 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/2/2009(UTC)
Posts: 35
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"Hi All
I am a newbie to this and need some help. I have a little one Gal. electric still and I am using a sugar wash in it at about 15%. The heat on the still is adjustable and at high heat it come out at 55% with lower heat I have got 75%. I throw out the first ounce and run it till it slows down, I know one ounce is not munch but it is only one gal so that would be 5 ounces on 5 gal.
This is my problem I am getting a slight wine taste in my product, I have run it through the still four times and came out with 90% and cut it down to 40% and then run it through a carbon filter four times and that taste is still there.
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG????
I would like to make a Vodka that is like Smirnoff No.21 it has no smell or taste to it.
Any Help Thanks"
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 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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"Is it possible you are over filling the boiler and it is taking some color from the wash?? Originally Posted by: fiedg  Hi All
I am a newbie to this and need some help. I have a little one Gal. electric still and I am using a sugar wash in it at about 15%. The heat on the still is adjustable and at high heat it come out at 55% with lower heat I have got 75%. I throw out the first ounce and run it till it slows down, I know one ounce is not munch but it is only one gal so that would be 5 ounces on 5 gal.
This is my problem I am getting a slight wine taste in my product, I have run it through the still four times and came out with 90% and cut it down to 40% and then run it through a carbon filter four times and that taste is still there.
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG????
I would like to make a Vodka that is like Smirnoff No.21 it has no smell or taste to it.
Any Help Thanks "
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/2/2009(UTC)
Posts: 35
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"It has a fill line inside it and it is 1 gal but I have made runs with it only half full and still the some everything I make has that slight taste too it not bad, but I want a taste less product???
Thanks for the reply"
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
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"The one ounce is good for the foreshot cut. But you still need to make cuts for heads and tails, from the middle hearts.. This is harder to do in small batches like a gallon, but is doable. Use only the middle hearts cut for putting with carbon, saveing the rest for a later run when you have a gal. of heads and tails saved up.
Also, as it sounds like you are doing, make several stripping runs of fresh washes until you have enough for the spirit run. Then make the cuts at that time. Run it very slow."
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
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Also, what is your heat source. If a stove top or hotplate some things can be done to help.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/2/2009(UTC)
Posts: 35
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"Thank you for your reply mtnwalker
The heat source is a built in 320W element but it got to hot so I put an ajustable control on it and now I can turn it from 0 to 320W. So I can slow it way down.
I make a 6.5Gal suger wash at a time. So if I understand you right I should run the 6.5 Gallens one at a time to get say 60% or so and then run that threw the still again and get say 75% and one more time very slow and just us the middle or that run for the carbon filter and drinking???? If that is right about what part of the middle do I save? say not the first 20% and then not the last 30% so I would come out with 50% of the middle of that run??
Also I put some in a 4L oak barral a month ago and it has almost lost that taste and is taking on a good whisky taste I think it will be good in a few months"
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
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"Your heat source is great. And Yes, strip the whole 6.5 gal. and rest it on a tablespoon of baking soda/ L of the low wines (the stripped distillate) until you do the last. With practice makeing the cuts, you may get by with only 2 runs, but 3 runs will be even more clean.
Here is the learning curve. During the spirit run, collect in 5 or 6 oz. batches, numbered. Cover each with a coffee filter and let sit for 24 hours. Mix each for a teaspoon batch half and half with water and taste, smell. The heads will have a bight and smell like finger nail polish remover. Hearts are sweet and neutral, and tails funky, oily and smell like wet newspaper.
Make your cuts tight as you will later be getting the good alchahol from the heads and tails when you have accumalated enough for a spirit run on them.
As a learning experiance you can do a few runs while stripping with makeing the cuts and learning the smells and tast, then just combine them all together for a later spirit run.
Since you are obviously pot stilling, this will all stand you in good stead when you start makeing some flavored brandy and grain runs.
You can strip fairly fast, but do the spirit run ssssssssssssssssllllllloowwww."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/2/2009(UTC)
Posts: 35
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"Great Info mtnwalker
Thank you for all the input....I will give it a try
I was doing a run and then run it threw the still again and again and again and I would be up to 90% but the taste and smell was still there, so now I will try to take just the middle of the run and hope I will get my no taste no smell Vodka.
Thanks again"
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