 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/4/2012(UTC)
Posts: 28
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I have done a lot of research on how to run a reflux still but just to make sure can some just give me a quick step by step on how to start and finish one. I just want to make sure I'm doing it right. I'm doing a 5 gallon sugar wash. I used turbo 48 and about 13 pounds of sugar. It's been sitting for about six days now and it's cleared up and looks good. I'm using a PSII whit the three inch column from brewhaus and I'm using a 1500w hot plate from a restruant supplie store. About how long do you think the run will last? Just want to make sure I'm planning ahead to allow enough time. Don't want to start this thing a 5 pm and it last till 2 in the morning. And about how much do tou think I should get? If I use a pot still for this run how much different will it taste or should I just stick with doing it with a reflux? I just want to make sure I'm doing it right. Thanks again for any help.
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 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/12/2012(UTC)
Posts: 804
Was thanked: 5 time(s) in 5 post(s)
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Outdoor,
First, congratulations on getting to this point! Now the real fun begins!
There really isn't any one "right way" to run your rig. You'll have to figure out what works best for you ... and then do some experimenting so you see first hand how different techniques affect _your_ product. You'll probably get lots of good (and different) ideas from our members, but I'm confident that everyone will agree on one thing: Be safe and take your time ... there's no hurry. Haste really does make waste in our hobby.
Make sure you do your cleaning run(s) before you run that wash of yours.
I recommend that you get a good notebook. Write down everything: the charge (xx L
yy% abv), the time you turned on power, the time the fores started coming across, time/amount collected and its abv, etc. It'll help you plan your future runs and you'll start seeing the patterns.
I always do stripping runs before I run anything through the column. So I'll strip two 22 L washes then run the low wines through the column. But if the thought of putting down two washes and stripping them both before you get anything you can drink doesn't appeal to you at this point, you might want to just do a spirit run with your rig configured as a pot still. Run it slow and collect in a bunch of jars ... and take it down to 20% or so. That way you can get some flight time using your nose and palette. Maybe keep one jar and save everything else (except fores) for a reflux run. That way you have a little drinking stock while you get your next wash going. After a few runs like this you can take all those low wines and run them through the column.
Regards,
--JB
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/4/2012(UTC)
Posts: 28
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i have a sweet feed wash that will be ready in about 3 days. could i pot still the sugar wash slow and then add what i get to my sweet feed wash when i cook it? i plan on just pot stilling the sugar wash to get alot of flavor. do you think that would be a good idea?
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/12/2012(UTC)
Posts: 804
Was thanked: 5 time(s) in 5 post(s)
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" Quote:could i pot still the sugar wash slow and then add what i get to my sweet feed wash when i cook it? I don't see why not. I've been meaning to try something similar myself. I'm pretty sure it was over at HD where I saw a post about doing that with an all-grain (charging the boiler with the wort and some low wines ... to bump up the yield while still getting the flavor). If you don't like how it turns out, you can take the entire lot and run it through your column.  "
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/4/2012(UTC)
Posts: 28
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so your saying if i dont like how it comes out, i can just pour it back in with whats in the kettle and run it again? if i want to start another wash can i just siphon the carboy out and store it in the fridge untill im ready or can it set out?
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/12/2012(UTC)
Posts: 804
Was thanked: 5 time(s) in 5 post(s)
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I was saying that you can pot still your sugar wash and throw those low wines in the boiler when you run your sweet feed wash.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/4/2012(UTC)
Posts: 28
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I like it! I think that's what I'll do
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/14/2012(UTC)
Posts: 515
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Hi OC,
Be sure when you toss distilled spirits back in your boiler that the ABV is below 50 (just add some good clean water to dilute). Below 40 would be even better. I'm new myself and have not distilled anthing to this point but I think (and I could be wrong) if you put heat to 50 or above things could go boom.
Maddawgs
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/17/2012(UTC)
Posts: 118
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"Outdoor...welcome to the forum. As JB said above you can get many different ideas here, and not one is wrong. Its kind of like the Blonde v. Brunette thing, which do you prefer? When I run a sugar wash, in the same outfit your using, (except I use propane for heat), I cant tell much difference in taste between potstill and reflux...but thats just me. So i prefer reflux, it proofs much higher and runs faster. As to time, in my PSII HC with the propane rolling along nicely (but not so much it melts the diffuser plate), it takes about 30-40 minutes to bring it up to temp. So after about 20 minutes I start my reflux water running. I turn the heat way down once it starts dripping (I marked the place on the valve so its repeatable.) Then I catch the first 2-4 ounces and save it for parts washing, dont dare drink it. I use quart jars but only fill em halfway, or less, depending on how far into the run. They start at around 15-20 minutes to a pint, then slow down as the run progresses. I average 4-5 pints of high proof (160-175proof) to 5 gallons of wash, which I cut to around 4 quarts. Total time on a 5 gallon run is 2 to 3hours, but thats with propane.
If you dont have an alcoholmeter order one and a plastic 250 MM test cyclinder. It makes testing abv much easier, and you can test each pint as it runs...i did this for a long time just for my notebook.
I've never tried the turbo yeast, i've heard they can impart a bad flavor, and on a neutral there's nothing to hide it.
BUT....if you plan on adding this to the SF run, then maybe the potstill is the way to go, your proof wont be a high and you wont have to cut it as much.
Good luck with your projects, its more fun than you can imagine.
Regards,
Farmin
P.S. After the run cover the jars with paper towels or coffee filters, screw the rings on to hold them in place, and let it air out a few days...it really helps thew flavor.
Farmin"
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