"I have wanted to do this for a long time. It took me over a year to get my rig built. I put together a small valved reflux unit. I use a propane burner and a 15.5 gal beer keg as my pot.

I used a sweet feed recipe. 4"" of sf in a 5 gal bucket. Added 6# of white sugar and 3 packs of regular yeast. Fermentation took 10 days for both runs. I ran the wash through cheese cloth to strain it and was very careful to only get liquid to the point I left some useable was in the bucket getting barely 4 gal of wash.

I started my water at the start and started getting output at 146. I collected 500ml which I tossed. I then went full reflux for a little over an hour. I watched my temps and it stabilized at 174. I then opened my output valve and closed the reflux valve about 75%. I collected in small jars. I smelled and tasted the output frequently. The first 4 were very good but very strong. Number 5 was very good, a little sweet and not bitey. My temps started climbing and when I couldn't keep under 195 I shut down. The last jar was just a little cloudy. I was pouring the small jars into a gal jug. It test 185 proof for both runs. I let it set with a coffee filter for 2 days. The jug was just a little cloudy. When I checked on day 2 it was clear but there was some white residue in the bottom of the jug. I poured the jug through a coffee filter and it was ok.

Everything was the same for both runs. Total run time for each was a little over 3 hours.

I got a little shy of 1/2 gal from each run. I made an apple pie mix and diluted the product 50/50. I let this sit for over a week.

We tried it and my buds thought it was great.

I am new and would appreciate any input from you guys that know your stuff. My 3rd run is fermenting now."

I'm still really new also but the slower you can run it the cleaner it will come out.

Also ... separate the grain from your wash before fermenting. After it is done fermenting let it sit for a week or two. All the yeast will settle to the bottom. Siphon it leaving the yeast at the bottom and that will also help with the residue.

yes you can. Here is a link to recipe http://wiki.homedistille..._Simple_Sour_Mash_Method

Hi cork. I live in the North East and have my boiler and column insulated during the winter months if I run in my cold garage. It helps a lot I believe. It is difficult to tell if the quart you collected is what you should expect. You would have to know the ABV of your wash and other things like ;type of still and how you run it. But if you had 3.5 gals of a 11% wash you would have approx. 1 1/2 qts of 100% alcohol in your wash. No home still can get all of the etho out and it won't be 100% either. So you probably are not that far off. Maybe just a little short. I would run what you put into the jug with your next batch. Sometimes I save all of my feints and do an "All feints run" and it usually comes out fine.
It looks like you are on the right track. Good luck and be safe.

HI Whiskykid. I use a product called Reflectix. It is like bubble wrap coated with a thin foil layer on both sides. Comes in different size rolls. It is very easily cut with scissors or razor. and I tape with two inch foil tape which is usually in the same aisle at Lowe's. It works great. Reflectix 25-ft x 24-in Reflective Insulation

I was gonna ask abt that with regards to the column only, Hokey...I use a Blichmann burner and it seems the heat doesn't make it externally to the column - but I have a 15 gal BH boiler and the contour to the column is an inch or two from the start of the taper to the lid - so I am wondering if the heat goes just straight up and would miss the column, allowing me to use Reflectix on the column only...

"Hokey/RCRed,
thanks for the info. I have the aluminum diverter under the kettle, so not too worried about flame. i think the column is more seceptable to the heat fluctuation since i am running outside. i will try that area first. I have wanted to get some of the reflectex for my garage evees anyhow."