Nice topic MD

I have a carbon filter system. I never got to it because medical stuff put me out of business for a short time.

What i want to say is that this guy GERT STRAND claims that all neutrals should be polished with carbon.

I dont particularly like HIM but it does make sense if we are the hobby freaks that we all seem to be, we product want as good as we can get.

"Personally I think vodka, at least all the brands I've tried, has some flavor. I reflux by combining 3 stripping runs (sugar washes) totaling 4-5 gals at 40 ABV and adding 1 Tbls baking soda and 1 Tbls Kosher or canning salt per gals and let it sit for a couple of days. This produces a very clean flavor once diluted to around 90 proof. Someone on this forum suggested the baking soda and salt idea which really did improve the flavor IMHO. I have the HC PSII and only purchased the pump but since ordered another so I can pump water to both tower and condenser. This has worked out really well as I can keep the column water cooler. I did buy a Brita pitcher filter to run some of the first pot still output thru. After several filtering I was able improve the flavor a bit.

Regards to all..."

Hi cczero,
You are right, We drink a lot of vodka and even the unflavored has a bit of flavor. I think the PS2 HC should do even better than the branded stuff but even then will have a bit of flavor. I like your idea of the Brita filter but don't think it will work for me. Where I do not plan on doing stripping runs because the PS2 HC should be able to do high abv reflux runs if run slowly I would be very concerned with the plastics in the Brita leaching nasties into my high abv vodka.
Thanks, Maddawgs

Anyway, I guess my rambling is just to say that there's nothing wrong with those flavors ... it all comes down to how you intend to drink it, and what YOU like. That's what makes what we do special ... as we get better, we can make what WE want, rather than being forced to pay big bucks for marketing, fancy bottles and the stuff that the commercial vendors want to shovel down our throats.
Hey JB,
That is exactly why I'm getting in to this. Me and the wife love vodka. I think we currently have over 20 bottles of various flavors and origins. When I think of what I paid for that and what it would have cost to make it myself, well that new PS2HC pretty much will pay for itself and we'll have a much better product too.
Maddawgs

Hi Scotty,
My first run or two will be sugar washes just to use up the turbo that comes with the ferment kits. I'll consider these practice runs to get to know the system. If I get some good tasting high abv stuff in the process that will be great. With all the research I've done so far there is no way I'm not going to try some of the other grain recipes. My overall plan is to get to the point where I can make a good quality vodka. Then move on to flavoring techniques because in our house we love the flavored vodkas. I like to try new flavors with cranberry, orange, and espresso being favorites while my wife likes raspberry. We grow raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, peaces, and pears at the house so incorporating them into the homemade vodkas is part of the plan. When I get good at that then it will be on to whiskey, rum, and brandy. So I guess to answer your question is yes and I'll be pretty much all over the map. Oh, and once I'm good at all that then I'll want to try champagne, I'm not really a wine drinker but I love champagne. Last time we went to an all inclusive resort (better than a cruise cause drinks are included) I literally drank champagne with every meal starting with mimosas at breakfast.
Maddawgs

i should have used fruits as you intend to-- i took the suggestions from a website called vodkaphiles

i look foreward to trying again to make something that tastes nice