses and very little else.
Ele.
Day out today.
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Elecrafter
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Day out today.
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Re: Day out today.
Looks like a decent place
Have you tried turning it off and back on again?
Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit.
If it’s broken, it might be my fault, is my responsibility and there is even a slight chance I can fix it
Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit.
If it’s broken, it might be my fault, is my responsibility and there is even a slight chance I can fix it
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Elecrafter
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Re: Day out today.
Now I'm back home, and its easier to type on the PC etc...
The guy use Un-sulphured Molasses from India (evidently the worlds largest producer).
They just ferment the molasses (No added sugar of any kind) with yeast, and wouldn't say what type of yeast.
I was not going to press him any further as he was being quite forthcoming to my questions.
He ferments it down and get approx 8% ABV before distillation. It only takes 7 or 8 days max.
He then distils it in the Pot still, using double thumper kegs, as per the picture.
He does collect heads and tails and re processes them as well. He didn't say how much and when etc.
Having only gone into production last year, he only sells white rum at the moment. They are laying down stock in American White Oak casks, and also some sherry casks. Also found out that Sherry casks are getting hard to source. There are companies filling new barrels with sherry, then ditching the sherry to sell the barrels. Heard that at two different distilleries.
I thought his rum tasted a bit raw. I recon the stuff I made form NAF Horse molasses was as good.
I bought a bottle of his, so I can really compare his V mine. Wont be doing this for a while, but will post my findings.
It will be interesting to see.
Had a great time, visited 3 distilleries, and learned a little more. The Rum distillery gave me most info!
Ele
The guy use Un-sulphured Molasses from India (evidently the worlds largest producer).
They just ferment the molasses (No added sugar of any kind) with yeast, and wouldn't say what type of yeast.
I was not going to press him any further as he was being quite forthcoming to my questions.
He ferments it down and get approx 8% ABV before distillation. It only takes 7 or 8 days max.
He then distils it in the Pot still, using double thumper kegs, as per the picture.
He does collect heads and tails and re processes them as well. He didn't say how much and when etc.
Having only gone into production last year, he only sells white rum at the moment. They are laying down stock in American White Oak casks, and also some sherry casks. Also found out that Sherry casks are getting hard to source. There are companies filling new barrels with sherry, then ditching the sherry to sell the barrels. Heard that at two different distilleries.
I thought his rum tasted a bit raw. I recon the stuff I made form NAF Horse molasses was as good.
I bought a bottle of his, so I can really compare his V mine. Wont be doing this for a while, but will post my findings.
It will be interesting to see.
Had a great time, visited 3 distilleries, and learned a little more. The Rum distillery gave me most info!
Ele
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buffalobob
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Re: Day out today.
That was an interesting post ele, great shot of his set up too
. Lovely copper work. When I was a lad Part of my job was making ducting, I learned how to make square into round and work out the frustration of a cone etc. I learned those skills over 50 years ago, the first time I used em was to make a small copper cone for the first still I made, a 2 inch into 1 inch 
. Lovely copper work. When I was a lad Part of my job was making ducting, I learned how to make square into round and work out the frustration of a cone etc. I learned those skills over 50 years ago, the first time I used em was to make a small copper cone for the first still I made, a 2 inch into 1 inch I'm pink therefore I'm spam
Re: Day out today.
I am interested how you found it. "looked closed"
What a excellent find tho. I have had some
wanderings around breweries & vineyards.
Always so happy to show&tell. Never done a distillery.
Recipe sounds intriguing too. I ought to do some rum. I have 100l is molasses kicking about
Can't wait for your taste test results.
What a excellent find tho. I have had some
wanderings around breweries & vineyards.
Always so happy to show&tell. Never done a distillery.
Recipe sounds intriguing too. I ought to do some rum. I have 100l is molasses kicking about
Can't wait for your taste test results.
To Gin-finity and beyond !
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Elecrafter
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Re: Day out today.
I found it from the bottle I bought in the local whisky shop. They told me where it was and I drove by. It did look closed,but a walk around the back and there were people working.
No glitzy signs advertising wares or tours. Only been open a few months.
Also remembered something else. They imported RO /De-ionised water for the rum.
As said was an interesting visit. Might try their method to see how close it comes to theirs. At £45 a bottle, I won't be buying much of that. I think they have overpriced it. But they have all their setup costs to recover, so can understand it.
I wish them well with their new and exciting venture.
Ele.
No glitzy signs advertising wares or tours. Only been open a few months.
Also remembered something else. They imported RO /De-ionised water for the rum.
As said was an interesting visit. Might try their method to see how close it comes to theirs. At £45 a bottle, I won't be buying much of that. I think they have overpriced it. But they have all their setup costs to recover, so can understand it.
I wish them well with their new and exciting venture.
Ele.
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gaza the instructor
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Re: Day out today.
Black Treacle might ge a thought Ele. It is otherwise called Fancy Molasses.
It has a nice high sugar content and a great flavour!
It has a nice high sugar content and a great flavour!
Mirror-signal-manoeuvre.
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phantom
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Re: Day out today.
See, as marvelous as it looks etc, it looks for all the world like he's using a cross between whisky kit (the swan necked pot still) and moonshine kit (double thumper).
My last visit to a rum distillery was to Mount Gay (Caymans from memory). They use a reflux still and then it's the traditional barrels/caramel/etc for most of their products.
I'm wondering if pot still and thumpers isn't just more of a lazy/cheats way of getting the finished flavour into the spirit ? i.e. less ageing and post distillation processing so speed up cash flow ?
No criticising, just thinking out loud to understand the business case and mulling the possible quality being better or worse etc ?
Given that spirits production being very different to other "food" products (no ingredients listing etc, with only sulphites use needing a mention, before we even consider all the nonsense of the grasping HMRC) and how normally, they have to list all ingredients and possible allergens etc ........
My last visit to a rum distillery was to Mount Gay (Caymans from memory). They use a reflux still and then it's the traditional barrels/caramel/etc for most of their products.
I'm wondering if pot still and thumpers isn't just more of a lazy/cheats way of getting the finished flavour into the spirit ? i.e. less ageing and post distillation processing so speed up cash flow ?
No criticising, just thinking out loud to understand the business case and mulling the possible quality being better or worse etc ?
Given that spirits production being very different to other "food" products (no ingredients listing etc, with only sulphites use needing a mention, before we even consider all the nonsense of the grasping HMRC) and how normally, they have to list all ingredients and possible allergens etc ........
"What the large print giveth, the small print taketh away." Tom Waites
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Elecrafter
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Re: Day out today.
@Phantom
Yes, I see your point.
Its not my business, and was just saying what I had seen and heard. It was interesting to see what / how they were doing things.
I hope their venture succeeds.
I just thought it unusual to see thumpers in use commercially.
Also as there are some rum makers on this forum, I thought it would be interesting for them to know what they did. Especially as its a new distillery.
I suppose that the double thumper will increase the ABV without any addition heat costs, and that is a big thing these days with the current cost of living crisis.
Ele.
Yes, I see your point.
Its not my business, and was just saying what I had seen and heard. It was interesting to see what / how they were doing things.
I hope their venture succeeds.
I just thought it unusual to see thumpers in use commercially.
Also as there are some rum makers on this forum, I thought it would be interesting for them to know what they did. Especially as its a new distillery.
I suppose that the double thumper will increase the ABV without any addition heat costs, and that is a big thing these days with the current cost of living crisis.
Ele.