Still Smarter

Out today we stopped for lunch at a pub, got chatting to the owner about drinks, and he wants to have a go at making gin. He knows the guys at Black Mountain and they will help him set It up. I said that I wasn't a gin lover, never have been since I took a swig from my mum's bottle many many many moons ago.

"You should try this, it's our best seller"....I thought O feck....he poured a shot glass and my better half went first....her face lit up..." is it that good" I asked..."try it" she said...so I did...ye gods it was out of this world.

My taste buds must have changed??? so now I have to make a gin basket for the 500.....no rest for the wicked

Ice.

Ice, Like you I was not enamoured with gin, I first started this hobby to make a good rum. Not managed that yet. But on the way ended up making a bespoke gin still out of an old kettle and a bread bin! My recommendation for what it is worth is to pick up a secondhand water distiller and use that. 4 ltr batches are more than enough to keep even a mother ruined! You get the opportunity to experiment with recipes on a scale that does not ruin a huge batch of neutral. It is almost civilised running a batch as you don’t have to banish yourself to the shed. You could almost run it in the living room watching telly!

Use your T500 for the neutral and an airstill/water distiller for the flavouring, at least that way you won’t taint the metalwork with Juniper.

Ice you could be cruel and not tell Windoe how long you have been at this game, or
be kind and steer him straight.

I’ll wind my neck in then. ,,,,, Just off to that American site to tell them about a new still design of mine that will revolutionise this hobby.

Polythene bucket with a PVC drain pipe column and an old car radiator as a condenser all stuck together with araldite - its a winner!

Windoe wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:47 pm Ice, Like you, It is almost civilised running a batch as you don’t have to banish yourself to the shed. You could almost run it in the living room watching telly!

Don't pull your neck in too far mate, we need questions to keep us on our toes.
I have just bottled 33 litres of beer, while watching a movie.
I will run 25 litres through the still next,while watching another.
You learn things as you go along.
Personally, I hope that practise makes perfect.
I don't claim to be there yet,

Robert.

Windoe wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:47 pm Ice,
Use your T500 for the neutral and an airstill/water distiller for the flavouring, at least that way you won’t taint the metalwork with Juniper.

I did have a AS that went many years back, but it's a good point about batch size. I have enough bits of kit & pipe fittings knocking around that I'm thinking of making a small 1 gall still just for the gin....thinking cap on.

Ice.

Windoe wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:04 pm
Polythene bucket with a PVC drain pipe column and an old car radiator as a condenser all stuck together with araldite - its a winner!

You might be better with hot glue rather than araldite

Bet Ice hadn't thought about running a water still with a power controller? On a good day you can pick up a high power water distiller on ebay soooo cheap is not worth the shoe leather to the shed.

Don't wind it in mate. We are all making it up as we go along.... Look at my latest beer post

Mash wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:58 am

Windoe wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:04 pm
Polythene bucket with a PVC drain pipe column and an old car radiator as a condenser all stuck together with araldite - its a winner!

You might be better with hot glue rather than araldite

Bet Ice hadn't thought about running a water still with a power controller? On a good day you can pick up a high power water distiller on ebay soooo cheap is not worth the shoe leather to the shed.

Don't wind it in mate. We are all making it up as we go along.... Look at my latest beer post

I'm thinking about my thumper, with very little work it could be made into a 12litre still. Just by taking the head pipework off the lid, and knocking up a small pot head & pc...hey presto what fun?? as for spending more money on an AS, just bought a big smoker, so I'm not getting into any discussion with the SWMBO about buying anything for a while....

Ice.

I'm not getting into any discussion with the SWMBO about buying anything for a while....

Can't argue with that logic,.

All things being equal I wonder if Jenny has this problem?

Yup
I just remind that if you want rum you need to put up with all the bitsnbobs!

He he lovely.
Hmm... that has made me think... I very rarely get objections to booze related purchases.

It's generally "I've had an idea" that causes problems.