"I'm fairly new to this having read much and have friends who do this as a hobby. What I don't understand is why do some separate in such small amounts?

In my case using a standard 25L bucket, distill as a pot still usually I only separate by quarts. This is while monitoring the Abv making the final cut at 35-40 Abv. The smell seems to be the where to cut there. This about my 10th run and this has served me well. Always using good to excellent Turbo's ( depends where ya buy it )

The last quart is the worst or tails."

"For me after <35% it goes down the drain. Some might say it's wasteful. Well, I obtain sugar for next to $0, just my time to pick it up. The cost is water, electricity and yeast plus time. So, we're talking about $5 maybe $6 for a batch! I usually check ABV every half quart (manson jars, oh ah bad memory, mason jars or ball). Then cut when getting around ~35% stopping.

I buy distilled water twice charcoal filtered before and after for 0.17 dollars per gallon US.

~Money for nothing and my chics for free, where is this guy hanging! Well it's an olde' song.

***To answer your question it's alcometer that I use for cutting.

The opinions expressed are of the Author and not endorsed in anyway by anybody!?

Cheers"