My second sugar wash yesterday went very well. Trying to avoid problems of our first batch. Sanitation procedures were followed to a tee. Wash was simple using 8 lbs of sugar and 6 gallons of distilled water added DAP, Gypsum, and a pinch of epsom salts to the inverted sugar. Made a yeast mixture on our stir plate using Distillers yeast 1/4 cup, and nutrient and about a pint of the sugar wash. The yeast worked up and boiled over in about 6 hrs so I pitched it and put the wash in our temp controlled fermenter. I checked it this morning and it was perking away, you could really see the yeast working (we use glass carboys). I am anxious for it to finish so we can reflux it. Hoping for better results this time

Did you aerate the sugar wash before pitching??? :)

I thought so too but I was following a recipe' I got from homedistiller.org. The only thing I did differently was to add the citric acid to the wash while it was dissolving to invert the sugar. Since the recipe came from a respected site I tried to follow it as closely as possible. It seems to be doing well, perking right along working the air lock about once per second.

Oh yes, I sure did. For about 5 hrs.

Yup, I just reread the recipe, perhaps it's time for another eye exam.

My last wash was finished at .990 after 19 days but I used 2 packs of Lavlin EC-1118. Maybe I should cut down a bit? SG before and after shows 14.8. Pretty good I think.

Was it a sugar wash? I am very new to this hobby but from what I have been able to determine so far the beginning SG should not exceed 1.08 with a ph of 4.8 or less. Anything greater than 1.08 could induce undesirable flavor. How did yours turn out? I certainly am not being critical I am just trying to learn. By the way, I was born in Tulsa county and have family in S.E Ok just south of Stigler.

I am starting to worry that the amount of distillers yeast I used is going to add unwanted flavor to what I hope to be a clean ETOH run. What do you think?

"Nosir Scotty, we are laughing at old eyes....adjust YOUR glasses and re-read post #9. HaHaHa

See Shelby were not the only ones."

"

You're family is pretty close to where I live. South and West but within an hour drive or so.

I've done completely sugar washes. 3 batches then a reflux. I don't rely too much on the hydrometer as I've never been able to get the same SG from any of my washes. Maybe it's me, maybe it's the machine. I keep track of the ABV of the preliminary washes by measuring each ""unit"" ounces * ABV. I total all 3 batch runs to get an idea of what to expect when doing the spirit, or reflux, run. In my last reflux run from the 3 stripping runs I knew to expect about 193 ounces of alcohol, again ounce * ABV (alcholmeter). When I get close to the desired output I can see the ABV fall and temp gets close to 204. I shut down. I'm done.

In this last run I actually had more ounces because I added some tails from a previous reflux run. I was happy with 232 ounces with output of .88 alcohol of 205.76 from a beginning total of 496 ounces from the 3 previous stripping runs, plus the tails.

I'm a newbie with only 20 washes plus the 6 reflux runs. I keep records of everything I can (Excel) including hours on a tank of propane. I'm nerdy in that sense. Just trying to learn what I can, I will say the reflux run gives a lot better flavor, or neutral, than ANY pot still run. It adds more time but the results are far superior, if you're looking for a neutral outcome. I've said before that my stripping runs go 2-3 hours on a 5 gal wash, reflux 8 to 10 hours on 4-5 gals.

So much to learn, so little time.

Regards to all..."