Being new to things, I like to do things small until I get a good grip on a process. Thanks to the advice here, I now have some nice buckets I got from the bakery, but alas they are 3.5 Gal buckets and not five..

I figgure, thas ok, I'll do half batches.. So my question is, can I just half or quarter a recipies ingredient amounts to make small test batches? I searched for a while, and I can't seem locate any thing (of course, now someone will post me 8 links :) - And, that'd be cool - I got no issues reading more )

Ideally, if there is a percentage ratio one could use, that'd be cool too. I saw some commentary in the Gwashington thread about percentages, but I was not sure if that's a standard or something...

For example - this is from the recipe section - Amazing Rum Recipe

Can one do this ?

1 gallon feed grade black strap molasses [COLOR="#008000"]<-- 1/2 Gal [/COLOR]
4 gallons water [COLOR="#008000"]<-- 2 Gal [/Color]
7 pounds sugar [COLOR="#008000"]<-- 3.5 lbs[/COLOR]
Distillers yeast
Yeast nutrient

And it should go w/o saying I'd half other addtions as the wash procedure pogressed. I'm too much a slave to process from my IRL profession, I guess.. test before commiting the farm

I have a 32L fermenter from BH along with my PSii, but I wanted to do it more tightly controlled at first and it seemd odd to use that for a ultra small batch..I got spooked thinking it'd leave too much airspace with that little of a wash..

Btw, I'd be using some Rum Yeast I got from BH on this

Hi Royse, if you have more than one of those buckets why not go ahead and make the whole batch then split it into the two buckets to fermentation. Otherwise what your doing should be fine. You need to use all of the yeast but you can cut the nutrients down.
As to running to little in the boiler, if your useing electric you may need to add some water to your mash to make sure the liquid level keeps the element covered throughout your run. If useing propane as I do then there should'nt be any problem.

Hey Royse go down and get a gallon or two of the cheapest wine you can buy for your sac run and run your ferment for your real run after that. Then you can have something to tide you over till the next ferment is done.

Also a good idea to run a 50/50 vinegar and water run before the wine to check for leaks. The vinegar also cleans everything out pretty well.

P.S. Good call on the wife thing.

It does'nt matter if it's red or white it all comes out clear anyway. Just as long as it's cheap. ETOH is the same in any beverage it's the way the beverage is made that makes it cheap or expensive.